Year-Round Lawn Care: How to Keep Your Grass Healthy in Every Season

Introduction

Let’s face it—keeping a great-looking lawn in Minnesota isn’t always easy. Between the long winters, hot summers, and everything in between, your grass goes through a lot. But with the right care at the right time, you can keep your lawn looking healthy and green all year long.

Whether you’re caring for your own backyard or a seasonal cabin property, here’s a straightforward, season-by-season guide to keeping your lawn in great shape.

Spring: Time to Wake Things Up

After months buried under snow, your lawn needs a little help bouncing back. Spring is all about cleanup, recovery, and giving your grass a strong start.

Here’s what to focus on:

• Rake up leftover debris like leaves, twigs, and dead grass.
• Aerate the soil if it feels compacted—this helps water and nutrients reach the roots.
• Apply a spring fertilizer to feed your grass as it starts growing again.
• Fill in bare spots with overseeding, especially in areas damaged by snow or salt.
• Mow high and often—don’t scalp it! Keeping grass a little taller helps it stay strong.

Spring is also the best time to apply pre-emergent weed control to stay ahead of crabgrass and other nuisances.

Summer: Keep It Alive and Thriving

By summer, your lawn is in full growth mode—but it’s also dealing with heat, foot traffic, and maybe even drought.

To keep your grass healthy:

• Water deeply once or twice a week—early mornings are best.
• Raise your mower blade to 3–4 inches to shade the soil and discourage weeds.
• Skip heavy fertilizer during extreme heat, which can stress your lawn.
• Keep an eye out for pests or disease, especially if you start seeing brown spots or thinning patches.

If the grass goes dormant during a dry spell, don’t panic—it’s just protecting itself and will bounce back once the rain returns.

Fall: Set Your Lawn Up for Success Next Year

Fall is often the most underrated season for lawn care. The weather is cooler, and your grass is busy growing strong roots—making it the perfect time to get ahead for next year.

Your fall lawn checklist:

• Aerate again if needed to relieve compaction.
• Overseed to thicken things up—especially if summer was rough.
• Apply a fall fertilizer to promote strong root growth before winter.
• Mow regularly until the grass stops growing, lowering the height a bit with your final mow.
• Keep leaves off the lawn—they can smother the grass and lead to mold.

Investing a little time in the fall can mean a much greener, healthier lawn come spring.

Winter: Let It Rest, But Be Mindful

There’s not much active lawn care to do in winter, but you can still protect your turf from unnecessary damage.

What to watch for:

• Avoid walking on frozen grass—it’s more fragile than you think.
• Don’t pile snow on the same spots repeatedly—it can lead to compaction and damage.
• Be cautious with ice melt—some products can harm your grass and soil.
• Mark lawn edges near driveways or walkways so you (or your snowplow) don’t accidentally dig into the turf.

Use the off-season to plan ahead. Spring services like aeration or seeding can book up fast, so winter is a great time to get on the schedule.

Wrapping It Up

A beautiful lawn isn’t about doing everything at once—it’s about doing the right things at the right time. With a little bit of attention each season, you can keep your lawn strong, healthy, and great-looking all year long—even in Minnesota’s unpredictable climate.

Not sure where to start, or just don’t have the time? RJ3 Property Maintenance has you covered. From spring cleanups to fall prep, we’re here to help your lawn thrive—season after season.

Contact us today to schedule your lawn care services and get a head start on the growing season.