March–April: pruning and the spring clear-up
Fruit trees are pruned before the sap rises, while they are still dormant — in Moldova, usually the first half of March. The same period is for gathering the leaves left from autumn, clearing the old mulch and the first aeration of the lawn. An average garden takes 4–6 hours, that is 250–400 MDL.
April–May: planting and the first mow
New lawn is sown once the soil holds steady at 10 °C, usually by mid-April. The first mow happens when the grass reaches 8–10 cm, and only a third of the height is cut — cutting too short on the first pass is the most common mistake and leaves yellow patches for the rest of the season. Annual flowers go in after 10 May, once the risk of late frost has passed.
June–August: upkeep on a fixed interval
In summer the lawn is cut every 10–14 days, and the hedge twice a season: once at the end of June after the main growth, and once in August. Water early morning or evening — at midday half of it evaporates before reaching the roots. An upkeep visit takes 2–3 hours, that is 150–250 MDL, and is worth scheduling recurrently rather than calling ad hoc.
September–October: recovery and autumn planting
Autumn is the best time of year to sow a lawn: warm soil, cool air, and the weeds no longer compete. It is also when spring bulbs go in, when you feed with a potassium-rich autumn fertiliser and when you scarify. A garden properly prepared in October needs noticeably less work in March.
November: preparing for winter
The last mow is at 4–5 cm, shorter than in summer, so the grass does not flatten under snow and rot. Clear the leaves off the lawn, drain and store the hoses, protect roses and sensitive plants. Clearing leaves from an average garden is 3–4 hours, plus green waste removal if you have nowhere to compost it.