Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm lawn care, month by month
| Month | Tasks |
|---|---|
| January | Dormant — keep leaves cleared, stay off frozen turf |
| February | Dormant — keep leaves cleared, stay off frozen turf |
| March | Apply crabgrass pre-emergent |
| April | Apply crabgrass pre-emergent · Light feeding after green-up |
| May | Light feeding after green-up |
| June | Mow high (3–3.5″); water deeply in dry spells; no feeding in heat |
| July | Mow high (3–3.5″); water deeply in dry spells; no feeding in heat |
| August | Aerate + overseed · Main fall feeding |
| September | Aerate + overseed · Main fall feeding · Winterizer feeding |
| October | Winterizer feeding · Final mow of the year |
| November | Final mow of the year |
| December | Dormant — keep leaves cleared, stay off frozen turf |
Reading the Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm lawn year
Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm runs on the classic northern rhythm: a short, important spring (pre-emergent before soil hits 55°F, one light feeding), a defensive summer (mow tall, water deep, feed nothing), and then the season that actually builds a lawn — early fall, when aeration, overseeding around Aug 21 – Sep 5, and the year's main feeding all land before the Oct 20 frost closes the year.
Grasses that fit Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm
Frequently asked questions
When should I overseed my lawn in Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm?
For cool-season grass (bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass), overseed in early fall — in Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm that means roughly Aug 21 – Sep 5, timed 45–60 days before the average first fall frost (Oct 20) so seedlings establish before cold. Spring works as a backup but collides with crabgrass season.
When do I put down crabgrass preventer in Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm?
Aim for Mar 30 – Apr 20 — the estimated stretch when Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm soil approaches the ~55°F germination threshold, anchored to the average last frost (Apr 20). It's an estimate: a soil thermometer reading 50–55°F at 2″ depth for several days is the precise trigger, and pre-emergent must go down before crabgrass sprouts, not after.
When should I stop mowing in Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm?
Keep mowing as long as the grass grows — in Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm that's typically until Oct 13 – Nov 3, around the average first fall frost (Oct 20). Take the final cut slightly shorter to discourage snow mold.
What grass grows best in Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm?
Indiana is cool-season country: Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue. See the grass guides linked below for identification and care.