Living in Kennebunk comes with a full dose of classic New England weather—slushy springs, humid summers, colorful falls, and frosty winters. While it’s a dream for anyone who loves the seasons, it’s a bit of a rollercoaster for your lawn. Keeping your grass healthy through all four seasons takes more than just luck; it requires a careful seasonal lawn care strategy.

Your lawn isn’t static. It’s always responding to temperature shifts, soil conditions, moisture levels, and whatever else Maine’s coastal climate throws its way. If you want your grass to stay green, thick, and healthy, it pays to follow a smart, year-round approach. And yes, the New England lawn care calendar is a real thing; it’s just a bit more unpredictable when you’re living this close to the ocean.

Let’s take a walk through the seasons and break down what your lawn needs in Kennebunk, one step at a time.

Spring: Time to Wake It Up

Spring in Kennebunk doesn’t exactly arrive with a flip of a switch. Some days it feels like winter is hanging on for dear life, and others you’re pulling dandelions in a T-shirt. But once the snow melts and the ground starts thawing, your lawn needs a wake-up call.

The first thing to do is clean things up. All that snow, ice, and winter debris likely left behind a mess. Raking out leaves and matted grass will help new shoots get the light and air they need. It also reduces the risk of fungal diseases hanging around in the wet thatch.

This is also a good time to test your soil. A simple soil test will tell you what nutrients your lawn is lacking, so you don’t waste money on the wrong fertilizer. And speaking of fertilizer—go easy in the spring. A light, balanced feeding helps your grass recover, but you don’t want to push it too hard too soon.

One more tip: hold off on seeding until fall. It might be tempting to fill in those bare patches right away, but New England’s spring conditions are usually too wet and cold for strong germination.

Summer: Keep It Cool, Keep It Green

By the time summer rolls around, your lawn is in full growth mode. This is when things start to get tricky. Warm temps, dry spells, and lawn pests all show up to challenge your hard work. The goal in summer is to maintain and protect.

One of the easiest ways to help your grass stay healthy during the heat is to mow high. Taller blades create more shade, which keeps the soil cooler and slows evaporation. That means your lawn holds onto water longer and naturally chokes out weeds.

Watering is important too, but it’s all about timing and technique. Deep, infrequent watering is better than short daily sprinkles. Try to water early in the morning so the moisture soaks in before the sun burns it off. Late-day watering can leave grass damp overnight, which invites fungus and other problems.

As for pests, this is the prime season for grubs and chinch bugs in Kennebunk. If you notice spongy turf or brown patches that spread fast, it’s time to investigate. Catching these issues early can save you a ton of money and frustration later.

Also, go light on fertilizer in summer. Overfeeding when it’s hot can stress your lawn and do more harm than good. If you do feed, use a slow-release blend and follow the instructions carefully.

Fall: The Season for Repair

If you only do one serious round of lawn care a year, do it in the fall. This is when your grass naturally wants to grow strong roots and fill in thin spots. Cooler days and regular rain make it the perfect time to fix whatever summer damaged.

Aerating your lawn in the fall is one of the best things you can do. It opens up compacted soil and lets air, water, and nutrients reach the root zone. Right after aerating is also a great time to overseed. Whether your lawn is patchy or just thinning out, overseeding helps thicken things up before winter.

You can also feed your lawn more heavily in the fall. A high-nitrogen fertilizer helps boost root growth so your grass is better prepared to survive the cold. Just be sure to stop fertilizing about two to three weeks before the first expected frost.

And don’t forget about leaves. While a few leaves mulched into the grass can help with nutrients, too many will smother the lawn. Make leaf cleanup a regular thing; your grass will thank you.

Winter: Protect and Plan

Once the ground freezes and snow starts falling, your lawn pretty much shuts down. There’s not much active care needed during winter, but there are still a few things you can do to protect all your hard work.

Try to avoid heavy foot traffic on frozen or snow-covered grass. When grass blades are dormant, they’re brittle and easily damaged. If you always take the same shortcut across the lawn to the mailbox, consider switching it up or using the walkway instead.

Keep snow piles and salt away from the edges of your lawn when you can. Road salt can leach into the soil and damage grass roots come spring. If possible, use pet-safe or lawn-safe deicers to reduce the risk of winter burn.

Winter is also a great time to make your lawn care game plan for next season. Think about any problem areas you noticed last year. Was drainage an issue? Did weeds get out of hand? Planning now means you’ll be ready to take action once spring hits again.

Coastal Challenges in Kennebunk

Lawn care in Kennebunk isn’t exactly like inland Maine or even other parts of New England. Living near the ocean means you’re dealing with extra moisture, cooler springs, and salty air, all of which play a role in how your grass grows.

That’s why having a seasonal lawn care strategy tailored to our local conditions is so important. Timing matters, and so does knowing what to expect from each season. Following a generic schedule might get you partway there, but if you want a healthy, beautiful lawn, it pays to work with people who know Kennebunk lawns inside and out.

Let One Mow Co. Help You Plan Year-Round

At One Mow Co., we’re not just here to mow. We understand the seasonal shifts, pest pressures, and soil conditions that are unique to this area. Our team builds lawn care plans that follow the New England lawn care calendar but are customized for Kennebunk’s coastal climate.

From spring cleanup to fall aeration, we’re with you every step of the way. You don’t have to stress about when to fertilize or how short to mow; our seasons lawn care strategies handle all the details so you can enjoy your lawn without the guesswork.

If you want a yard that turns heads in every season, we’re ready to help. Contact One Mow Co. today and get a customized, seasonal lawn care strategy that works with your lifestyle and with Kennebunk’s ever-changing climate.