Most lawn care companies we spoke to apply six to eight rounds, but what they do with them varies and often depends on weather.

Jeff Cooper

President, Lawn Connection
West Berlin, N.J.

Most common grass types: Bluegrass-ryegrass blend, tall fescue

Rounds: Base offering—six; Premium—eight

1. March-April—Slow-release granular fertilizer with preemergent crabgrass control.
   Premium: Aeration with additional application of preemergent herbicide.
2. April-May—Liquid fertilizer, broadleaf weed control.
   Premium: May-June grub control application.
3. Late May-early June—Organic liquid biostimulant application.
4. July 4—Light feeding of granular organic-based fertilizer, spot spray weeds.
5. Early-mid-August—Slow-release 28-0-0 fertilizer.

Luke Hawthorne

President, Emerald Lawns
Round Rock, Texas

Most common grass types: Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass

Rounds: Eight

1. January-mid-February—Full rate of liquid organic probiotic on all lawns.
2. February-March—Bermudagrass lawns: preemergent, liquid high-nitrogen fertilizer; St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass lawns: no preemergent, high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer; spot treat weeds, insects and diseases on all lawns.
3. End of March-April—High-nitrogen fertilizer on all lawns; spot treat weed, insects and diseases.
4. May-June—Bermudagrass: preemergent to control summer annuals; St. Augustinegrass or zoysiagrass: Good condition lawns get organic fertilizer. Struggling lawns get nitrogen fertilizer at technician’s discretion.
5. July-August—Bermudagrass: organic fertilizer; St. Augustinegrass or zoysiagrass: Good condition lawns get organic fertilizer. Struggling lawns get nitrogen fertilizer at technician’s discretion.
6. August-September—Bermudagrass: organic fertilizer; St. Augustinegrass or zoysiagrass: Good condition lawns get organic fertilizer. Struggling lawns get nitrogen at technician’s discretion.

Mid-September: Preemergent weed control for spring annuals.
November-December: Sulfur/potash application.

Bobby Gay

Operations Manager, Kathleen’s Lawn & Shrub Care
Evans, Ga.

Most common grass types: Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass, Centipedegrass

Rounds: Six; lime application or liquid aeration offered as add-ons.

1. January-March—Potassium and liquid organic probiotic to strengthen roots.
2. April-May—One round of full-rate liquid preemergent for crabgrass control; Bermudagrass/zoysiagrass: Some liquid nitrogen if warm weather is prevalent and grass is already growing.
3. June-August—Liquid organic probiotic, iron, potassium, phosphorous, insecticide; Bermudagrass/zoysiagrass: nitrogen fertilizer.
4. September-October—Fall preemergent to control Poa annua; Bermudagrass/zoysiagrass: Nitrogen if weather remains warm; Centipedegrass/St. Augustinegrass: iron, liquid organic probiotic.
5. November-December—Liquid potassium, phosphorous and some manganese.

Derek Blumberg

Owner, Quality Seasons
Location: Savage, Minn.

Most common grass types: Bluegrass-ryegrass mix

Rounds: Seven

1. Usually April but varies—“Spoon-fed” granular fertilizer.
2. May—“Spoon-fed” granular fertilizer, spot treat weeds with postemergent broadleaf herbicides.
3. June—“Spoon-fed” granular fertilizer, spot treat with postemergent broadleaf herbicides.
4. July— “Spoon-fed” granular fertilizer, spot treat with postemergent broadleaf herbicides.
5. August—“Spoon-fed” granular fertilizer, spot treat with postemergent broadleaf herbicides.
6. September—“Spoon-fed” granular fertilizer, spot treat with postemergent broadleaf herbicides.
7. Early October—Pelletized gypsum soil stabilizer.

Chris Senske

President, Senske Services
Kennewick, Wash.

Most common grass types: Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, bentgrass, chewings fescue

Rounds: Seven rounds; optional insect/grub prevention application in round three.

1. Feb. 15-March 1—Custom-blend fertilizer.
2. April-May—Custom-blend fertilizer, broadleaf weed control, preemergent herbicide for crabgrass in later applications.
3. Mid-May-mid-June—Custom-blend fertilizer, broadleaf weed control, preemergent herbicide in earlier applications.
4. Late July-August—Custom-blend fertilizer.
5. August-September—Custom-blend fertilizer, broadleaf weed control.
6. October—Preemergent broadleaf control.
7. Late October-November—Custom-blend fertilizer.