Lawn & Pest Care Plan

2026 Season · Louisville, KY (Zone 6b)
~2,900 sq ft · Fescue / Kentucky Bluegrass
NO WATERING · NO AERATION · LOW-MID EFFORT

The Plan at a Glance

1
Triple Action — Pre-emergent + weed killer + fertilizerApril 5 · ~30 min
2
Grub Control — Preventive grub killerEarly June · ~15 min
3
Fall Feed + Overseed — Fertilizer + bare spot repairEarly September · ~45 min
4
Winterizer — Late-season root builderLate October · ~20 min
5
Perimeter Pest & Spider Control — Bug barrierQuarterly: Apr, Jun, Sep, Dec · ~20 min each

Year at a Glance

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F
M
A
M
J
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O
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Lawn
1
2
3
4
Pest
5
5
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Spring
Summer
Fall
Pest control

Applications

Tap each card for products, instructions, and details.

1
Triple Action
🗓 Sunday Apr 5 · ⏱ ~30 min
Why this matters
This is the single most important application of the year. It combines three functions in one pass: pre-emergent herbicide creates a chemical barrier that prevents crabgrass from germinating, post-emergent herbicide kills existing broadleaf weeds (dandelions, clover, chickweed) that have already sprouted, and fertilizer gives your fescue/bluegrass a push out of winter dormancy. You want this down before soil temps stay above 55°F — in Louisville that's early-to-mid April. At low 60s you're a touch late, but you'll still catch a good portion of crabgrass seeds that haven't germinated yet.
🧪
Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action
Covers 4,000–5,000 sq ft. Three-in-one: prevents crabgrass, kills existing weeds, feeds your lawn. Contains 5% iron for deep greening.
~$28–35 · ✅ Purchased 4/4

How to apply

1
Apply in the morning when dew is on the grass, OR lightly wet the lawn with a hose first. Granules need to stick to weed leaves to activate the post-emergent herbicide — dry leaves = wasted product.
2
Load granules into a broadcast spreader. Set the dial to the setting listed on the bag for your spreader model.
3
Walk at a steady pace, slightly overlapping each pass. Cover the whole lawn in one direction. For better coverage, do a second pass perpendicular to the first at half the dial setting.
4
Do NOT mow for 2–3 days after applying. You want the herbicide absorbed through weed leaves, not chopped off. Also don't water for 24 hours.
5
Rain after 24 hours is fine — it actually helps activate the pre-emergent and fertilizer.
💡 Tip: Don't apply where you plan to seed bare spots in spring. Pre-emergent prevents ALL seeds from germinating, including grass seed. Skip those areas — the big overseed push is in September.
⚠️ Note: Because Triple Action includes post-emergent weed control, you may not need a separate Weed & Feed in May. Reassess in late May — if weeds persist, spot-treat with a bottle of Ortho Weed-B-Gon (~$8) rather than a full pass.
2
Preventive Grub Control
🗓 June 1–15 · ⏱ ~15 min
Why this matters
Japanese beetle and June bug grubs feed on grass roots from late summer through fall. By the time you see spongy brown patches you can peel up like carpet, the damage is done. A preventive product applied in early June kills grubs shortly after they hatch, before they can cause damage. This is especially important because you're not watering — a lawn under drought stress that also has grub damage will look terrible by September.
🪲
Scotts GrubEx (or BioAdvanced Season Long Grub Control)
Covers 5,000 sq ft. One application protects all season. Must be applied BEFORE grub damage appears.
~$22–28 · ✅ Purchased 4/4

How to apply

1
Mow first if needed (no special height required).
2
Load the spreader and apply evenly across the entire lawn. Same walking pattern as before.
3
This one does need watering in — the product needs to reach the soil where grubs live. If rain isn't forecast within 2–3 days, give the lawn a good soak with a hose.
💡 Tip: Time this with a rain forecast if possible and you won't have to water at all. Check your weather app and spread it the day before rain.
3
Fall Fertilizer + Overseed Bare Spots
🗓 Sep 1–20 · ⏱ ~45 min
Why this matters
This is the most productive application of the year for cool-season grass. Louisville's September weather — warm days, cool nights, decent rainfall — creates ideal growing conditions. Your fescue and bluegrass are entering their strongest growth phase. Fertilizing now promotes deep root development that helps the lawn survive next summer's heat even without irrigation. And this is THE window to fix bare spots — fall overseeding success rates are dramatically higher than spring.
🌱
Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food (32-0-4 or similar fall formula)
5,000 sq ft bag. Just fertilizer — no herbicide (you don't want weed killer when you're seeding).
~$22–25
🌾
Tall Fescue Blend Grass Seed (3–5 lb bag)
Look for a "turf type" tall fescue blend. Pennington Smart Seed or Scotts ThickR Lawn both work. Only needed for bare/thin spots.
~$12–18

How to apply

1
Mow a bit shorter than usual (2.5–3 inches) and bag the clippings. This lets sunlight reach the soil where you're seeding.
2
For bare spots: rake lightly to rough up the soil surface. Scatter seed by hand at a heavy rate. Tamp down with your foot or the back of a rake. Seed needs soil contact.
3
Spread the fertilizer with your spreader across the entire lawn, including seeded areas.
4
If it doesn't rain within a few days, hose down the seeded patches. New seed needs consistent moisture for 2–3 weeks to germinate. Even with a no-watering philosophy, this is the one time a little hose work pays off big.
💡 Tip: Toss a thin layer of straw or peat moss over seeded bare spots. It holds moisture, prevents birds from eating the seed, and keeps the soil from crusting over.
4
Winterizer Fertilizer
🗓 Late Oct – Mid Nov · ⏱ ~20 min
Why this matters
The last fertilizer of the year helps your lawn store energy in its root system over winter. High potassium strengthens cell walls and improves cold tolerance. Lawns that get a late fall feed green up noticeably faster and thicker the following March. Apply at least 6 weeks before the ground typically freezes.
❄️
Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Lawn Food
5,000 sq ft bag. High-potassium formula for late-season root building. Make sure the bag says "WinterGuard" — different from the September feed.
~$22–25

How to apply

1
Mow one last time if grass is still growing. You can mulch-mow fallen leaves at the same time (free fertilizer).
2
Spread with your spreader at the bag's recommended rate.
3
Clean and store your spreader for the season. Quick rinse — fertilizer residue corrodes metal parts.
💡 Tip: Mulch your leaves instead of raking. Run the mower over them until pieces fall between the grass blades. Leaf mulch breaks down over winter and returns nutrients to the soil.
5
Perimeter Pest & Spider Control
🗓 Quarterly: Apr, Jun, Sep, Dec · ⏱ ~20 min each
Why this matters
Spiders, ants, centipedes, earwigs, and other creepy-crawlies get into your house through gaps around the foundation, doors, windows, and where pipes/wires enter. A perimeter spray creates a chemical barrier that kills bugs on contact and repels them for weeks. Indoor application on baseboards lasts up to 12 months. Outdoor treatment needs refreshing every 3 months since rain and UV break it down. Arguably the application you'll appreciate most day-to-day.
🕷️
Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter
1.1 gal jug with comfort wand sprayer. Kills spiders, ants, roaches, earwigs, centipedes, silverfish, and more. One jug lasts 2–3 quarterly outdoor applications plus one thorough indoor treatment.
~$18–22 · ✅ Purchased 4/4

Outdoor perimeter

1
Choose a dry day with no rain in the next 24 hours. Clear debris, leaves, or mulch away from the foundation.
2
Spray a 12-inch wide band along your entire home's foundation. Also spray around all exterior doors, windows, garage doors, and where pipes/wires enter.
3
Hit any cracks, crevices, or gaps in the foundation. Pay extra attention to basement window wells — spider highway.

Indoor (1–2x per year)

1
Spray a 4-inch band along baseboards in the basement, garage, and any rooms where you see bugs. Focus on corners and behind appliances.
2
Spray around interior door frames, window frames, and where pipes come through walls (under sinks, behind toilets).
3
Let it dry completely (15–20 min) before people/pets walk on treated surfaces. No fumes, dries clear.
💡 Tip: One thorough indoor application in spring usually lasts most of the year. If you see a spider resurgence in fall, do a quick interior touch-up.

Shopping List

Everything for the full year in two trips.

🛒 Spring Trip (April)

Already purchased 4/4/2026
Scotts Triple Action~$30 ✅
Scotts GrubEx~$25 ✅
Ortho Home Defense 1.1 gal~$20 ✅
Spring subtotal~$75

🛒 Fall Trip (Late August)

Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food~$23
Tall Fescue Blend Seed (3–5 lb)~$15
Scotts WinterGuard Fall Lawn Food~$23
Fall subtotal~$60
Total Estimated Annual Cost
~$100–$130
TruGreen 5-app: ~$400 · Ace YardRx: ~$297

Mowing Cheat Sheet

🌿
Spring (Mar–May): Mow at 3–3.5 inches, roughly weekly. Grass is growing fast — keep up with it.
☀️
Summer (Jun–Aug): Raise to 4 inches. Mow every 10–14 days. Taller grass shades roots and retains moisture. If it goes brown/dormant, that's fine — don't panic-mow.
🍂
Fall (Sep–Nov): Back to 3–3.5 inches, weekly. Mulch leaves with the mower. Keep mowing until grass stops growing (usually late November).
❄️
Winter (Dec–Feb): Nothing. Don't walk on frozen grass. Sharpen your mower blade in January.