South Florida lawns don't follow the same calendar as the rest of the country. No winter dormancy here. Your grass grows year-round, but each month brings different conditions. This guide tells you exactly what to do, month by month, so your lawn stays healthy and beautiful all year.
South Florida's subtropical climate makes lawn care completely different from northern states. Your grass never goes dormant in winter. It grows almost every month of the year, but the growing conditions change dramatically.
From June through October, you're in the rainy season. Your grass gets plenty of water, but humidity spikes and disease pressure increases. November through May is the dry season. Your lawn still grows, but water becomes scarce and irrigation becomes critical.
Hurricane season runs June through November. Water restrictions come and go. Grass varieties matter too. Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine, and Paspalum each have slightly different needs. Follow this calendar and you'll stay ahead of every challenge the year throws at your lawn.
| Month | Mow | Water | Fertilize | Aerate | Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.5-3", every 10-14d | Minimal | No | No | Brown patch if temps drop |
| February | 2.5-3", every 10-14d | Minimal | No | Yes, late month | Pre-emergent weeds |
| March | 2.5-3", every 7-10d | 1-1.5" weekly | Yes, light | No | Dollar spot fungus |
| April | 2.5-3", every 7-10d | 1-1.5" weekly | Yes, slow-release | No | Chinch bugs in St. Aug |
| May | 2.5-3", every 7-10d | 1-1.5" weekly | Light or none | No | Disease pressure rising |
| June | 3-3.5", every 7-10d | Reduce (rainy) | No | No | Gray leaf spot, brown patch |
| July | 3-3.5", slower growth | Reduce (rainy) | No | No | Pythium, heat stress |
| August | 3-3.5", every 10-14d | Reduce (rainy) | No | No | Fungal diseases peak |
| September | 3-3.5", every 7-10d | Reduce (rainy) | Yes, late month | No | Dollar spot transition |
| October | 2.5-3", every 7-10d | 1.5-2" weekly | Yes, early month | No | Gray leaf spot |
| November | 2.5-3", every 10d | 1.5-2" weekly | No | Yes, ideal | Dry season begins |
| December | 2.5-3", every 10-14d | 1-1.5" weekly | No | No | Brown patch in cold, wet |
Apply fertilizer in March, October, and November. These are the best months for your lawn to absorb and use nutrients without heat or humidity stress triggering disease. Skip summer and late spring entirely. The heat and humidity you have then will cause nitrogen-fueled soft growth that diseases attack immediately. A light feeding in September supports root development before dormancy, but it's optional if you've already applied in October.
In winter (December through February), mow every 10-14 days because growth slows dramatically. In spring (March-May), mow every 7-10 days as growth accelerates. In summer (June-August), mow at 3-3.5 inches and reduce frequency slightly because peak heat slows growth temporarily even though your lawn is still alive. In fall (September-November), mow every 7-10 days early fall, then drop back to 10-14 days as winter approaches. Consistency matters more than frequency. A damaged blade creates brown tips, so keep your mower sharp or use reel mowing for fine turf.
February-March and November are ideal. Cool soil temperatures (60-70 degrees) allow roots to establish deep and strong without heat stress. Avoid June-August entirely. Heat stress will kill newly laid sod before roots have time to establish. September-October is acceptable but not ideal because you're cutting it close before potential disease pressure as humidity remains high. Spring and late fall give your new sod the best chance to thrive.
Not usually. June through October brings 6-8 inches of rain per month in South Florida. That's plenty. Skip supplemental watering unless 5-7 days pass without rain. However, some areas may have poor drainage. If your lawn shows standing water after storms, you have a drainage problem, not a watering problem. Focus on improving drainage instead. During the dry season (November-May), you'll need 1-2 inches per week of irrigation to keep your lawn healthy. Consistency matters more than volume.
Knowing what to do each month is one thing. Actually doing it every single week is another. We handle the entire lawn maintenance calendar for you—weekly mowing, seasonal fertilization, aeration, irrigation management, and disease prevention. One crew. Every service. Full accountability.