January – February
The lawn is dormant under the snow. Try not to pile snow from the driveway on the same patch of lawn all winter.
- Book next seasonReserve a spring cleanup and a regular mowing day now.
Month by month
New Hampshire lawn care calendar
What a New Hampshire lawn needs through the year, and when New Life can help. Timing shifts a week or two with the weather and how far north you are.
March
The snow melts and the ground is soft. Stay off soggy lawns: walking and working on them now leaves ruts and packs the soil.
- Spring cleanupBook now to get on the schedule before the grass takes off.
April
Once the ground firms up, rake out leaves, sticks, plow sand and matted grass. Grass starts growing once the soil warms past about 50°F.
- Spring cleanupWinter debris cleared and the beds cleaned out.
May
Growth picks up fast. Weekly mowing starts, beds get a fresh edge and mulch, and spring-flowering shrubs like lilac and forsythia are pruned right after they bloom.
- Weekly mowingA set day on the route.
- Mulch & bed edging2 to 3 inches, kept off the trunks.
June
The fastest growth of the year. Mow every week so each cut takes only a little off the blade. Most hedges get their main trim once the spring growth fills in.
- Hedge & shrub trimmingShaped and hauled away.
- Weekly mowingMow, edge, trim and blow-off.
July
Heat and dry spells slow the grass down. Mowing a little higher helps it through, and mulch holds moisture in the beds.
- Weekly mowingWeekly or every other week.
August
From mid-August, the best time of year to seed a New Hampshire lawn: warm soil, cooler nights and less crabgrass. Aerate and overseed thin lawns now.
- Aeration & overseedingCore aeration and fresh seed together.
September
The seeding window closes in early September. Hedges get a light tidy, and it's time to book the fall cleanup.
- Aeration & overseedingLast call, early in the month.
- Fall cleanupReserve your spot for late October.
October
The leaves come down. Keep mowing until the grass stops growing. Fall cleanups start once most of the leaves are down.
- Fall cleanupLeaves cleared and hauled away.
November
Finish the cleanup before the snow that stays. Thick layers of leaves left on the lawn over winter invite snow mold.
- Fall cleanupFinal mow of the season included.
December
The season is done. A good time to plan next year and get on the spring schedule early.
- Book next seasonSpring cleanup and mowing, reserved now.
Fertilizer and weed control
Since January 1, 2025, New Hampshire law limits when and where lawn fertilizer can go down, including no fertilizer on frozen ground, before heavy rain, or within 25 feet of water or a storm drain. Weed control with pesticides needs a state license. New Life doesn't offer either; we stick to mowing, cleanups, aeration, seed, mulch and trimming.
Sources
- UNH Cooperative Extension: Lawn care (seeding window, mowing, leaves and snow mold)
- UNH Cooperative Extension: Is it necessary to rake leaves in fall?
- UNH Cooperative Extension: Springtime pruning tips
- UNH Cooperative Extension: How to mulch trees and shrubs
- UConn Home & Garden Education Center: Spring lawn care tips (soil temperature)
- NH RSA 431:4-e: fertilizer application rules (in effect January 1, 2025)
Let us keep up with the calendar.
Mowing, cleanups and seasonal lawn care for homes across New Hampshire. Free estimates.