The Southeastern United States has a subtropical and humid climate with warm temperatures and light winters, which provides both issues and opportunities for people who take care of their lawns (Cutting the grass). For the inexperienced and seasoned gardener alike, it is imperative to know how your lawn changes throughout the year for that perfect, lush green landscape. This guide provides you with a month-to-month explanation of lawn care practices so that you will have a healthy, vigorous lawn throughout the year.

January: Winter Preparation

While winters are generally mild in the Southeast, cool-season grasses such as fescue and ryegrass are still stressed a bit. January lawn care is all about getting your grass ready to stay healthy for the rest of winter.

1. Mowing: Keep your mowing height a little higher to help your grass fight off cold snaps.
2. Watering: Check on rainfalls; water only if the soil appears to be drying out. Excess water can result in diseases caused by fungi.
3. Weed Control: Apply a preemergent herbicide to help prevent winter weeds like henbit and chickweed.
4. Equipment Maintenance: This is always a good time to send your mower and other equipment in for service before the growing season begins.

February: Early Weed Control

February is truly a transition month across the Southeast. The weather is transitioning from winter into what would be considered the prespring months. While this is a very slow month for active growth, it’s very important for weed prevention and aeration.

1. Pre-Emergent Herbicide: A second application of a pre-emergent herbicide will further nip crabgrass and other spring weeds.
2. Soil Testing: Take a follow-up soil test to check for pH levels or nutrient requirements. If the soil is way too acidic, add lime.
3. Aeration: If you did not get a chance to aerate last fall, late February would be a good time for cool-season grasses only.

March: Fertilization and Seeding

By March, the lawn is coming out of winter dormancy. Warm-season or cold-season grasses—Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede—are showing signs of life.

1. Fertilization: Give the grass a boost with a balanced feed the lawn fertilizer for early growth. Use a slow-release formula that will provide nutrients over time.
2. Seeding: Cool-season grasses may thin or bare out in spots; this is a good time to overseed. Be sure to get good contact with soil and keep the seeds moist.
3. Mowing: Begin mowing when grass comes into growth, but always at the same height.

April: Active Growth Phase

By April, your Southeast lawn is in full growth. It’s an active month for your lawn care, and you have to feed and groom it religiously.

1. Mowing: Mowing now needs to be done regularly. For warm-season grasses, keep it at a lower height of about 1 inch-2 inches to foster dense growth.
2. Fertilization: Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to stimulate active growth. Be careful not to overdo it and burn the grass.
3. Weed Control: Dandelions and other weeds that pre-emergent herbicides might have missed now can be treated with post-emergent herbicides.
4. Watering: The lawn needs about an inch of water per week, either from rain or irrigation.

May: Pest and Disease Control

As the last spring month brings warmer temperatures, Southeastern lawns are susceptible to pests and diseases.

1. Pest Control: Continue monitoring for white grubs, chinch bugs, and mole crickets. Apply proper insecticides as required.
2. Disease Control: Keep looking out for fungal diseases such as brown patch or dollar spot. Spray fungicides to control these.
3. Fertilization: Continue fertilization with a balanced fertilizer, especially on warm-season grasses.

June: Summer Care

June brings with it the hot, steamy summers typical for Southeastern states. Of course, the main focus this month is maintaining lawn health during peak growing conditions.

1. Mowing: Mow a little higher to allow the grass to retain moisture on the blades of grass and shade the soil.
2. Watering: Increase the watering frequency, especially in dry times, to ensure at least one inch per week.
3. Weed Control: Keep watching post-emergent herbicides for summer weeds.
4. Pest Control: Be on lookout for pests, which increase in activity with warmer weather.

July: Heat and Drought Management

July is usually the hottest month of the year in the South, and heat stress can be a serious issue for many turfgrass areas.

1. Watering: Water deeply to promote deep root growth. Avoid evaporative loss by watering early morning hours.
2. Mowing: Maintain high mowing height to help alleviate stress to the turf from heat.
3. Fertilization: A light application of a slow release fertilizer will increase color without excessive growth.
4. Monitoring for Pests and Diseases: Continue monitoring the grass for stress, pests or diseases and treat accordingly with the proper steps.

August: Preparing for Fall

As summer starts to wind down, August is usually a transition month where preparations for the fall season begin.

1. Mowing: Continue to mow consistently, as usual, but do not make the height of cut too low.
2. Watering: Continue watering, especially in periods that are extremely hot and dry.
3. Soil Preparation: Aerate the lawn during the latter part of the month if it has become compacted, which will loosen up the soil and allow some air to get in.
4. Fertilization: Get ready for fall fertilization on cool-season grasses.

September: Fall Revival

September is an essential time for cool-season lawns in the Southeast. September can bring cooler temperatures, making it ideal to revive your lawn again.

1. Fertilization: Apply a fall fertilizer rich in nitrogen to promote good root development in cool-season grasses.
2. Overseeding: This is the best time to overseed thin spots or bare areas. Soil preparation before seeding must be adequate, and the seeded areas should be kept consistently moist.
3. Aeration: Aerate compacted soils for better soil health and nutrient uptake.
4. Weed Control: Apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent winter weeds from coming up through the ground.

October: Peak Fall Maintenance

October is a continuation of fall maintenance work, with an emphasis on preparing the lawn for winter.

1. Mowing: Continue mowing; on cool-season grasses, gradually lower the height as growth slows.
2. Fertilization: Do a final round of fertilization to aid in storing up energy for the winter.
3. Leaf Removal: Remove leaves regularly so they do not smother the grass.
4. Watering: Reduce watering frequency as weather cools; however, be sure the lawn doesn’t become too dry.

November: Pre-Winter Care

This month of the year is all about preparing your lawn for winter, as the growing season reaches an end.

1. Mowing: Run the final mow of the year and keep the suggested height based on the type of grass.
2. Weed Control: The final application of pre-emergent herbicide will prevent winter weeds from growing.
3. Soil Testing: Another soil test, if needed, will tell you whether you need to add lime in order to adjust the pH.
4. Equipment Storage: Clean and store lawn equipment well to give it a longer life.

December: Dormancy

December is the dormant time of year for most all Southeastern lawns. There is very little active maintenance to be performed this month; however, here are a few things you can do to keep your lawn in good health:

1. Mowing: Normally, you wouldn’t need to mow unless you have cool-season grass that continues to grow in the winter months.
2. Watering: Water if you have an extended dry spell. Be sure to keep newly seeded areas moist but not soggy.
3. Lawn Monitoring: The lawn should still be monitored for disease and insect activity, even when the lawn is dormant.
4. Planning: Use this time to plan next year’s activities based on this year’s performance and any changes that should or need to be implemented.

Conclusion

Doing so will help maintain a healthy, vigorous lawn in the Southeast, attending to and considering many factors relating to the peculiar climate and growth characteristics of the area. This month-by-month guide will help keep your (watering the lawn) lush all year round. Constant supervision, seasonal interventions on time, and correct care are what you need to have a beautiful and green lawn. Whether dealing with summer’s heat or fall’s cooling breezes, an attractive lawn is a year-round commitment.