According to Hans

 Spring Pruning and Clean Up – By March 15 th  Excluding these plants: Forsythia, Magnolia, Syringa, Spirea, Hibiscus, Rhododendron (woody, spring-flowering specimens)

 Improper Pruning

 Myth: Large pruning wounds should be sealed with tar or wound dressing  Fact: Sealants prevent wound from drying and may cause disease leading to decay

 Dormant Oil – By March 30 th  Initial Mowing, Dethatching, or Aeration – By April 15 th

 Myth: Thatch is lawn refuse and lawn clippings left over from years previous  Fact: Thatch is fibrous, above-ground roots and rhizomes

 Activate Water – By April 15 th  Set to water three times per week

 Fertilizer and Annual Grass Pre-emergent – By April 25 th  Recommended fertilizer analysis ratio:  3 – 1 – 2  Example: 25 – 5 – 15

 Myth: Pre-emergent needs to be applied before the forsythia bloom  Fact: Most annual grasses germinate at soil temperatures typically found in mid-May

 Systemic Insecticide for trees and shrubs (Merit®) – By May 1 st

 Myth: Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub® is a cure all for pest problems in the garden  Fact: Merit® is a highly effective systemic insecticide that works on pests ingesting the plant

 Plant Summer Annuals and Garden – By May 15 th

 Fertilizer and Systemic Insecticide for turf (Merit®) – By June 1 st

 Myth: Billbugs travel long distances by flying  Fact: Billbugs can fly- but their primary mobility is walking

 Adjust Water – By June 1 st  Set to water up to four times per week  Deeper, less frequent watering is ideal

 Mid-Summer Clean Up – By June 15 th  Prune woody, spring-flowering specimens  Sheer any plants that need it  Deadhead bulbs/Spring annuals

 Fertilizer for turf – By August 15 th  Adjust Water – By September 1 st  Set to water three times per week

 Myth: Some lawn care companies fertilize SEVEN times per year  Fact: Kentucky Blue/Rye needs approximately four pounds of nitrogen annually- typical fertilizations apply one pound per application (Totaling 4)

 Winterizer for turf (alternate time for aeration) – By October 1 st  Sprinkler Blowout – By October 30 th

 Fertilizer for trees – By November 15 th  Recommended agriform types of nitrogen

 Fall Clean Up – By November 15 th  Excluding these plants: Forsythia, Magnolia, Syringa, Spirea, Hibiscus, Rhododendron (woody, spring-flowering specimens)

 Optional Sulfur Application for turf – By November 30 th

 Myth: Apply gypsum to change soil pH  Fact: Sulfur reacts much better in our soil to reduce alkalinity