Lawn Fertilization Calendar – Zendesk

Use this calendar to determine the best schedule for your specific grass type.

1. Cool-Season Grass Schedule

(Includes Kentucky Bluegrass, Fescues, Perennial Ryegrass) Cool-season grasses thrive in spring and fall, with a period of dormancy or slow growth during the summer heat. Therefore, we focus the heaviest feeding on the fall to build root reserves for the winter and the following spring.

Season	Time Frame	Application Goal & Notes
Spring	Mid-to-Late April (After grass begins to green)	Light Feeding Only. Encourages blade growth after dormancy. Use a slow-release formula to avoid excessive growth and subsequent stress during summer heat.
Early Fall (Most Important)	Early September (Around Labor Day)	Root Recovery. This is the most crucial feeding. It helps grass recover from summer stress, promotes thickening, and builds strong roots for winter.
Late Fall (Winterizer)	Mid-to-Late October (Just before final mowing)	Winter Prep. The last feeding before the first hard freeze (when the grass is green but growth has slowed). Provides nutrients that are stored in the roots for an early spring green-up.
Summer	June – August	Avoid Feeding. Fertilizing during extreme heat can cause burns and weakens the plant's ability to handle heat stress.

2. Warm-Season Grass Schedule

(Includes Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine Grasses) Warm-season grasses love the heat and are actively growing throughout the summer. They go dormant (turn brown) in the winter, so all feeding should be focused on their active growing period.

Season	Time Frame	Application Goal & Notes
Late Spring	Mid-May (After grass is fully out of winter dormancy)	First Active Feed. Apply the first round of Nitrogen (N) after the threat of frost has passed and soil temperatures consistently reach .
Summer	Mid-June, Mid-July, Mid-August (Every weeks)	Peak Growth Support. Continue feeding during the most active growth months. Split the total yearly fertilizer across applications to avoid over-fertilizing at once.
Early Fall	Early September	Final Boost. This final application helps the grass store carbohydrates before it enters winter dormancy. Do not fertilize after mid-September as it can lead to winter injury.
Winter	November – February	Avoid Feeding. The grass is dormant. Fertilizing now encourages vulnerable growth and is a waste of nutrients.