Garden Care Guide

Perennial Ryegrass Lawn Care

It germinates very quickly and is known for its bright green color, but it is sensitive to heat and drought. It is generally used in cool regions or for overseeding Bermuda grass in hot regions (Aegean, Mediterranean) to keep it green in winter.

Half-hardy

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 2 weeks (10 L/m²).
  • Fertilizing: If needed, a very light dose of nitrogen fertilizer may be applied.
  • Pruning: Mow regularly at a height of 3-4 cm.
  • General care: It continues to grow in winter, albeit slowly.
  • Pests & diseases: In the winter months, be careful of fungal diseases.
February
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 2 weeks.
  • Pruning: Mow regularly.
  • General care: Clear weeds by hand.
March
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week (10-15 L/m²).
  • Fertilizing: To encourage growth, apply a nitrogen-dominant lawn fertilizer.
  • Pruning: Mow once a week.
  • General care: This is one of the fastest growth periods.
April
  • Watering: Water 1-2 times a week (15-20 L/m²).
  • Fertilizing: If necessary, continue fertilizing once a month.
  • Pruning: Mow once a week.
  • Pests & diseases: Leaf spot or rust may be seen.
May
  • Watering: Water 2-3 times a week (20-25 L/m²).
  • Pruning: Continue mowing.
  • General care: As the weather warms, growth slows and the warm-season grass (Bermuda) begins to grow from underneath.
  • Pests & diseases: Heat stress begins.
June
  • Watering: Water 3-4 times a week.
  • General care: It begins to yellow and die off at high temperatures. Let the bermudagrass grow.
July
  • General care: This grass species usually dies back completely this month. The warm-season grass beneath it takes over the area.
August
  • General care: It is out of season.
September
  • General care: Around now (20 September), it is time to prepare existing warm-season turf (Bermuda) for overseeding by mowing it very short and aerating it with a rake. Wait until October to sow.
October
  • Watering: After sowing the seeds, keep the soil constantly moist until germination (light watering 1-2 times a day).
  • Fertilizing: Use a starter fertilizer when sowing.
  • General care: When the weather cools (soil temperature 15-20°C), sow the seeds (about 40-50 g/m²) and cover them with a thin layer of topsoil.
  • Pests & diseases: Protect the seeds from ants and birds.
November
  • Watering: After the grass emerges, reduce watering frequency and increase the amount (every 2-3 days).
  • Pruning: Make the first mowing when the grass is about 5-6 cm; the blades must be sharp.
December
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week (10 L/m²).
  • Pruning: Begin mowing regularly at a height of 3-4 cm.
  • General care: The lawn area that will stay green in winter has become established.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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