Landscape maintenance should be a 12-month effort with primary emphasis on late winter and early spring.  Following this checklist will help ensure that your time and expense will show their best results for many years to come.

JANUARY - FEBRUARY

• Organize and develop a plan for the growing season.
• Prune all ornamental trees to shape for coming growing season. Prune unsightly deadwood. Pruning shears should be used to achieve natural appearance.
• Prune fall flowering shrubs.
• Remove leaves from turf areas.
• Spray weeds in turf areas and plant beds.
• Straw plant beds for the coming year.

MARCH

• Apply pre-emergence week control to turf areas, warm season grasses only.  (Note: after Forsythia bloom and before Crabapples bloom)
• Plant or replant trees and shrubs as needed.
• Fertilize and seed any Fescue area as needed.
• Prune broadleaf evergreens as needed.

APRIL

• Fertilize warm season grasses with slow release fertilizer.
• Fertilize plants and trees with exception of spring flowering plants.
• Replace pine straw as needed.
• Implement summer bedding schedule.
• Begin mowing and edging lawn.

MAY - JUNE

• Follow normal grounds maintenance procedures.
• Insecticide application.
• Fertilize spring flowering shrubs.

JULY

• Second application of slow release fertilizer to Bermuda and Zoysia.
• Maintain active spray schedule for insect prevention.
• Look for signs of dryness on plants that have been installed six months or less.
• Prune screen type shrubs as needed.

AUGUST

• Third application of slow release fertilizer on Bermuda only.

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER

• Fertilize cool season grasses (Fescue).
• Seed cool season grasses if needed.
•  Aeration should be carried out on compacted areas before sowing grass seed.
• Pruning of evergreen shrubs may begin late October.
• Restraw beds where needed for Winter protection.
• Treat Camellias and Euonymous species for Scale.

NOVEMBER

• Fertilize Azaleas at half strength application.
• Remove leaves from turf areas.
• Implement planting program for flower bulbs.

DECEMBER

• Begin general clean up of areas
• Begin pruning non-flowering ornamental trees.
• Clear out natural areas under trees.