Updated On

October 31, 2023

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    Southern lawns require precise, year-round care to stay green and lush. Contrary to popular belief, comprehensive southern lawn care doesn’t end with mowing your lawn and turning on your sprinklers. This complete guide to southern lawn care will show you exactly how to get and maintain your dream lawn.

    Maintaining a great-looking lawn can be a challenge. If you don’t have time to manage your own lawn care, consider choosing a reputable and professional lawn care company to manage your lawn care needs. 

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    Caring for Warm Season Grasses

    Homeowners in the southern United States have the unique challenge of finding outdoor plants that thrive in hot, dry conditions. Fortunately, there are many plants from around the world adapted to these conditions that can make themselves right at home from southern California all the way to the Carolinas. 

    You’ll see your warm season grasses thrive in areas with the hottest summers, and you won’t need to worry about them dying off if a drought occurs. Unlike cool season grasses (which thrive up north) warm season grasses can survive on less water and thrive when the temperatures climb. These grasses go dormant when temperatures dip in fall and winter.

    Let’s take a look at some of the most common warm season grasses you’ll see in the south and how you can identify them. 

    • Bermuda Grass — widely planted in residential and commercial settings; fast-growing; drought-tolerant
    • St. Augustine — fast-growing; coarse-textured; shade-tolerant; stays green at lower temperatures than Bermudagrass
    • Zoysia Grass — drought- and heat-tolerant; dense growth pattern; shade-tolerant
    • Centipede Grass This low-maintenance warm-season grass is well-suited for Southern climates due to its heat tolerance and resistance to pests and diseases. Centipede grass spreads quickly by its third year and forms a thick, weed-resistant turf.
    • Buffalo Grass Native to North America, Buffalo grass is a warm-season perennial grass with fine-textured leaves. It requires little water and maintenance, making it suitable for low-maintenance lawns and natural landscapes.

    Caring for Your Southern Lawn in Spring 

    Most of the south deals with a relatively warm summer, and it’s really important to jump on some things in the spring before the growth rates get out of control. Here are a few things to address in the spring months.

    • Mow lawns after you see new growth in the turf — it’s OK to cut grass a little shorter this time of year.
    • Soil amendments such as adding lime and adjusting PH — just do a soil test first to see where your turf needs the help.
    • Adjust your irrigation schedule to provide adequate water for your lawn. Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth. Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal diseases.
    • Overseed in the spring, as soon as the soil temperatures are over 65 degrees. During the overseeding process, cut the grass and allow the clippings to remain in the soil for extra nutrients.
    • In the late spring, it’s time to aerate and dethatch the lawn to reduce compaction throughout the summer months. Rain in the south typically comes with hot weather, and you want to prepare your turf for that.
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    Caring for Your Southern Lawn in Summer 

    The summer months can be rough in the south. When your air conditioning runs all day, and your sprinkler system can’t seem to catch up, it can be tough for your grass to stay healthy and disease-free. Here are some of the most important steps to follow for summer southern lawn care.

    • Find a good summer lawn fertilizer that won’t burn out the turf but will allow for a slow release to keep it strong when it is stressed.
    • When the grass is multiplying, and the temperatures are high, increase the mowing height to reduce water evaporation and fight off weeds.
    • Check for grub damage in the summer and treat with grub control if necessary.
    • Periodically check the sprinklers and watering schedule and adjust accordingly based on rainfall; just because it’s hot does not mean you want to overwater the turf.

    Caring for Your Southern Lawn in Fall

    The fall can be a great time to get your lawn in excellent condition for the following year. However, you must pay close attention to your lawn maintenance procedures to avoid winter and spring problems.

    • Slow down your watering schedule, and keep a close eye on the rain, but southern lawns typically don’t need as much water in the fall.
    • Use a pre-emergent herbicide when the nights start to cool off — this can help to keep most winter weeds away. As long as temperatures are in that 60–70 degree range at night, you are fine to use the pre-emergent.
    • Overseeding with something like cool season ryegrass can help give your southern lawn a bit of color through the winter. Be careful to follow proper seeding procedures to protect your lawn’s health long-term.
    • Keep mowing your grass until it does not need it anymore; use a slightly lower mower deck height than you did in the summer.
    • Fertilize before the start of the winter, after you have overseeded the cool season grass. Keep leaves and debris off the lawn throughout the fall to lower the chance of disease.
    • Continue regular mowing as needed, but gradually raise the mowing height to help the grass blades capture more sunlight and store energy for winter.

    Caring for Your Southern Lawn in Winter

    Winter southern lawn care is a bit more low-key than the rest of the year. You should not have as many issues with weeds coming up, or turf getting stressed out, so you’ll do significantly less yard work. Here are the things to keep an eye on during the winter months.

    • Use post-emergent herbicides for any weeds that survived your pre-emergent in the fall.
    • Keep the grass free of debris and periodically rake.
    • Stop fertilizing your lawn in late fall. Applying fertilizer during winter dormancy can lead to excessive growth and weaken the grass before the cold season.
    • Keep watering throughout the winter, as the turf will still need it even when dormant.
    • At the end of the winter, use a pre-emergent herbicide to get a head start on the spring and summer weeds — crabgrass typically makes its debut in the later part of the winter, when soil temperatures rise above 50 degrees. Explore our article to discover ideal weed control measures.

    Going with the Pros 

    Now that you know all that is involved in keeping a southern lawn looking great throughout the year, it’s time to determine whether this is something you can do on your own. The important thing to remember is that maintaining a beautiful lawn in the South is most complicated in the summer, when temperatures are hotter.

    DIY lawn care helps to save money, but you will have to put in the effort. The bottom line is that you can learn to maintain a southern lawn with time, patience, and attention to detail. If this is not an option for you, a professional lawn care service can help.


    Top Pick: TruGreen

    Ground level view of a recently cut and well maintained ornamental grass seen just after a summer rain shower. Some small water droplets can be seen on this very shallow focus of the grass blades.
    Photo Credit: Shutterstock © Nick Beer

    TruGreen’s Offerings 

    TruGreen makes lawn care less of a hassle for homeowners by providing a variety of package plans. Each plan includes a select number of services and treatments to enhance your lawn. All TruGreen packages come with the company’s Healthy Lawn Guarantee, and qualified TruGreen technicians are there to administer all treatments.

    Plan Services
    TruComplete Lawn Care Plan– One aeration and overseed per year
    – Eight general service visits a year
    – Fertilization
    – Grub and pest control services
    – Pre-emergent and targeted weed control
    – An analysis of your current lawn condition
    – Satisfaction guarantee
    – Service by lawn care professionals
    TruHealth Lawn Care Plan– Eight general service visits a year
    – Fertilization
    – Grub and pest control services
    – Pre-emergent and targeted weed control
    – An analysis of your current lawn condition
    – Satisfaction guarantee
    – Service by lawn care professionals
    TruSignature Lawn Care Plan– One aeration and overseed per year
    – Eight general service visits a year
    – Seven tree service visits per year
    – Fertilization
    – Grub and pest control services
    – Pre-emergent and targeted weed control
    – An analysis of your current lawn condition
    – Tree and shrub services
    – Satisfaction guarantee
    – Service by lawn care professionals
    TruNatural Lawn Care Plan– Five general visits per year
    – Natural fertilizer application
    – Weed control services
    – An analysis of your current lawn condition
    – Satisfaction guarantee
    – Service by lawn care professionals
    TruMaintenance Lawn Care Plan– Six general visits per year
    – Fertilization
    – Pre-emergent and targeted weed control
    – An analysis of your current lawn condition
    – Satisfaction guarantee
    – Service by lawn care professionals

    TruGreen also offers the following services on an a la carte basis:

    • Mosquito control
    • Soil amendment services
    • Tree and shrub services

    You can add any a la carte service to your plan with just a few clicks through TruGreen’s website. 

    TruGreen Locations 

    TruGreen is available in every state except Alaska and Hawaii. This makes them an excellent choice for all southern homeowners.

    Why TruGreen? 

    TruGreen is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and currently holds an A+ rating. You can read customer reviews for yourself and see how many people believe that TruGreen does an excellent job.

    “I am reading some of these reviews and I don't understand them at all. I am a Board member of a condo association in and we have been using TruGreen for over 5 years and we couldn't be happier. Our lawns look like a green carpet and not a weed in sight. I've gotten to know the service man, who services our lawn and he is very professional and knowledgeable. We occasionally will just walk the association property and talk about different issues we might see starting in some lawns. He gives them attention immediately before it becomes a problem. He seems like a busy man but always takes the time to talk with me and answer any questions that I may have. There has never been an issue about our bill or the schedule. I am very happy and will continue with their service now and in the future.”

    — Victor D., 5/8/23, 5 stars, BBB
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    Final Thoughts

    Understanding proper southern lawn care is the key to giving yourself the lawn you’ve always dreamt of. You have a lot of luxuries in the south like beautiful weather, great beaches, and amazing food. Make sure you have a gorgeous lawn to help you enjoy it all even more.


    FAQs About Caring For a Southern Lawn

    What is the first step to take when caring for a lawn?

    When caring for a lawn, the first step is to do a soil test. Find out exactly where the health of the soil is and how this impacts the lawn. Once you have done this, you can start to make decisions about nutrients, watering, fertilization, and more.


    When should I fertilize my southern lawn? 

    Southern lawns usually grow best in the summer. You’ll want to fertilize your lawn every 4 to 6 weeks during the summer season if you have warm season grasses on your property.


    Why do you need to water a lawn?

    Water is essential for all living things to grow, including your lawn. Although rainwater can help to reduce the amount of water you need to give your lawn, there are still watering requirements that are expected, especially in the south. Always water in the early morning hours to increase the efficiency of the watering and decrease the chance of fungus developing in the turf.


    Article Update Log
    8/23/2023
    Reviewed for accuracy, cost data, industry best practices, and expert advice by Coty Perry.
    Editorial Contributors
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    Coty Perry

    Expert Writer & Reviewer

    Coty Perry is a lawn and garden writer for Today’s Homeowner. He focuses on providing homeowners with actionable tips that relate to the “Average Joe” who is looking to achieve a healthier and greener lawn. When he isn’t writing he can almost always be found coaching youth football or on some trail in Pennsylvania in search of the next greatest fishing hole.

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    Lora Novak

    Senior Editor

    Lora Novak meticulously proofreads and edits all commercial content for Today’s Homeowner to guarantee that it contains the most up-to-date information. Lora brings over 12 years of writing, editing, and digital marketing expertise. She’s worked on thousands of articles related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation, roofing, plumbing, lawn/garden, pest control, insurance, and other general homeownership topics.

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