A lake house ages differently than an in-town property. Moisture, pollen, algae, and UV hit harder and earlier. This calendar is based on what we have seen across 50+ Cedar Creek Lake properties — not what a national guide says.
January–February: inspect and plan
- Inspect dock boards for winter rot. Replace before spring weight.
- Check exterior caulking around windows — lake-side humidity accelerates cracking.
- Plan your annual pressure wash for late February or early March, before pollen.
March–April: pressure wash and landscape
- Pressure wash driveway, dock, and patio before pollen peaks. Timing matters — wash too early and pollen undoes it, too late and algae has set.
- First mow of the season. Lake lots grow faster than inland lots because of the moisture.
- Mulch beds now. The lake-effect humidity means weeds start 2–3 weeks earlier than Athens or Kemp.
May–June: summer prep
- Dock cleaning round two — just before Memorial Day weekend. This is the visit your guests notice.
- Treat for fire ants. Lake-adjacent lots have higher mound density.
- Set up irrigation if not already. Lake-lot soil drains faster than the clay inland.
July–August: maintain and survive
- Weekly mow at maximum height (4 inches). Shade the roots.
- Spot-treat algae on dock and seawall monthly.
- Skip the exterior siding wash — humidity is too high for it to dry properly.
September–October: fall reset
- Pressure wash dock and patio again — post-summer algae cycle.
- Fall aeration for lake-lot lawns. The soil compacts faster here.
- Leaf removal starts mid-October. Pecan trees drop first; oaks follow in November.
- Gutter clean if you have trees overhanging the roofline.
November–December: winterize
- Final leaf removal and bed clean-up before first freeze.
- Winterize irrigation lines — lake lots freeze harder than you think.
- Inspect dock hardware. Anything loose now will be a problem in a January ice storm.
- Skip the pressure wash. Cold temps + wet surfaces = bad combo.