Keeping a healthy, good-looking lawn doesn’t have to be complicated—it just takes the right timing and the right products. We get a lot of questions about when to fertilize, what to apply, and how to stay ahead of weeds and pests throughout the year. The turf schedule was put together to take the guesswork out of lawn care and give you a clear, season-by-season plan you can follow with confidence. Whether you’re caring for Bermuda, Zoysia, or St. Augustine grass, this guide will help you make smart decisions, protect your investment, and keep your lawn thriving all year long.
Check out our simple turf care schedule below.
Turf Schedule
- During the last week of February or early March put down pre-emergent. This is based on soil temperature (before it reaches 55̊). You can use Dimension or Barricade. The organic option is Corn Gluten Meal (40#’s/4,000 sq ft). Fifty pounds will cover roughly 10,000 sq ft. Each application will be effective for about 75-90 days.
- Fertilize mid to late March (after the grass begins to turn green)
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- Bermuda Grass – use high Nitrogen (N) 28-3-10 with iron (Fe)
- Zoysia grass – use high nitrogen (N) 28-3-10 with iron (Fe)
- Augustine grass – I do not recommend high nitrogen. Use a 15-5-10 with iron (Fe)
- Organic Fertilizer Natures Creation 4-2-2 or 6-1-2
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- As a personal preference, I do not recommend Weed and Feed fertilizers because these applications work best when applied at a different time of the month/year.
- You will need to water in any fertilizer or pre-emergent applications.
- Fertilize mid to late May
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- Bermuda Grass – use high Nitrogen (N) 28-3-10 with iron (Fe)
- Zoysia grass – use high nitrogen (N) 28-3-10 with iron (Fe)
- Augustine grass – I do not recommend high nitrogen. Use a 15-5-10 with iron (Fe)
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- Late May put down pre-emergent. This is an optional application based on rainfall. In years when we get plentiful rainfall in May and June, you could see another wave of crabgrass germination. Use Dimension or Barricade. Fifty pounds will cover roughly 10,000 sq ft. Each application will be effective for about 75-90 days.
- During June, July and August, check your watering schedules for the hot summer months. You may want to lengthen the duration of water per station. During periods of water restrictions, I recommend watering deeper, so the roots of your turf are not near the surface. Your soil will only absorb a certain amount of water. To prevent run-off, water your lawn and beds two or three times per day in shorter cycles on your approved watering days.
- Refrain from fertilizing St Augustine grass in the heat of the summer. Nitrogen will exacerbate fungus on your grass.
- In St. Augustine lawns, look for chinch bugs and gray leaf spot in July. Treat chinch bugs with Bifenthrin. Treat gray leaf spot with a fungicide like F Stop.
- In August, treat for grub worms on St Augustine grass lawns. There are several products on the market. One of the best is Aloft.
- Fertilize mid to late September
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- Bermuda Grass – use high Nitrogen (N) 28-3-10 with iron (Fe)
- Zoysia grass – use high nitrogen (N) 28-3-10 with iron (Fe)
- Augustine grass – I do not recommend high nitrogen. Use a 15-5-10 with iron (Fe)
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- Early September put down pre-emergent. Use Gallery or a combination of Gallery and Dimension or Barricade. Fifty pounds will cover roughly 10,000 sq ft. Each application will be effective for about 75-90 days.
- If you want a winterizer for your lawn, you can apply this in November. Use 13-13-13 or 18-18-18.
- Watering tip: Water early in the morning before sunrise. This prevents excess evaporation and allows the sun to dry the grass.
Lawn Care Product Guide
- Fungicide – F Stop
- Common Post Emergent Herbicides – Use 2-4-D on Bermuda grass or Zoysia grass. Only use Atrizine or Trimec on St. Augustine grass
- Common Pre-Emergent Herbicides – Use Gallery, Dimension or Barricade
- Nutsedge – Use Sedgehammer or Image
- Common Turf Insecticide- Aloft (Chlothiandin and Bifenthrin), Bifenthrin and Permethrin
- Texas Green Sand – Helps retain moisture
- Lava Sand – Moisture Retention, helps break up clay soil
- Gypsum – Helps break up clay soil
- Dried Molasses – Increases microbial activity in your soil
- Expanded Shale – Aids in water retention and breaks up clay soil
- Sulfur – Works to keep insects away (can possibly change the Ph of your soil)
- Diatomaceous Earth – Can work to reduce crawling insects
- Orange Oil – Use as an insecticide and degreaser
- 20% and 30% Vinegar – Use as a herbicide
- Corn Meal – Use as fungicide
- Mycorrhizal Fungi – Improves root systems
