PNW Lawn Calendar - Beautiful Pacific Northwest Lawn All Year Round
Most lawn calendars are written for California or the Midwest — sunny climates with sandy soil and predictable seasons. That's not us. This guide is written entirely for Pacific Northwest homeowners dealing with clay soil, moss, 9 months of rain, and cool-season grasses that have their own schedule.
January & February — Rest, But Don't Ignore
❄️ Jan–Feb Tasks
Stay off the lawn when it's waterlogged — compaction now causes problems all yearWatch for moss starting to establish — treat with iron sulfate on dry days above 40°FSharpen mower blades so you're ready when spring hitsReview your irrigation system for any winter damage
March — Wake Up Time
🌱 March Tasks
First mow of the year once grass reaches 3–4 inches — never remove more than ⅓ at onceApply a pre-emergent weed control (moss is already coming — treat now)Aerate if your lawn has heavy clay soil — most PNW lawns need this annuallyTest your soil pH — PNW soil often runs acidic (ideal is 6.0–7.0 for grass)
🤖 Ready to automate spring mowing? The Husqvarna Automower handles PNW slopes up to 45° and starts cutting automatically when you set the schedule.
April & May — The Growth Sprint
🌿 Apr–May Tasks
Apply a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer in late April — this is your most important feed of the yearOverseed thin patches before summer heat arrivesSet irrigation schedule — PNW lawns need about 1" of water per week in dry spellsEdge along driveways and beds for a clean look going into summer
💧 Set up smart irrigation now. The Rachio 3 automatically skips watering when PNW rain covers it — no more watering during a drizzle.
June, July & August — The Dry Season
☀️ Summer Tasks
Raise your mow height to 3–3.5 inches — taller grass shades roots and retains moistureWater deeply 2–3 times per week rather than shallowly every dayHold off on fertilizing during peak heat — it can burn a stressed lawnWatch for chafer beetle grubs if you see crows digging in your lawn
September & October — The PNW Sweet Spot
This is the most important season for Pacific Northwest lawns. The rains are returning, soil is warm, and grass grows aggressively. Don't waste it.
🍂 Fall Tasks (Your Most Important)
Overseed your entire lawn — September is the #1 best time to seed in the PNWCore aerate to break up summer compaction and help new seed take rootApply a fall fertilizer high in potassium — builds winter root strengthRe-treat moss before it establishes for winter
November & December — Wind Down
🌧️ Late Fall Tasks
Final mow of the season — cut to about 2.5 inches going into winterBlow out irrigation lines before a hard freezeClean and store your mower properly — drain gas or run it emptyApply lime if your soil test showed low pH — it takes months to activate
🔧 Need reliable tools for fall prep? The Milwaukee M18 FUEL combo kit handles everything from edging to fence repairs as you button up for winter.
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