In Oklahoma, lawn care schedules vary by grass type. July is the busiest time for warm-season grasses, and September is the busiest for cool-season grasses.
The growing season determines when lawn care needs to be done. For warm-season grass, the growing season is late spring to early fall, so aeration, dethatching, mowing, and fertilizing happen in the summer. For cool-season grass, the growing season is in the spring and fall, so most fertilizing occurs in the spring and dethatching and aeration in the fall.
Table of Contents
Warm-season grasses
We recommend Bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, and buffalograss for Oklahoma. For more information, check out The Best Grass Seed for Oklahoma Lawns.
Here’s a month-to-month guide to help you make the most of your warm-season grass lawn.
January
Skip lawn maintenance until the snow is gone. When it melts, do these things:.
- Leaf removal: Remove leaves as needed. This will make spring clean-up easier.
- Weed control: Apply postemergence herbicides to winter weeds only when weeds are present. Apply first pre-emergent summer annual herbicide to turf areas from January to mid-March.
- Tool Maintenance: If you haven’t already, perform maintenance on lawnmowers, weed wackers, etc. Follow The Best Lawn Mower Maintenance Practices for best results.
- Irrigation system: Inspect your irrigation system and replace worn or broken parts according to the Landscape Maintenance Schedule.
February
- Get a soil test: A soil test reveals the fertilization and soil amendments your lawn needs. Without a soil test, you may add too much or too little fertilizer, which can lead to poor lawn health. Oklahoma State University Extension has a great guide to submitting samples, which you’ll then send to your local extension office.
- Leaf removal: Remove leaves and debris as needed.
- Weed control: Apply postemergence herbicides to winter weeds only when weeds are present. If you didn’t in January, apply summer pre-emergent herbicides.
March
- Debris removal: Remove leaves and debris in preparation for emerging lawn.
- Rake: Raking clears small debris and also helps your lawn emerge.
- Dethatch: Warm-season grasses can be dethatched as early as mid-March as long as the lawn has fully awakened from dormancy. If thatch is more than ½ inch, use a rake or vertical mower to dethatch. For more information on dethatching, here’s What is Dethatching?
- Water: Water grass only as needed.
Lawn Management in Oklahoma by Dennis Martin, Turf Extension Specialist at OSU, and David Hillock, Extension Consumer Horticulturist at OSU says, “The ideal time to water is when turfgrasses show the first visual symptoms of water need or wilt, characterized by ‘foot printing’ and a blue-gray appearance.”
Warm-season grass needs about 1 inch of water per week. March’s average rainfall is 3.06 inches, so irrigate an additional 1 to 2 inches.
- Insect control: As insects begin to emerge, use insecticides, organic pest control, or pest control companies.
April
- Mow: Grass reemerges when temperatures consistently reach 60 degrees. Lawn Management in Oklahoma says, “When they [warm-season grasses] are growing…they are cut lower to promote lateral spread and a “tight” turf.”
Follow these grass height recommendations from Lawn Management in Oklahoma for spring and summer.
| Grass Type | Mowing height |
| Bermudagrass | 0.5 to 0.75 or 1 to 2.5 inches depending on the variety |
| Buffalograss | 1.5 to 3.0 inches |
| St. Augustinegrass | 2.5 inches |
| Zoysiagrass | 0.5 to 0.75 |
- Mowing frequency: Mow twice per week to every other week depending on your grass type. Mowing frequency will increase as the weather warms. During the vigorous growing season, follow the chart below for mowing frequency.
| Grass Type | Mowing Frequency |
| Bermudagrass | Every 5 to 7 days |
| Buffalograss | Every two weeks |
| St. Augustinegrass | Weekly |
| Zoysiagrass | Every 5 to 7 days |
- Fertilize: Soil test results will give the best guidance, but in general, apply 0.5 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet in April. For more information, see When to Fertilize Your Oklahoma Lawn.
- Water: Water only when you see signs of dehydration. The average rainfall in April is just over 3 inches, so you’ll probably need to water an additional 1 to 2 inches.
- Insect control: Apply preventative white grub treatments from late April to early June. Continue to use insecticides, organic pest control, or pest control companies as needed.
- Plant grass: Most warm-season grasses are best established by sprigs, plugs, or sod. If you plan to establish new grass or thicken an existing lawn, mid-April is the best time to do this.
May
- Mow: Mow to a height of 0.5 to 3 inches once a week.
- Water: Irrigate only as needed. Oklahoma’s average rainfall in May is 4.65 inches, so you may not need additional irrigation in May.
- Fertilize: Apply another 0.5 pounds of Nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet.
- Insect control: In May, insects are in full swing. Continue to use insecticides, organic pest control, or pest control companies as needed. If you didn’t apply in late April, apply preventative white grub treatments.
- Weed control: Apply post-emergent weed control as needed following the manufacturer’s directions. Don’t use glyphosate on zoysiagrass as it will cause injury.
- Plant grass: If you plan on planting, now is a good time. For more information, see When to Plant Grass Seed in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City residents should have a look at Spring Lawn Care Tips for Oklahoma City.
June
- Mow: Mow to a height of 0.5 to 3 inches, depending on the grass type, weekly. Never mow a wet lawn or you’ll rip your grass and damage your mower.
- Water: Water only as needed. June’s average rainfall is just under 5 inches, so you may not need to irrigate at all in June.
- Weed control: Apply post-emergent weed control as needed following the manufacturer’s directions.
- Insect control: If white grub treatment hasn’t been applied yet, you can still apply in early June. Continue to use insecticides, organic pest control, or pest control companies as needed.
- Fertilize: Apply another 0.5 pounds of Nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet.
July
- Mow: Mow weekly to a height of 1 to 2 ½ inches, depending on the grass type (See April). Note: If drought occurs, raise Bermudagrass height by 0.5 inches.
- Water: Water only as needed. July’s average rainfall is 2.93 inches, so you’ll likely need to irrigate an additional 1 to 2 inches.
- Weed control: Use post-emergent weed control as needed.
- Insect control: Apply white grub treatments from late June to mid-July if needed. For other insects, use store-bought insecticides, organic pest control, or hire a professional pest control company.
- Fertilize: Don’t fertilize this month.
- Aerate: Aerate if needed. Push a screwdriver into the ground. If it’s easy, you don’t need to aerate, but if it’s challenging, aeration is needed. For more information, here’s How to Aerate Your Lawn.
Here’s a general guideline for aeration frequency based on soil types.
- Western Oklahoma: Loamy soil. Aerate every 2 to 3 years.
- Central Oklahoma: Loamy to clay. Aerate every 1 to 2 years.
- Eastern Oklahoma: Loamy to sandy. Aerate every 3 to 4 years.
August
- Mow: Mow to a height of 1 to 2 ½ inches weekly.
- Water: Water only as needed. Rainfall in August averages 3.28 inches, so one inch of irrigation will likely be needed.
- Weed control: According to OSU Extension, “Pre-emergent herbicides for winter annual weed control in warm-season grasses can be applied in late August. Water in the product after application.”
- Insect control: Treat for grubs. Continue to treat other pests as needed with store-bought insecticides, organic pest control, or professional pest control.
- Fertilize: Apply another 0.5 pounds of Nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet.
September
Mowing heights change this month in preparation for cooler winter
- Mow: Follow the below guidelines until the grass enters winter dormancy
| Grass Type | Mowing height |
| Bermudagrass | 1.0-1.25 or 1.5-3.0 inches depending on variety (see below) |
| Buffalograss | 2 to 3.0 inches |
| St. Augustinegrass | 3 inches |
| Zoysiagrass | 1.0 to 1.25 |
Bermudagrass varieties cut at 1.0 to 1.25: Midiron, Midfield, Midlawn, Tifway, Tifway II, Tifgreen, Sunturf
Bermudagrass varieties cut at 1.5 to 3: Arizona common, Cheyenne, Jackpot, Mirage, Guymon, U-3, Sundevil, Yuma
- Mowing frequency: Mow twice per week to every other week depending on your grass type (See April). The frequency will begin to decrease as the temperature falls. Avoid mowing mistakes, like mowing at the wrong time.
- Water: Water only as needed. September’s average rainfall is 4.06 so you may not need to supplement rainfall with irrigation.
- Weed control: If you haven’t already, apply winter weed pre-emergents. According to the Landscape Maintenance Schedule, “the application should be completed by the second week of September.”
- Insect control: Continue to treat other pests as needed with store-bought insecticides, organic pest control, or professional pest control services.
- Fertilize: Apply another 0.5 pounds of Nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. The Landscape Maintenance Schedule says, “The last nitrogen fertilizer application of the year on warm-season grasses should be applied no later than September 15.”
October
- Mow: Mow as needed to a height of 1 to 3 inches, depending on the grass type (See September). For tips and tricks, look at How to Mow a Lawn the Right Way.
- Water: Water only as needed. The average rainfall in October is 3.71, so water an additional one inch.
- Weed control: Apply broadleaf post-emergent herbicides to weeds. Learn more at How and When to Apply Post-Emergent Herbicides.
- Prep lawn for the first frost: Mow and edge before the first frost, which is generally estimated using growing zones.
| Zone | Location | First frost |
| 6 | Panhandle | October 17 to 31 |
| 7 | Most of Oklahoma, except the panhandle and the far south. | October 29 to November 15 |
| 8 | Southern sixth of Oklahoma, including Durant and Ardmore. | November 7 to 28 |
November
- Mow: Mow as needed. Stop mowing when the grass goes dormant.
- Water: Water only as needed. November’s average rainfall is 1.98 inches, so you may need an additional 2 to 2.5 inches. Stop watering when the grass goes dormant for the winter. Learn more about the types of irrigation.
- Weed control: Continue to apply postemergence herbicides as needed
- Soil test: If you didn’t do it in early spring, perform your soil test now. Soil tests should be done every 2 to 3 years.
- Put away lawn tools: Once your grass goes dormant, perform regular maintenance on lawn tools, i.e. emptying gas, sharpening blades, and changing oil.
Oklahoma City residents will benefit from reviewing Fall Lawn Care Tips for Oklahoma City.
December
- Leaf removal: Remove leaves as needed to make spring clean-up easier.
- Water: Your lawn is likely dormant. If not, water only as needed.
- Weed control: Apply postemergence herbicides only when weeds are present. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Check out the different types of post-emergent herbicides.
Cool-season grasses
Cool-season grasses also thrive in Oklahoma, including tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass according to Selecting a Lawn Grass for Oklahoma by Dennis Miller, Extension Turf Specialist at Oklahoma State University.
January
You likely either have snow on the ground or dormant grass, so no lawn maintenance is needed. But there are a few things you can do to reduce spring clean-up.
- Leaf removal: Remove leaves, sticks, and debris weekly to bi-weekly, depending on your landscaping.
- Weed control: Apply postemergence herbicides to winter weeds only when weeds are present. Apply first pre-emergent summer annual herbicide from January to mid-March. Learn about the different types of pre-emergent herbicides.
- Tool Maintenance: If you haven’t already, perform maintenance on lawnmowers, weed wackers, etc.
- Irrigation system: Test your irrigation system to be sure it’s working correctly and replace any broken or damaged part.
February
- Get a soil test: Avoid adding too much or too little fertilizer and soil amendments by getting a soil test. A soil test will tell you the fertilization and soil amendment needs of your lawn. Oklahoma State University Extension has a great guide to submitting samples, which you’ll then send to your local extension office.
- Leaf removal: Remove leaves and debris as needed. Weekly or bi-weekly is best, depending on your landscaping.
- Rake: Rake your lawn in mid to late February to remove remaining debris and to help wake up your lawn.
- Weed control: Apply postemergence herbicides to winter weeds only when weeds are present. If you didn’t in January, apply summer pre-emergent herbicides. Learn more at When and How to Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides.
March
- Prepare lawn mower: Get your lawn mower ready to mow by installing clean filters, checking or changing oil, sharpening blades, and checking air pressure in tires.
- Seed: While early September is the best time to seed, March is the second-best time of the year to seed cool-season turfgrass.
- Fertilize: Apply 0.5 to 1 pound of Nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet.
- Insect control: As insects begin to emerge, use insecticides, organic pest control, or pest control companies.
- Weed control: Use post-emergents as weeds pop-up. You can still apply summer pre-emergent until mid-March.
- Water: Only water as needed when you see signs of dehydration, including wilting grass and footprints that stay in grass. Cool-season grasses require 1.5 to 2 inches of water per week. March’s average rainfall is about 3 inches, so you’ll need to irrigate an additional 3 to 5 inches.
- Mow: You can begin mowing in March. Follow the below guidelines.
| Grass Type | Mowing Height |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 2.5 inches |
| Perennial ryegrass | 2.5 inches |
| Tall fescue | 3.0 inches |
- Mowing frequency: As temperatures increase, mowing frequency will increase. The following frequencies are for the active growing season.
| Grass Type | Mowing Frequency |
| Kentucky bluegrass | Every 5 to 7 days |
| Perennial ryegrass | Twice per week |
| Tall fescue | Every 5 to 7 days |
April
- Mow: Continue to mow to 2.5 to 3 inches every 5 to 7 days, depending on grass type (See March).
- Water: Water only as needed. April’s average is 3.07 inches, so your lawn will need an additional 3 to 5 inches.
- Insect control: Apply preventative white grub treatments from late April to early June. For other insects, continue to use insecticides, organic pest control, or pest control companies.
- Weed control: Use post-emergent herbicides on weeds as you see them.
May
- Mow: Continue to mow to 2.5 to 3 inches, depending on grass type, every 5 to 7 days.
- Water: Water only as needed. May’s average is 4.65 inches, so your lawn will need an additional 2 to 6 inches.
- Fertilize: Apply 0.5 to 1 pound of Nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet.
- Insect control: Apply preventative white grub treatments from late April to early June. Insects are coming out in full force, so continue to use insecticides, organic pest control, or pest control companies.
- Weed control: Apply another pre-emergent treatment.Use post-emergent herbicides as needed.
June
- Mow: Continue to mow to 2.5 to 3 inches, depending on grass type, about once a week. The frequency will decrease as temperatures rise.
- Insect control: Apply preventative white grub treatments from late April to early June
- Weed Control: Use post-emergent herbicides as needed.
- Water: Cool-season grass goes dormant once temperatures reach 90 degrees. Continue to water as needed until the grass goes dormant. June’s average is 4.93 inches, so your lawn will need an additional 1 to 3 inches.
- Insect control: Apply white grub treatments from late June to mid-July if needed, and continue pest control methods for other insects as needed.
July
- Mow: The average July temperature is 94 degrees so your grass is likely dormant. If not, continue to follow March guidelines for mowing height and frequency.
- Weed Control: Use post-emergent herbicides as needed.
- Water: If your lawn goes dormant, water once every three weeks. If not, July’s average is 2.93 inches, so your lawn will need an additional 3 to 5 inches.
- Insect control: If you didn’t apply white grub treatments in June, apply by mid-July if needed.
August
- Mow: The average August temperature is 93 degrees, so your grass is likely dormant. If not, continue to follow March guidelines for height and frequency.
- Weed Control: Use post-emergent herbicides as needed. Apply pre-emergent herbicides for winter annual weed control.
- Water: If your lawn goes dormant, water once every three weeks. If not, August’s average is 3.28 inches, so your lawn will need an additional 3 to 5 inches.
September
- Mow: Mowing height changes slightly. Follow these guidelines for fall and early winter.
| Grass Type | Mowing Height |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 2.5 inches |
| Perennial ryegrass | 2.5 inches |
| Tall fescue | 2.5 inches |
- Mowing frequency: As temperatures drop after summer, frequency will pick up. See March for frequency.
- Water: Water as needed. September’s average is 4.02 inches, so your lawn will need an additional 2 to 4 inches.
- Dethatch: Cool-season grasses can be dethatched in early fall. If thatch is more than ½ inch, use a rake or vertical mower to dethatch.
- Aerate: Aerate to relieve compacted soil. Frequent foot traffic means yearly to every other year aeration. Aeration frequency also depends on the soil. For more information, check out When to Aerate Your Lawn in Oklahoma.
- Western Oklahoma: Loamy soil. Aerate every 2 to 3 years.
- Central Oklahoma: Loamy to clay. Aerate every 1 to 2 years.
- Eastern Oklahoma: Loamy to sandy. Aerate every 3 to 4 years.
- Insect control: Continue to use store-bought pesticides or natural pest control as needed or hire a pest control company.
- Weed Control: Use broadleaf post-emergent herbicides as needed. Apply pre-emergent control of winter-annual weeds by the second week of September. However, do not treat seeded areas.
- Seeding: If you plan to seed your lawn, September is the best time.
October
- Mow: Mow to 2.5 inches every 5 to 7 days, depending on your grass type (see March). The growth rate slows near the end of the month as winter temperatures approach.
- Water: Water as needed. October rainfall averages 3.71 inches, so irrigate an additional 2 to 4 inches.
- Fertilize: Apply 0.5 to 1 pound of Nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet.
- Seeding: If you didn’t in September and still need to, you can seed until mid-October.
- Insect control: Use store-bought pesticides or natural pest control as needed or hire a pest control company.
- Weed Control: Use broadleaf post-emergent herbicides as needed. Avoid using herbicides close to new turf.
- Prep for winter: Mow and edge before first frost. The first frost dates are as follows.
| Zone | Location | First frost |
| 6 | Panhandle | October 17 to 31 |
| 7 | Most of Oklahoma, except the panhandle and the far south. | October 29 to November 15 |
| 8 | Southern sixth of Oklahoma, including Durant and Ardmore. | November 7 to 28 |
November
- Mow: Continue to mow to 2.5 inches until the grass goes dormant.
- Mowing frequency: Mowing frequency will slow as winter dormancy approaches. Mow as needed.
- Water: Water as needed as long as nighttime temperatures stay above freezing. November’s average rainfall is 1.98 inches, so you’ll need an additional 4 to 6 inches.
- Fertilize: in the first week of November, apply 0.5 to 1 pound of Nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet.
- Weed Control: Use broadleaf post-emergent herbicides as needed. Avoid using herbicides on new grass.
- Clear debris: As the leaves fall, clear them and other debris from your lawn. Regular clean-up will make spring clean-up much easier.
- Get a soil test: If you didn’t do it in the spring, now is a good time to get a soil test. For optimal results, a soil test should be performed every 2 to 3 years. OSUE has a great guide to submitting samples, which you’ll then send to your local extension office.
- Prep for winter: Drain gasoline from power equipment or use fuel stabilizer before winter storage. Drain and store water hoses, drain water from spray equipment and wrap hydrants, clean all tools, and coat metal surfaces with a thin film of oil to prevent rust.
December
- Mow: Continue to mow to 2.5 inches until the grass goes dormant.
- Mowing frequency: Mow as needed until grass goes dormant.
- Remove debris: Clean up leaves, sticks, and debris weekly or bi-weekly to make spring clean-up much easier and faster.
- Water: Until temperatures drop below freezing, water as needed. December’s average rainfall is 1.88 inches, so you’ll need an additional 4 to 6 inches.
- Weed Control: Use post-emergent herbicides as needed.
Should I hire a professional for my Oklahoma lawn care?
There’s a lot to lawn care and it can be overwhelming. If you’re struggling to keep up, you’re not alone. Lawn owners across the Sooner State are turning to professionals for help. But finding one you can trust that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Lawn Love connects you with a vetted, reliable, affordable, local lawn care pro. Your lawn will be in tip-top shape in no time.
Main Image Credit: Bell Wilson | Flickr | CC BY 2.0
