![\"Lawn](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Warm-Season-Calendar-Updated-667x1024.jpg\")
Let\u2019s get into the specifics of warm-season lawn care for each season:<\/p>
- Spring<\/a><\/li>
- Summer<\/a><\/li>
- Fall<\/a><\/li>
- Winter<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Warm-season grass includes bahiagrass, Bermudagrass, buffalograss, carpetgrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and Zoysiagrass. If you don\u2019t have warm-season grass, you should check out our cool-season grass lawn care calendar<\/a>.<\/p>
Spring warm-season lawn care: March, April, May<\/span><\/h2>
In colder climates, warm-season grass will wake up from its winter slumber in spring. Once the temperatures consistently hit the 60s<\/strong>, warm-season grasses start growing again.<\/p>
Here are the spring lawn care tasks you have to accomplish:<\/p>
- Clean up the yard<\/li>
- Buy lawn care supplies<\/li>
- Repair and maintain the mower and lawn care equipment<\/li>
- Check the Irrigation system<\/li>
- Test the soil and add amendments<\/li>
- Apply fungicides<\/li>
- Dethatch<\/li>
- Aerate<\/li>
- Control weeds<\/li>
- Overseed or lay sod<\/li>
- Fertilize<\/li>
- Add topdressing<\/li>
- Mow<\/li>
- Control pests<\/li> <\/ul>
You can also read our “Tips for Spring Lawn Care”<\/a> article to learn more.<\/p>
Keep in mind that the exact timing for these tasks will be different based on where you live. Some areas will get 60-degree temperatures later than others.<\/p>
![\"Map](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/transition-zone-map.jpg\")
Infographic by Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure> - In the northern half of the transition zone<\/a> (where certain Zoysia and Bermuda varieties grow), warm temperatures can come as late as May<\/strong>. Some states in this area are Delaware and West Virginia.<\/li>
- In the furthest reaches of the South (like the Florida Keys), temperatures may not get cold enough to force warm-season grasses into winter dormancy.<\/li> <\/ul>
If you\u2019re too busy to take care of your warm-season lawn this spring, why not hire a lawn care professional<\/a> to do it for you through Lawn Love?<\/p>
Clean up the yard<\/h3>
Over the winter, leaves and debris may have fallen or accumulated on your lawn. Make sure to clean them up as soon as you can with a rake or a leaf blower.<\/p>
In the northern parts of the transition zone, you may have snow up to April or May. If you have snow, don\u2019t step on your lawn. <\/strong>You could injure it otherwise. Just spread the snow evenly with a rake to make it melt faster.<\/p>
Buy lawn care supplies<\/h3>
In areas with snow during early to mid-spring, it\u2019s the perfect time to stock up on lawn care supplies like fertilizer, mowers, weed killers, and soil amendments.<\/p>
Repair and maintain the mower and lawn care equipment<\/h3>
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rsz_1lawnlove-does-my-blade-need-sharpening-illustration.png\")
Infographic by Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure> Check your lawn care equipment before the big spring rush of lawn care duties so you\u2019re ready.<\/p>
Here\u2019s a checklist of things you need to do:<\/p>
- Sharpen mower blades and other cutting tools<\/li>
- Perform a lawn mower tune-up<\/li>
- Repair broken lawn equipment<\/li>
- Clean your mower<\/li>
- Replace string trimmer line<\/li>
- Get fresh gas or new batteries<\/li> <\/ul>
Set aside a weekend to check your equipment during early spring before the cutting season begins. You\u2019ll find these articles useful if you\u2019d like to maintain your tools yourself:<\/p>
- “How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades”<\/a><\/li>
- “Best Lawn Mower Maintenance Practices”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Repair a Lawn Mower”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Put String in a Weed Eater”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Check the irrigation system<\/h3>
Some areas that grow warm-season grass can get freezing temperatures. Homeowners living in those areas should have winterized their sprinklers.<\/p>
Before turning your sprinklers on, check your irrigation system for issues. You should only turn your sprinklers on when all threats of hard freezes have passed<\/strong>.<\/p>
If you live in a warmer climate, you should check your sprinklers at least once a year. Early spring is a good time to check since you will be using the system regularly.<\/p>
To learn more about sprinkler system maintenance, check out these guides:<\/p>
- “Sprinkler System Maintenance Checklist”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Adjust Sprinkler Heads”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Test the soil and add amendments<\/h3>
A soil test will reveal soil texture, pH level, and nutrient deficiencies.<\/strong> While you can test your soil as long as it\u2019s not frozen or wet<\/strong>, spring is a good time to do it so you can find issues before your turf\u2019s active growing season. Here are some articles on soil testing that you might find helpful:<\/p>
- “How to Soil Test Your Lawn”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Read a Soil Test Report”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
If your soil test says you have a low pH level, you\u2019ll need to apply lime. While you can do it in the spring, it\u2019s better to apply lime in the fall. If you have a high pH level, you\u2019ll need to apply sulfur, which is best applied in spring<\/strong>. You can learn more about soil amendments and why you might need them in these articles:<\/p>
- “What Are the Different Types of Soil Amendments for Your Lawn?”<\/a><\/li>
- Soil pH issues:<\/strong>
- “What is Acidic Soil?”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Change Your Soil pH”<\/a> (contains a guide on how to lower soil pH with sulfur)<\/li>
- “Complete Guide to Different Soil Types”<\/a> (for soil texture)<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
If your soil has nutrient deficiencies, you will likely need fertilizer. We\u2019ll talk about fertilizers more below.<\/p>
Apply fungicides<\/h3>
Spring brings cool temperatures and rain. Those are perfect conditions for fungi that cause lawn diseases. Some common warm-season lawn diseases are: <\/p>
- Dollar spot<\/a> <\/li>
- Fairy ring<\/a><\/li>
- Large patch<\/li>
- Leaf spot and melting out<\/a><\/li>
- Spring dead spot<\/li>
- Turfgrass rust<\/a> (commonly affects Zoysiagrass)<\/li> <\/ul>
You may need to use fungicides to kill lawn fungus. If you would like to learn more about different grass diseases and how to cure them, check out this article: “How to Identify and Treat Grass Fungus.”<\/a><\/p>
You can also check out these grass-specific lawn disease articles:<\/p>
- “5 Common Bermudagrass Diseases”<\/a><\/li>
- “Most Common Diseases in St. Augustinegrass”<\/a><\/li>
- “Most Common Diseases Affecting Zoysiagrass”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Dethatch<\/h3>
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/thatch-illustration.jpg\")
Infographic by Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure> Dethatching is the process of removing excess thatch from your lawn. It\u2019s an invasive lawn care procedure that should only be done near or early in your lawn\u2019s active growth season. It\u2019s better to wait closer to late spring<\/strong> (May) before dethatching warm-season grass.<\/p>
Your lawn will only need dethatching if the thatch layer is more than \u00bd-inch thick<\/strong>. If you\u2019re not sure if your grass needs to be dethatched or if you\u2019re curious about how to dethatch your lawn, then check out these articles:<\/p>
- “What is Thatch?”<\/a><\/li>
- “What is Dethatching?”<\/a> (also has a guide on how to dethatch your lawn)<\/li> <\/ul>
Aerate<\/h3>
Aeration is a similarly invasive lawn care procedure. Lawn aeration is the act of loosening the soil by poking holes in the soil. Your lawn might need to be aerated if you have clay soil (more common in the Southern and Eastern U.S., except for Florida) or if it gets a lot of foot traffic. These lawns are more likely to have compacted soil.<\/p>
If you\u2019d like to learn more about aeration and soil compaction, you can read our guides here:<\/p>
Soil compaction:<\/strong><\/p>
- “Causes and Cures for Compacted Soil”<\/a><\/li>
- “How Can You Tell if You Have Compacted Soil?”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Aeration:<\/strong><\/p>
- “How to Aerate Your Lawn”<\/a><\/li>
- “Benefits of Aerating Your Lawn”<\/a><\/li>
- “Core Aeration vs. Spike Aeration”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Aerate a Lawn by Hand”<\/a><\/li>
- “When to Aerate Your Lawn”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Control weeds<\/h3>
Spring is a busy time for weed prevention and eradication. You\u2019ll be applying pre-emergent weed killers to prevent summer annuals, while also dealing with winter annuals that sprouted in the previous seasons.<\/p>
It\u2019s important to apply pre-emergents at the right time, especially if you\u2019re looking to prevent crabgrass<\/a>. Apply pre-emergent herbicides when soil temps reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit<\/strong>. In warmer areas, you may be able to use pre-emergents as early as March or even February (late winter). <\/p>
Here are some articles on pre-emergent herbicides:<\/p>
- “When and How to Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides”<\/a><\/li>
- “Types of Pre-Emergent Herbicides”<\/a><\/li>
- “Does Corn Gluten Meal Work on Weeds?”<\/a> (a natural alternative)<\/li>
- “Best Pre-Emergent Herbicides”<\/a> (product review)<\/li> <\/ul>
Using a post-emergent herbicide is not the only way to kill weeds already on your lawn. Other weed removal methods include hand-pulling and solarization.<\/p>
We don\u2019t recommend using weed and feed<\/a> on your warm-season lawn if you\u2019re looking to kill winter annuals. The timing for weed control and fertilizing your turf may not line up perfectly.<\/p>
You can read more about spring weed control in these articles:<\/p>
- “How to Get Rid of Weeds in Grass”<\/a><\/li>
- “Most Common Lawn Weeds (and How to Get Rid of Them)”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Control Annual Weeds vs. Perennial Weeds”<\/a><\/li>
- “Common Broadleaf Weeds Found in Your Yard”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Identify and Control Broadleaf Weeds”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Identify and Control Grassy Weeds”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Overseed or lay sod<\/h3>
Does your turf<\/a> have a lot of bare spots? One of the ways to fix a patchy lawn<\/a> is overseeding, which is spreading grass seed over an existing lawn.<\/p>
The best time to overseed your warm-season grass is late spring and summer. Warm-season grass seed sprouts best when the soil temperature is around 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit<\/strong> (80 degrees in air temperature).<\/p>
If you want to learn more about overseeding and its benefits, check out these articles:<\/p>
- “What is Overseeding?”<\/a><\/li>
- “Steps to Overseed a Lawn”<\/a><\/li>
- “Overseeding in Spring”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Grow Grass”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Plant Grass Seed”<\/a><\/li>
- “Tips for Growing Grass in Shady Areas”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Plant Grass Seed on Hard Dirt”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Plant Grass Seed on a Slope”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
You can also lay down sod instead. While you can lay sod as long as the temperatures aren\u2019t freezing, late spring is one of the better times to lay down warm-season sod. This option is the best for homeowners who want an instant lawn.<\/p>
Note: <\/strong>St. Augustinegrass only comes in sod form. If you need to patch up a St. Augustinegrass lawn, you\u2019ll need to install sod.<\/p>
New grass has different care requirements than an established lawn. Here are some articles that will help you keep your new grass alive:<\/p>
- “Best Ways to Grow Grass Fast”<\/a><\/li>
- How Long Does It Take New Grass Seed to Grow?<\/a><\/li>
- “How Long to Water New Grass Seed”<\/a><\/li>
- “How Often to Water Grass Seed”<\/a><\/li>
- “Will Fertilizer Kill New Grass?”<\/a><\/li>
- “A Complete Guide to Fertilizing New Grass”<\/a><\/li>
- “How Long After Overseeding Can I Mow?”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Fertilize<\/h3>
![\"one](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/fertilizing-lawn.jpeg\")
ImageSine<\/a> | Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure> Your warm-season grass needs nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (otherwise known as N-P-K) to grow properly. So, you\u2019ll need to fertilize your lawn when it\u2019s actively growing, especially if your soil test says your soil has a nutrient deficiency. Late spring to early summer<\/strong> is the most ideal time to fertilize your warm-season grass.<\/p>
What fertilizer should I use? <\/strong>It depends. A professional soil test may tell you the right fertilizer ratio for your lawn (denoted by three numbers that correspond to N-P-K). Otherwise, you can\u2019t go wrong with a balanced fertilizer.<\/p>
If you want to know more about fertilizing your warm-season lawn, check out these guides:<\/p>
- “Fertilizer 101: How to Fertilize Your Lawn”<\/a><\/li>
- “Ways to Apply Fertilizer”<\/a><\/li>
- “Fertilizer Basics: What to Look for in Your Fertilizer”<\/a><\/li>
- “How Often Should You Fertilize Your Lawn?”<\/a><\/li>
- “When is the Best Time to Fertilize Your Lawn?”<\/a><\/li>
- “Can You Combine Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer?”<\/a><\/li>
- “Effective Homemade Fertilizers for Your Lawn”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
If you\u2019re not sure about what fertilizer to buy, try out a fertilizer we\u2019ve reviewed:<\/p>
- “Best Lawn Fertilizers”<\/a><\/li>
- Grass-specific:<\/strong>
- Bermudagrass fertilizers<\/a><\/li>
- St. Augustinegrass fertilizers<\/a><\/li>
- Centipedegrass fertilizers<\/a><\/li>
- Zoysiagrass fertilizers<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <\/li>
- “Best Fertilizer Spreaders”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Add topdressing<\/h3>
If you\u2019ve done all these steps but your grass still isn\u2019t looking good, you might need to topdress your lawn<\/a>. Topdressing is the act of laying down a thin layer of organic material over your lawn to amend the soil. <\/p>
Wait until late spring<\/strong> to topdress a warm-season lawn.<\/p>
Mow<\/h3>
![\"Landscape\"](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/rsz_beach-house-beach-house-garden-backyard-property-1593843-pxherecom.jpg\")
Pxhere<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> The first mow of the season will depend on where you\u2019re located:<\/p>
- Homeowners in the transition zone will likely mow their lawns by the end of May<\/strong>.<\/li>
- Those further south might be able to mow as early as March<\/strong>.<\/li>
- If you live far enough south, you may not have even stopped mowing in the winter.<\/li> <\/ul>
You should only mow if your grass is long enough. You don\u2019t want to mow grass that has just greened up without any significant growth. Always follow the one-third rule<\/a>, and never scalp your lawn<\/a> unless you\u2019re sure your lawn needs it. <\/p>
You likely won\u2019t need to mow more than once a week until it gets closer to summer.<\/p>
Here are some guides on how to mow your lawn properly:<\/p>
- “How to Mow a Lawn the Right Way”<\/a><\/li>
- “When to Mow Your Yard this Spring”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Control pests<\/h3>
Spring brings forth new life. Unfortunately, some of these creatures include lawn pests. If the pest problem gets too bad, you might need to kill them with pesticides.<\/p>
Take a look at these articles for more information on spring pest control:<\/p>
- “When to Mow Your Yard this Spring”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
- Those further south might be able to mow as early as March<\/strong>.<\/li>
- St. Augustinegrass fertilizers<\/a><\/li>
- Grass-specific:<\/strong>
- “Ways to Apply Fertilizer”<\/a><\/li>
- How Long Does It Take New Grass Seed to Grow?<\/a><\/li>
- “Steps to Overseed a Lawn”<\/a><\/li>
- “Most Common Lawn Weeds (and How to Get Rid of Them)”<\/a><\/li>
- “Types of Pre-Emergent Herbicides”<\/a><\/li>
- “Benefits of Aerating Your Lawn”<\/a><\/li>
- “How Can You Tell if You Have Compacted Soil?”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
- “What is Dethatching?”<\/a> (also has a guide on how to dethatch your lawn)<\/li> <\/ul>
- “Most Common Diseases in St. Augustinegrass”<\/a><\/li>
- Fairy ring<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Change Your Soil pH”<\/a> (contains a guide on how to lower soil pH with sulfur)<\/li>
- Soil pH issues:<\/strong>
- “How to Read a Soil Test Report”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
- “How to Adjust Sprinkler Heads”<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
- “Best Lawn Mower Maintenance Practices”<\/a><\/li>
- “How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades”<\/a><\/li>
- In the furthest reaches of the South (like the Florida Keys), temperatures may not get cold enough to force warm-season grasses into winter dormancy.<\/li> <\/ul>
- In the northern half of the transition zone<\/a> (where certain Zoysia and Bermuda varieties grow), warm temperatures can come as late as May<\/strong>. Some states in this area are Delaware and West Virginia.<\/li>
- Summer<\/a><\/li>