Delaware Lawn Care Guide
The Score Lawn Program
A step-by-step seasonal fertilizer and lawn care schedule built for Delaware homeowners. Follow the program and we’ll make sure you have the right products at the right time of year.
This program was developed by the team at Score Seed and Garden Supply using years of experience with Delaware-area soils and climate. Every product we recommend is stocked in our store at 211 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE. Stop in and we’ll walk you through it.
Seasonal Application Schedule
Seven applications across the growing season, from late winter soil prep through fall winterizer. Timing targets are provided for each step.
February – March
Target: Feb 1
Reapply: Nov 1
Lime or Gypsum
pH control
Apply 6 to 12 lbs per 1,000 sq ft each year for optimum turf grass health. This maintains proper soil pH and provides calcium, which stimulates the beneficial soil microbes responsible for delivering usable nutrients to grass plants.
March – April
Target: Mar 1
Reapply: Jun 15
Pre-Emergent Fertilizer
Crabgrass Prevention
This premium spring fertilizer with Dimension or Prodiamine crabgrass control will wake up and green your lawn while providing the best crabgrass prevention available. This is the single most important application for preventing crabgrass in Delaware-area lawns.
Only use this product if you do not plan on seeding your lawn for 6 to 8 weeks, or after 8 or more inches of rain has fallen. If you need to seed, use a product containing Mesotrione instead. Mesotrione is the only pre-emergent safe for use at seeding.
April– May
Target: May 1
Weed and Feed
Broadleaf Weed Control
This application provides an immediate source of nitrogen followed by sustained slow release, giving your lawn strong healthy greening while killing broadleaf weeds. Contains Escalade or Confront herbicides for effective broadleaf control.
A 19-0-6 with Dimension and Confront is a strong 2-in-1 option that combines pre-emergent weed control with fertilizer in a single application.
Do not apply within two weeks of seeding.
May – June
Target: Jun 1
Insect and Grub Control
Broadleaf Weed Control
Grub damage in Delaware lawns typically shows up in late summer, but prevention must be applied before the eggs hatch in early summer. Timing this application correctly is critical for effective control.
Check with a store associate for the proper insecticide product and timing recommendations for your specific situation.
Summer
As Needed
Disease Control
Fungicide
Summer heat and humidity in the Delaware area create conditions for lawn diseases including brown patch, dollar spot, and red thread. Not every lawn will need fungicide every year, but knowing when and what to apply can save a lawn quickly.
Check with a store associate for the proper fungicide product and timing. Bring a photo of the affected area if you can — it helps us recommend the right product faster.
August – September
Target: Sep 1
Fall Fertilizer
Applied in late summer, this fertilizer helps stressed lawns recover from the heat and drought of summer and regain healthy green growth going into fall. Cool-season grasses like fescue and bluegrass naturally peak in fall, and this application sets them up to thrive.
This is also the best window for overseeding thin or bare areas. Ask us about pairing the right grass seed with your fall fertilizer application.
October– November
Target: Oct 1
Winterizer
The winterizer application provides continued feeding during the best growing season of the year for cool-season lawns in Delaware. It carries a healthy green lawn deep into winter and sets the roots up for a strong spring green-up.
If you have an in-ground irrigation system, we recommend applying a crabgrass control product each month from April through August. This consistent application will also prevent weed seeds from germinating in irrigated areas throughout the season.
Ready to get started?
Every product in this program is in our store. Stop in or give us a call, we’ve been helping Delaware homeowners with their lawns for over 35 years.