What your Willamette Valley yard and pond actually need, month by month. Print it, stick it on the fridge.
- Family-owned since 1996
- LCB #6834
- Licensed · Bonded · Insured
- ICPI Paver Training
January
Yard
- Prune dormant fruit trees on a dry day
- Apply dormant oil spray to fruit trees and roses
- Stay off soggy or frozen lawn
- Check downspouts and bed drainage during heavy rain
Pond
- Keep de-icer running so ice never seals over
- Never break ice — the shock harms fish
- Stop feeding fish; water is below 50°F
February
Yard
- Prune roses around Presidents Day
- Cut back ornamental grasses before new growth
- Apply moss control to the lawn
- Finish dormant pruning before buds break
Pond
- Inspect pump, plumbing, and liner for winter damage
- Top off water lost to wind and evaporation
March
Yard
- First mow once the lawn dries out
- Edge beds and spread fresh mulch
- Apply spring lawn fertilizer with moss control
- Pull weeds now, before they set seed
Pond
- Do the spring cleanout: net debris, rinse filters
- Restart pump and waterfall
- Add beneficial bacteria once water hits 50°F
April
Yard
- Aerate and overseed — prime spring window
- Fertilize the lawn after overseeding
- Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials
- Mow weekly; keep blades sharp
Pond
- Start feeding fish lightly above 50°F
- Divide and repot marginal plants
- Fertilize water lilies
May
Yard
- Start up irrigation; check every zone and head
- Schedule backflow test — it's required annually
- Finish any overseeding early in the month
- Spot-treat lawn weeds while they're young
Pond
- Add floating plants for summer shade
- Pull string algae by hand as it appears
- Move to regular fish feeding
June
Yard
- Raise mower height to 2.5–3" for summer
- Dial in irrigation as the rain shuts off
- Deadhead spring bloomers
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs after bloom
Pond
- Aim for 60% surface coverage with lilies and floaters
- Top off weekly with dechlorinated water
- Empty skimmer basket often
July
Yard
- Water deeply, early morning — about 1" per week
- Mow high; never cut more than a third
- Watch new plantings for drought stress
- Soak trees and shrubs every couple weeks
Pond
- Run aeration overnight during heat waves
- Feed fish in the cool of the morning
- Top off — summer evaporation runs fast
August
Yard
- Keep deep watering through the dry stretch
- Skip fertilizing stressed lawns
- Plan fall planting and lawn projects now
- Check drip emitters and adjust run times
Pond
- Rinse filter pads in pond water, not tap
- Trim yellowing lily leaves at the base
- Watch fish at dawn — gasping means low oxygen
September
Yard
- Aerate and overseed — the best window of the year
- Apply fall lawn fertilizer
- Cut irrigation back as the rains return
- Plant trees and shrubs; fall roots beat spring
Pond
- Net the pond before leaves start dropping
- Switch to cold-water fish food below 60°F
- Cut back marginal plants as they fade
October
Yard
- Winterize irrigation: blow out lines, insulate backflow
- Keep leaves raked off the lawn
- Plant spring bulbs and garlic
- Apply lime if a soil test calls for it
Pond
- Keep the net tight through peak leaf drop
- Stop feeding fish once water drops below 50°F
- Remove tropical plants before frost
November
Yard
- Final mow, slightly shorter than summer height
- Clean gutters and check drainage before storms
- Drain hoses and cover spigots
- Mulch tender perennials before a hard frost
Pond
- Pull the net once the leaves are down
- Install the de-icer before the first hard freeze
- Shut down or winterize the waterfall pump
December
Yard
- Stay off frozen or waterlogged turf
- Prune dormant shade trees for structure
- Sharpen mower blades and service tools
- Sketch next year's landscape projects
Pond
- Confirm the de-icer keeps a hole open in ice
- Leave the fish alone — no feeding until spring
- Knock heavy snow off netting or covers
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