Maintaining a vibrant, weed-free lawn can feel like a constant challenge. Fortunately, the Scotts® 4-Step® Lawn Care Program offers a straightforward solution to achieve a healthy and beautiful yard throughout the year. This guide will walk you through each step of the Scotts Lawn Care Program Schedule, ensuring your lawn receives the right treatment at the optimal time for a thick, green turf.
Mastering the Scotts 4-Step Program
The Scotts 4-Step program is designed to provide your lawn with season-long nourishment and protection. Each step is formulated to address specific lawn care needs at different times of the year, from preventing crabgrass in the spring to strengthening your lawn for winter. Let’s break down each step to help you stay on schedule.
Step® 1 – Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food: Early Spring
Apply Step® 1 in early spring, specifically between February and April when temperatures are still cool, ideally below 80°F. This crucial first step is designed to prevent crabgrass from germinating, stopping this common weed before it even starts to grow. In addition to crabgrass prevention, Step® 1 also provides essential nutrients to help your lawn green up after the winter months, giving it a healthy start to the growing season.
- For convenience, consider purchasing all four steps at once to ensure you’re prepared for the entire year’s schedule.
- Scotts Step 1 is available in sizes to cover either 5,000 sq. ft. or 15,000 sq. ft. lawns, choose the bag size that best fits your yard.
- A helpful timing guideline is to apply Step® 1 on or before Easter.
- To further enhance your lawn’s health, consider applying Scotts® Foundation Soil Improver around the same time as your Step® 1 application to improve soil conditions before the active growing season.
Step 2® – Weed Control Plus Lawn Food: Late Spring
Step® 2 should be applied in late spring, typically between April and June. It’s important to wait 4-6 weeks after your Step® 1 application before moving on to Step® 2. This step focuses on weed control, targeting and killing many common broadleaf weeds such as dandelions. Simultaneously, Step® 2 continues to feed your lawn, promoting thick, green growth from the roots up, building a robust and healthy turf.
- Aim to apply Step® 2 around Memorial Day as a memorable timing cue.
- For optimal application, choose a calm day, apply to a damp lawn, and ensure no rain is expected for at least 24 hours to allow the weed control to effectively work.
Step® 3 – Lawn Food With 2% Iron: Summer
Give your lawn a vital mid-season boost with Step® 3 during the summer months, between June and August. Step® 3 is formulated to feed and strengthen your lawn, making it more resilient to the stresses of summer heat and drought. The added iron in this step enhances the green color and overall health of your lawn during this challenging season.
- A good time to apply Step® 3 is close to Independence Day.
- If rain is not anticipated, water your lawn immediately after applying Step® 3 to help the nutrients reach the soil and roots.
- Address any persistent weeds by spot treating them as needed throughout the summer.
Step® 4 – Fall Lawn Food: Fall
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Step® 4 is applied in the fall, 4 to 6 weeks after Step® 3, generally between August and November. This final step is crucial for preparing your lawn for the winter and ensuring a greener, healthier lawn in the following spring. Step® 4 greens up your lawn in the fall and, more importantly, strengthens and protects it over the winter, setting the stage for vigorous growth when spring returns.
- Plan to apply Step® 4 from Labor Day until mid-October for best results.
- Watering in Step® 4 is recommended to speed up greening, although it’s not strictly necessary.
By following the Scotts 4-Step Lawn Care Program schedule, you can take the guesswork out of lawn care and enjoy a beautiful, healthy lawn year-round. Each step is designed to work in harmony, providing your lawn with exactly what it needs, when it needs it, for optimal growth and vitality.
