Warm-Season Lawn Care Guide
If you're used to cool-season advice, forget most of it. Warm-season grasses wake up when fescue is shutting down, go dormant when the north is doing fall renovations, and have completely different rules around scalping, herbicides, and nitrogen timing. This guide covers what all five warm-season grasses have in common — then points you to the specific guide for yours.
Spring Greenup (Soil 65°F+)
The warm-season growing season begins when soil temperatures reach 65°F sustained. This triggers greenup from winter dormancy. Apply the first fertilizer application at this point — a balanced fertilizer at 0.5-1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft.
Peak Growth (Soil 75°F+)
Warm-season grasses hit peak growth when soil exceeds 75°F and air exceeds 80°F. This is when they can handle higher nitrogen rates. Bermuda can take 3-6 lbs N/year, while centipede should never exceed 1-2 lbs total (with strong decline warnings above that).
Weed Control
Warm-season herbicide options differ significantly from cool-season. Never use triclopyr on bermuda. Celsius WG is the premium warm-season broadleaf control. Atrazine is budget-friendly for centipede and St. Augustine.
Fall Dormancy Prep
As soil temperatures drop below 65°F, stop nitrogen applications. Apply a potassium-heavy fertilizer (0-0-50) to harden the grass for winter. Lower mowing height gradually.
Winter Overseeding (Optional)
In zones 7-9, bermuda lawns can be overseeded with perennial ryegrass for green winter color. Seed when bermuda goes dormant (soil below 60°F) but soil is still above 45°F for ryegrass germination.
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