Southern Lawn Care Calendar: Warm-Season Grass Maintenance

Spring

Stop summer weeds: Apply pre-emergent herbicide mid-February to early March.

Begin mowing: Start mid- to late spring as growth begins.

Remove thatch: Thatch (dead grass layer) blocks air, water, nutrients. Remove before summer growth.

Summer

Fertilize: Warm-season lawns hunger in heat. Feed late April/early May per package instructions through summer.

Grub control: Long-acting killer in early to late May if grubs are problematic.

New lawn: Seed, sprigs, or plugs in summer. Warm-season grasses need constant moisture during establishment.

Mowing: Regular in summer. Never remove >1/3 blade length — stresses lawn.

Aerate: Summer for hard, compacted soil — improves air, moisture, nutrient access.

Water: ~1 inch weekly average.

Fall

Overseed with annual ryegrass: Bermudagrass browns in winter; ryegrass stays green in cool months, dies when heat returns as Bermudagrass greens up.

Prevent winter weeds: Pre-emergent mid-October to mid-November.

Final mowing: Continue as growth slows. Don't let it get too long entering dormancy.