Lawn Care Calendar for Switzerland: Fertilizing, Mowing, Watering, and Dog Urine Management

Annual Schedule

• Fertilize: Late May, early September, mid‑November. Use standard N‑P‑K lawn fertilizer or single‑nutrient sources (ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate). Apply to dry grass; water in.
• Mow: Start early spring when growth begins. Height 5–8 cm. Weekly until growth stops in late fall (when no mowing needed for two weeks – that’s your cue for the November fertilizer).
• Water: If needed, deep soak once a week (2 hours) rather than daily light watering.

Diagnosing Patchy Areas

Common causes:

• Dog urine (especially females) – high salts kill roots.
• Dehydration from mowing too low, summer fertilizing, or insufficient water.
• Insect damage – usually attacks weakened grass.

Cultural fixes: mow high, fertilize spring/fall, water deeply weekly. Healthy grass resists pests naturally.

Soil pH and Nutrients

• Test pH with litmus paper on a soil‑water slurry (distilled water). Target 6.0–7.0.
• If below 6.0, apply dolomitic limestone (calcium + magnesium). Do not lime if pH > 6.0.
• Balanced N‑P‑K usually supplies all needed nutrients. If concerned, spread a thin 2 cm layer of well‑rotted compost and brush in – labor‑intensive but effective.

Dog Urine Management

• If you see the dog urinate, flush immediately with plenty of water to move salts past the root zone.
• Train dogs to a non‑lawn area (reward‑based).
• Accept that female dogs on small lawns cause inevitable spotting.

Key Takeaways

Fertilize spring and fall (not summer), mow high and often, water deeply weekly, check pH, and manage dog spots promptly. This regimen works across temperate climates, including Switzerland.