Timing is everything in Kansas turf management. Applying pre-emergent herbicide two weeks too late allows crabgrass to sprout; seeding cool-season fescue in late spring guarantees summer seedling mortality.
Use this field-tested, month-by-month agronomic calendar engineered specifically for Sedgwick County and the Wichita metropolitan area.
Early Spring (March – April) - Mid-March: Apply first round of crabgrass pre-emergent before soil temps hit 55°F. Inspect sprinkler system for freeze fractures. - Early April: First regular lawn cut. Sharpen mower blades. Spot-treat emerging broadleaf weeds (dandelions, henbit). - Late April: Second pre-emergent booster application to extend crabgrass defense through August.
Late Spring & Early Summer (May – June) - May: Raise mower deck height for Tall Fescue to 3.5 inches. Apply slow-release balanced fertilizer and iron. - June: Apply preventative grub control (chlorantraniliprole) before June beetles and masked chafers lay eggs. Begin auditing irrigation coverage.
Peak Summer (July – August) - July: Raise mower decks to maximum height (3.5–4 inches). Water fescue deeply using the cycle-and-soak method (1.5 inches per week). Never apply high-nitrogen fertilizers. - August: Check for summer stress or grub damage. Flag underground irrigation heads in preparation for fall aeration.
Autumn Rejuvenation (September – October) - September 1 – October 15: The golden window. Perform mechanical core aeration and overseed with Kansas State University-tested Tall Fescue blends. Apply starter fertilizer. - October: Lower mower decks slightly (to 3 inches) as growth slows. Apply fall broadleaf weed control.
Winter Prep (November – February) - Early November: Apply heavy nitrogen winterizer fertilizer to drive root carbohydrate storage through winter freezes. - Mid-November: Mandatory sprinkler system compressor blowout before hard freezes arrive. - December – February: Winter equipment maintenance, dormant tree pruning, and on-call snow removal.
