Florida lawn calendar, month by month
What to do each month for a Central Florida lawn. Rules that differ by county or water district say so — check your city page for the ones at your address.
Your grass
| Mowing height | Yearly nitrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| St. Augustine | 3.5–4 in (standard cultivars like Floratam); 2.5 in for dwarf types | 2–5 lb nitrogen per 1,000 ft² per year |
| Bahia | 3–4 in | 1–2 lb nitrogen per 1,000 ft² per year |
| Zoysia | 2–2.5 in (coarse types) | 2–4 lb nitrogen per 1,000 ft² per year |
Source: UF/IFAS ENH10/LH028 — Mowing Your Florida Lawn; UF/IFAS ENH979/EP236 — Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home Lawn
Rules at your address
Fertilizer rules come from your county and watering days from your water management district. These are the ones that apply in our service area today.
Osceola County
Celebration, ChampionsGate
Fertilizer: No summer ban. No fertilizer during tropical storm or hurricane watches and warnings; keep it 3 ft from lakes and wetlands with a deflector shield (10 ft is the voluntary distance without one).
Watering: SFWMD, year-round rule: up to two days a week. Odd addresses Wednesday and/or Saturday, even or no address Thursday and/or Sunday. Never 10 AM–4 PM.
Osceola County — Fertilizer Management (Ordinance 2015-05)South Florida Water Management District — Landscape irrigation
Polk County
Davenport, Four Corners (Polk side)
Fertilizer: No summer ban. No nitrogen or phosphorus within 10 ft of water; none during severe weather or when more than 2 in of rain is likely within 24 hours; no N or P for 30 days after sodding.
Watering: SWFWMD, Modified Phase III through March 31, 2027: one day a week by the last digit of the address, midnight–4 AM or 8 PM–11:59 PM for lots under one acre.
UF/IFAS Extension Polk County — Residents Guide to the Polk County Fertilizer OrdinanceSouthwest Florida Water Management District — Water restrictions
Lake County
Clermont, Four Corners (Lake side)
Fertilizer: Unincorporated Lake County: no nitrogen or phosphorus on lawns June 1–September 30; October–May, nitrogen at least 50% slow-release and no phosphorus. The City of Clermont’s own rule is still being confirmed.
Watering: SJRWMD, Phase III (order of May 11, 2026): one day a week. Odd or no address Saturday, even Sunday. Never 8 AM–6 PM; no more than ¾ in and 1 hour per zone.
Lake County summer fertilizer restrictions (Lake Water Atlas)St. Johns River Water Management District — Watering restrictions
January
- Mowing
Slow growth. Mow only when the grass needs it, at its recommended height.
- Fertilizer
No lawn fertilizer yet. UF/IFAS starts Central Florida feeding in early April.
UF/IFAS ENH979/EP236 — Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home Lawn
- Pests & disease
Large patch season (active below 80 °F, roughly November to May): round patches with darker or orange edges. Water only in the morning and only when needed, and go easy on nitrogen.
UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — Large Patch in Florida LawnsLawn maintenance
- Palms
Remove only fully brown fronds, flower stalks and fruit stalks; this is fine any time of year. Leave green and yellowing fronds on, and never “hurricane cut” a palm.
- Mowing
February
- Weeds
Pre-emergent weed control around February 15, before five days in a row reach 65–70 °F. Later than that, it works less well. Use a pre-emergent product, not “weed and feed”: it’s too early to fertilize.
UF/IFAS Extension Osceola County — Pre-emergence herbicidesUF/IFAS ENH1189/EP450 — Central Florida Gardening CalendarWeed control
- Watering
Check the sprinkler system before the dry spring: heads, coverage and the rain sensor. Florida law requires working rain shut-off technology on automatic systems.
Florida Statutes §373.62 — Automatic landscape irrigation systemsIrrigation & sprinklers
- Pests & disease
Large patch season (active below 80 °F, roughly November to May): round patches with darker or orange edges. Water only in the morning and only when needed, and go easy on nitrogen.
UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — Large Patch in Florida LawnsLawn maintenance
- Weeds
March
- Mowing
Growth picks up. Go back to a regular mowing schedule at the recommended height.
- Watering
Water only when the lawn shows it needs it: folded blades, a bluish-gray cast, footprints that stay. Then apply ½–¾ inch, on your allowed day. Osceola (SFWMD) allows two days a week; Polk (SWFWMD) and Lake (SJRWMD) are on one day a week under current shortage orders.
UF/IFAS ENH979/EP236 — Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home LawnSouth Florida Water Management District — Landscape irrigationSouthwest Florida Water Management District — Water restrictionsSt. Johns River Water Management District — Watering restrictionsIrrigation & sprinklers
- Planting & beds
Sod can be laid year-round in Florida. New sod is watered 5–10 minutes several times a day for 7–10 days, then once a day; new-landscape watering allowances depend on your water district.
UF/IFAS ENH-03/LH013 — Establishing Your Florida LawnNew sod installation
- Mowing
April
- Fertilizer
First fertilizer of the year in early April, after green-up. No more than 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 ft² per application, and little or no phosphorus unless a soil test calls for it.
UF/IFAS ENH979/EP236 — Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home LawnUF/IFAS ENH1189/EP450 — Central Florida Gardening CalendarLawn fertilization
- Watering
Water only when the lawn shows it needs it: folded blades, a bluish-gray cast, footprints that stay. Then apply ½–¾ inch, on your allowed day. Osceola (SFWMD) allows two days a week; Polk (SWFWMD) and Lake (SJRWMD) are on one day a week under current shortage orders.
UF/IFAS ENH979/EP236 — Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home LawnSouth Florida Water Management District — Landscape irrigationSouthwest Florida Water Management District — Water restrictionsSt. Johns River Water Management District — Watering restrictionsIrrigation & sprinklers
- Pests & disease
Large patch season (active below 80 °F, roughly November to May): round patches with darker or orange edges. Water only in the morning and only when needed, and go easy on nitrogen.
UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — Large Patch in Florida LawnsLawn maintenance
- Fertilizer
May
- Pests & disease
Watch for chinch bugs in St. Augustine: yellow-to-brown patches that start in hot, dry, sunny spots. Mowing too short, too much nitrogen and poor sprinkler coverage make them worse.
UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — Chinch BugsUF/IFAS ENH1189/EP450 — Central Florida Gardening CalendarLawn maintenance
- Fertilizer
Unincorporated Lake County: May is the last month to apply nitrogen or phosphorus before the June 1 ban.
Lake County summer fertilizer restrictions (Lake Water Atlas)Lawn fertilization
- Storms
Before hurricane season starts June 1: have trees pruned (dead wood out, outer canopy thinned, never topped). UF/IFAS recommends an ISA-certified arborist for trees over about 15 feet.
UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — Preparing Trees for HurricanesNOAA National Hurricane Center — Tropical cyclone climatologyTree trimmingTree removal
- Pests & disease
June
- Mowing
Peak growth. Mow often enough to remove no more than one-third of the blade at a time, which means weekly for most lawns. Keep blades sharp and leave the clippings.
- Fertilizer
Unincorporated Lake County: no nitrogen or phosphorus on lawns until September 30. Osceola and Polk: no summer ban, but no fertilizer during storm watches (Osceola) or when more than 2 inches of rain is likely within 24 hours (Polk).
Lake County summer fertilizer restrictions (Lake Water Atlas)Osceola County — Fertilizer Management (Ordinance 2015-05)UF/IFAS Extension Polk County — Residents Guide to the Polk County Fertilizer OrdinanceLawn fertilization
- Weeds
Hot-weather caution: many lawn herbicide labels say not to apply when temperatures are expected to reach 85 °F or more. Pull or spot-treat weeds early in the day, and follow the label.
UF/IFAS Extension — Be careful using lawn weed killers in hot weatherWeed control
- Storms
Hurricane season starts June 1. Pick up anything loose in the yard before a storm; after one, call for limb and tree cleanup.
NOAA National Hurricane Center — Tropical cyclone climatologyYard cleanupTree removal
- Mowing
July
- Mowing
Peak growth. Mow often enough to remove no more than one-third of the blade at a time, which means weekly for most lawns. Keep blades sharp and leave the clippings.
- Fertilizer
Unincorporated Lake County: no nitrogen or phosphorus on lawns until September 30. Osceola and Polk: no summer ban, but no fertilizer during storm watches (Osceola) or when more than 2 inches of rain is likely within 24 hours (Polk).
Lake County summer fertilizer restrictions (Lake Water Atlas)Osceola County — Fertilizer Management (Ordinance 2015-05)UF/IFAS Extension Polk County — Residents Guide to the Polk County Fertilizer OrdinanceLawn fertilization
- Palms
Remove only fully brown fronds, flower stalks and fruit stalks; this is fine any time of year. Leave green and yellowing fronds on, and never “hurricane cut” a palm.
- Mowing
August
- Mowing
Peak growth. Mow often enough to remove no more than one-third of the blade at a time, which means weekly for most lawns. Keep blades sharp and leave the clippings.
- Fertilizer
Unincorporated Lake County: no nitrogen or phosphorus on lawns until September 30. Osceola and Polk: no summer ban, but no fertilizer during storm watches (Osceola) or when more than 2 inches of rain is likely within 24 hours (Polk).
Lake County summer fertilizer restrictions (Lake Water Atlas)Osceola County — Fertilizer Management (Ordinance 2015-05)UF/IFAS Extension Polk County — Residents Guide to the Polk County Fertilizer OrdinanceLawn fertilization
- Storms
The busiest part of hurricane season runs from mid-August to mid-October. Remove palm seed pods and dead fronds that wind can turn into projectiles.
NOAA National Hurricane Center — Tropical cyclone climatologyUF/IFAS ENH1182/EP443 — Pruning PalmsPalm tree trimming
- Mowing
September
- Mowing
Peak growth. Mow often enough to remove no more than one-third of the blade at a time, which means weekly for most lawns. Keep blades sharp and leave the clippings.
- Pests & disease
Watch for armyworms, sod webworms and chinch bugs: chewed or ragged blades and patches that spread fast.
UF/IFAS ENH1189/EP450 — Central Florida Gardening CalendarUF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — Chinch BugsLawn maintenance
- Fertilizer
The unincorporated Lake County summer ban ends September 30.
Lake County summer fertilizer restrictions (Lake Water Atlas)Lawn fertilization
- Storms
September 10 is the statistical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.
NOAA National Hurricane Center — Tropical cyclone climatology
- Mowing
October
- Fertilizer
Last lawn fertilizer of the year in early October (UF/IFAS, Central Florida). In unincorporated Lake County, nitrogen from October 1 must be at least 50% slow-release.
UF/IFAS ENH979/EP236 — Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home LawnLake County summer fertilizer restrictions (Lake Water Atlas)Lawn fertilization
- Mowing
Growth starts slowing; many lawns can move to every other week later in the fall.
- Planting & beds
Refresh mulch: 2–3 inches around established plants, about a foot clear of tree trunks. Pine bark, pine straw, eucalyptus and melaleuca are good choices; cypress is discouraged.
- Fertilizer
November
- Storms
Hurricane season ends November 30.
NOAA National Hurricane Center — Tropical cyclone climatology
- Pests & disease
Large patch season (active below 80 °F, roughly November to May): round patches with darker or orange edges. Water only in the morning and only when needed, and go easy on nitrogen.
UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — Large Patch in Florida LawnsLawn maintenance
- Watering
Cooler weather means less water. Skip irrigation after rain, and keep watering to the morning on your allowed day.
UF/IFAS ENH979/EP236 — Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home LawnUF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — Large Patch in Florida LawnsIrrigation & sprinklers
- Storms
December
- Mowing
Slow growth. Mow as needed and keep fallen leaves off the lawn.
UF/IFAS ENH10/LH028 — Mowing Your Florida LawnLawn mowingYard cleanup
- Pests & disease
Large patch season (active below 80 °F, roughly November to May): round patches with darker or orange edges. Water only in the morning and only when needed, and go easy on nitrogen.
UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — Large Patch in Florida LawnsLawn maintenance
- Palms
Remove only fully brown fronds, flower stalks and fruit stalks; this is fine any time of year. Leave green and yellowing fronds on, and never “hurricane cut” a palm.
- Mowing
General guidance for Central Florida, checked October 7, 2026. County ordinances and water-district orders change; the linked official sources are the final word.
Lawn calendar questions
Which days can I water my lawn?
It depends on your water management district and can change during droughts. Osceola County (SFWMD) uses a two-day rule; Polk County (SWFWMD) and Lake County (SJRWMD) currently have one-day-a-week shortage orders. Each city page shows the rule for that area with a link to the official source.
Can you fertilize in the summer?
In unincorporated Lake County, fertilizer with nitrogen or phosphorus isn’t allowed on lawns from June 1 to September 30. Osceola and Polk counties have no summer ban, but no fertilizer during tropical storm or hurricane watches, and Polk also bans it when more than 2 inches of rain is likely within 24 hours. We follow the rule for your address.
How short should my lawn be cut?
UF/IFAS recommends 3.5–4 inches for standard St. Augustine, 3–4 inches for Bahia and 2–2.5 inches for coarse Zoysia, removing no more than a third of the blade at a time.
Should palms get a "hurricane cut"?
No. UF/IFAS found that palms stripped down to a few fronds were more likely to lose their crowns in the 2004–05 hurricanes. Remove only fully brown fronds, pods and flower stalks.
Do mowing visits change in winter?
Grass grows slowly in the cooler months, so many lawns can be mowed every other week from late fall to early spring. Your quote says how the visit schedule changes by season.