The Central Indiana lawn care calendar
In Central Indiana, apply crabgrass pre-emergent in March as soil nears 55°F, control broadleaf weeds in April and May, prevent grubs between May and July, mow high through summer heat, aerate and overseed in September, and finish with a winterizer feeding in October or November.
- 1Mar–AprCrabgrass barrier + early feedingSoil temperature nearing 55°F
- 2Apr–MaySpring feeding + weed controlSpring weed flush
- 3Jun–JulSummer feedingHeat-stress season begins
- 4Jul–AugLate-summer weed controlSummer weeds peak
- 5Sep–OctFall feeding + weed controlCool nights, active roots
- 6Oct–NovWinterizerBefore dormancy
Month by month
- January
Lawn is dormant. Plan the season, prepay to save, and keep heavy traffic off frozen turf.
- February
Still dormant. Sharpen mower blades and book spring services before routes fill.
- March
Soil warms toward 55°F. Apply pre-emergent crabgrass control before forsythia finishes blooming.
- April
Grass starts growing. First mowing of the year; keep the mower high. Dandelions appear.
- May
Peak spring growth. Mow weekly, control broadleaf weeds, and apply preventive grub control late in the month.
- June
Heat arrives. Raise the mowing height, water deeply about one inch a week, and feed with slow-release nitrogen.
- July
Heat stress and Japanese beetles. Keep mowing high, watch for brown patches and grub damage.
- August
Nutsedge and late crabgrass peak. Start planning fall aeration and seeding.
- September
The best month for aeration, overseeding and feeding cool-season grass in Central Indiana.
- October
Fall feeding and weed control while roots are active. Mowing season ends late in the month.
- November
Apply a winterizer feeding before dormancy and clear leaves so they do not smother the lawn.
- December
Dormant. Avoid salt damage along drives and walks.
When SunBlest visits
The 6-Step Lawn Program and its add-ons, with the conditions that set each visit’s timing.
| Visit | Window | What it does | Timing trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Mar–Apr | Crabgrass barrier + early feeding. Pre-emergent crabgrass control and a light spring feeding to wake the lawn up. | Soil temperature nearing 55°F |
| Step 2 | Apr–May | Spring feeding + weed control. Balanced feeding plus broadleaf weed control for dandelions, clover and plantain. | Spring weed flush |
| Step 3 | Jun–Jul | Summer feeding. Slow-release nitrogen to keep color without pushing growth in the heat, plus spot weed control. | Heat-stress season begins |
| Step 4 | Jul–Aug | Late-summer weed control. Targets nutsedge and any crabgrass that broke through, with a summer-safe feeding. | Summer weeds peak |
| Step 5 | Sep–Oct | Fall feeding + weed control. Feeds root growth and knocks down fall weeds while they are pulling nutrients down. | Cool nights, active roots |
| Step 6 | Oct–Nov | Winterizer. A high-rate late-fall feeding stored over winter for an early green-up in spring. | Before dormancy |
| Grub Add-on | May–Jul | Preventive grub control. Stops Japanese beetle and masked chafer grubs before they hatch and eat roots. | Before beetle egg hatch |
| Aerate Members | Aug–Oct | Core aeration + overseeding. Relieves compacted clay soil and fills thin areas with new seed. | Best window for cool-season grass |
Exact dates move with the weather each year. We schedule by soil temperature and conditions, not just the calendar.
Let us keep the calendar for you
Join the 6-Step Lawn Program and every visit lands at the right time.