6 states with a calendar

Bermudagrass lawn care by state.

What starts the first spring feeding and how low to mow are where the bermudagrass calendars differ most.

By LawnYear editorial team · Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 30, 2026Windows are read from the extension publications listed under Sources; the dates are approximate.

Approximate dates for your state. Check with your local cooperative extension office before you act.

What triggers the first feeding

North Carolina says to feed several weeks after the lawn is fully green, typically early April to May. Georgia says not to apply nitrogen until soil at 4 in is constantly 65 F and rising. Texas waits until the lawn is growing and has been mowed 2 to 3 times. South Carolina puts it in early May after full green-up and says no nitrogen from January to April.

Mowing heights compared

North Carolina accepts 5/8 to 2.5 in and says most lawns are kept at 1 to 2.5 in. Georgia gives 1 to 2 in for common bermudagrass and 1 to 1.5 in for hybrids. Texas gives 1 to 2 in. South Carolina tells you to start the season at 1.25 to 1.5 in.

Seeding appears in two states

Only Georgia and Kentucky give bermudagrass a seeding window on this site. Georgia says May to July is best, April and August are possible, at 4 to 8 lb of unhulled or 1 to 2 lb of hulled seed per 1,000 sq ft. Kentucky says late May or June, after nights stay above 60 F, at 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft, and adds that improved strains are usually sprigged.

Kentucky and Alabama on feeding

Kentucky says late spring into summer is the best time to feed warm-season grasses and gives bermudagrass 3 to 4 lb of nitrogen a year. Alabama's standard schedule is 1 lb in May, July and August, 3 lb a year, and its maximum schedule adds June and September for 5 lb. Alabama's mowing range is 1 to 2 in, and Maryland's new-lawn page gives a seeding rate of 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft.

Bermudagrass windows by state

For dates by ZIP code, use the lawn schedule by ZIP tool.

North Carolina
- Fertilize: Apr 1 – Aug 31Without a soil test: 1/2 to 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft several weeks after the lawn is fully green (typically early April to May), then 1 lb every four to six weeks in June to August. In September no more than 1/2 lb.
- Weed control: Feb 15 – Mar 15Preemergent herbicide from mid-February to early March (March 15 used as the end date, interpreted).
- Mow: Mar 1 – Nov 30Acceptable heights run 5/8 to 2.5 in; most lawns are kept between 1 and 2.5 in. Mowing below 1 in needs a reel mower and level ground. Raise the height 1/2 in before frost. Months are the March to November sections of the calendar.
- Water: Mar 1 – Aug 31About 1 inch of water a week while the grass is growing; supplement rainfall as needed. The calendar gives this for March to May and says to follow it in June to August.
[1]NC State Extension (2021)(opens in a new tab)
Georgia
- Seed: May 1 – Jul 31Best months for seeding a new bermudagrass lawn are May to July (April and August are possible): 4 to 8 lb unhulled or 1 to 2 lb hulled seed per 1,000 sq ft. UGA notes locations can shift this schedule; adjust for your part of Georgia.
- Fertilize: May 1 – Aug 31Best months May to August (April and September possible); 2 to 5 lb N per 1,000 sq ft a year. Do not apply nitrogen in spring until soil at 4 in is constantly 65 F and rising.
- Weed control: Feb 1 – Mar 31Spring preemergent (crabgrass, goosegrass) is best in February and March; April is possible.
- Mow: Apr 1 – Oct 31Common bermudagrass 1 to 2 in; hybrid 1 to 1.5 in. Raise 1/2 in in hot weather and remove no more than 1/3 of the height at once. The calendar marks April to October.
- Water: Apr 1 – Oct 311 inch per week if there is no rainfall (April to October on the calendar).
[2]University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (2023)(opens in a new tab)
Texas
- Fertilize: Apr 1 – Oct 31Do not make the first application until the lawn is growing and has been mowed 2 to 3 times (April to May on the calendar); then 0.5 to 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft, 1 to 4 times in the growing season, 4 to 8 weeks apart. Dates are statewide.
- Weed control: Feb 1 – Mar 31Preemergent herbicide for crabgrass, goosegrass and other summer annual weeds. The text says crabgrass germinates around mid-February in South Texas, early March in North and Central Texas and mid-March in the Panhandle; apply before that.
- Weed control: Sep 1 – Oct 31Preemergent herbicide for annual bluegrass, chickweed, henbit and other winter annual weeds. Skip it if you plan to overseed with ryegrass.
- Mow: Mar 1 – Oct 31Mow at 1 to 2 in weekly, or as often as needed to prevent scalping; never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf at once.
- Water: May 1 – Oct 31Irrigate only when needed to prevent drought stress, or to replace at least 60% of evapotranspiration. Turn the system off in rainy periods.
[3]Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service(opens in a new tab)
South Carolina
- Fertilize: May 1 – May 311/2 to 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in early May after the lawn fully greens up (whole month shown). Do not apply nitrogen from January to April or from September to December. Dates are for South Carolina as a whole; coastal and central areas run earlier than the piedmont and mountains.
- Weed control: Feb 15 – Mar 31Preemergent herbicide: mid-February in coastal and central areas, mid-March in piedmont and mountain areas. End date is interpreted.
- Weed control: Sep 1 – Sep 30Preemergent herbicide in September, with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later.
- Mow: May 1 – Aug 31Start the season mowing at 1.25 to 1.5 in.
- Water: May 1 – Aug 31When the whole lawn looks dry, apply 3/4 to 1 inch of water the next morning.
[4]Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2018(opens in a new tab)
Kentucky
- Seed: May 20 – Jun 30Establish warm-season grasses in late May or June, after the soil is warm and nights stay above 60 F (shown as May 20 to June 30, this site's reading of 'late May or June'). The recommended bermudagrass seeding rate is 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft; improved strains are usually sprigged.
- Fertilize: May 20 – Aug 31Late spring into summer is the best time to fertilize warm-season grasses (shown as May 20 to August 31, this site's reading). Bermudagrass is 3 to 4 lb of nitrogen a year, in summer.
[5]University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (2016)(opens in a new tab)[6]University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (2014)(opens in a new tab)
Alabama
- Fertilize: May 1 – Aug 31Standard schedule: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in May, July and August, 3 lb a year. The maximum schedule for a superior lawn is 5 lb a year, adding June and September (September is outside the window shown).
[7]Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University), 2023(opens in a new tab)

State	Windows and notes	Sources
North Carolina	Fertilize: Apr 1 – Aug 31Without a soil test: 1/2 to 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft several weeks after the lawn is fully green (typically early April to May), then 1 lb every four to six weeks in June to August. In September no more than 1/2 lb. Weed control: Feb 15 – Mar 15Preemergent herbicide from mid-February to early March (March 15 used as the end date, interpreted). Mow: Mar 1 – Nov 30Acceptable heights run 5/8 to 2.5 in; most lawns are kept between 1 and 2.5 in. Mowing below 1 in needs a reel mower and level ground. Raise the height 1/2 in before frost. Months are the March to November sections of the calendar. Water: Mar 1 – Aug 31About 1 inch of water a week while the grass is growing; supplement rainfall as needed. The calendar gives this for March to May and says to follow it in June to August.	[1]NC State Extension (2021)(opens in a new tab)
Georgia	Seed: May 1 – Jul 31Best months for seeding a new bermudagrass lawn are May to July (April and August are possible): 4 to 8 lb unhulled or 1 to 2 lb hulled seed per 1,000 sq ft. UGA notes locations can shift this schedule; adjust for your part of Georgia. Fertilize: May 1 – Aug 31Best months May to August (April and September possible); 2 to 5 lb N per 1,000 sq ft a year. Do not apply nitrogen in spring until soil at 4 in is constantly 65 F and rising. Weed control: Feb 1 – Mar 31Spring preemergent (crabgrass, goosegrass) is best in February and March; April is possible. Mow: Apr 1 – Oct 31Common bermudagrass 1 to 2 in; hybrid 1 to 1.5 in. Raise 1/2 in in hot weather and remove no more than 1/3 of the height at once. The calendar marks April to October. Water: Apr 1 – Oct 311 inch per week if there is no rainfall (April to October on the calendar).	[2]University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (2023)(opens in a new tab)
Texas	Fertilize: Apr 1 – Oct 31Do not make the first application until the lawn is growing and has been mowed 2 to 3 times (April to May on the calendar); then 0.5 to 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft, 1 to 4 times in the growing season, 4 to 8 weeks apart. Dates are statewide. Weed control: Feb 1 – Mar 31Preemergent herbicide for crabgrass, goosegrass and other summer annual weeds. The text says crabgrass germinates around mid-February in South Texas, early March in North and Central Texas and mid-March in the Panhandle; apply before that. Weed control: Sep 1 – Oct 31Preemergent herbicide for annual bluegrass, chickweed, henbit and other winter annual weeds. Skip it if you plan to overseed with ryegrass. Mow: Mar 1 – Oct 31Mow at 1 to 2 in weekly, or as often as needed to prevent scalping; never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf at once. Water: May 1 – Oct 31Irrigate only when needed to prevent drought stress, or to replace at least 60% of evapotranspiration. Turn the system off in rainy periods.	[3]Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service(opens in a new tab)
South Carolina	Fertilize: May 1 – May 311/2 to 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in early May after the lawn fully greens up (whole month shown). Do not apply nitrogen from January to April or from September to December. Dates are for South Carolina as a whole; coastal and central areas run earlier than the piedmont and mountains. Weed control: Feb 15 – Mar 31Preemergent herbicide: mid-February in coastal and central areas, mid-March in piedmont and mountain areas. End date is interpreted. Weed control: Sep 1 – Sep 30Preemergent herbicide in September, with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later. Mow: May 1 – Aug 31Start the season mowing at 1.25 to 1.5 in. Water: May 1 – Aug 31When the whole lawn looks dry, apply 3/4 to 1 inch of water the next morning.	[4]Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2018(opens in a new tab)
Kentucky	Seed: May 20 – Jun 30Establish warm-season grasses in late May or June, after the soil is warm and nights stay above 60 F (shown as May 20 to June 30, this site's reading of 'late May or June'). The recommended bermudagrass seeding rate is 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft; improved strains are usually sprigged. Fertilize: May 20 – Aug 31Late spring into summer is the best time to fertilize warm-season grasses (shown as May 20 to August 31, this site's reading). Bermudagrass is 3 to 4 lb of nitrogen a year, in summer.	[5]University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (2016)(opens in a new tab)[6]University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (2014)(opens in a new tab)
Alabama	Fertilize: May 1 – Aug 31Standard schedule: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in May, July and August, 3 lb a year. The maximum schedule for a superior lawn is 5 lb a year, adding June and September (September is outside the window shown).	[7]Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University), 2023(opens in a new tab)

Approximate dates for your state. Check with your local cooperative extension office before you act.

Sources

The dates and figures on this page come from these publications.

[1]
NC State Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)AG-431, Bermudagrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar (July 2021).Publication year 2021 · Read 2026-10-29
[2]
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Bermudagrass Lawn Calendar (September 2023); months rated B best, P possible, M marginal.Publication year 2023 · Read 2026-10-29
[3]
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service ↗ (opens in a new tab)ESC-042, Bermudagrass Home Lawn Management Calendar; month-by-month table, statewide.Read 2026-10-29
[4]
Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center) ↗ (opens in a new tab)Bermudagrass Yearly Maintenance Program (revised 2018).Publication year 2018 · Read 2026-10-29
[5]
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service ↗ (opens in a new tab)AGR-50, Lawn Establishment in Kentucky (2016); seeding times and rates (in pure live seed) for cool-season grasses and planting time for warm-season grasses.Publication year 2016 · Read 2026-10-30
[6]
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service ↗ (opens in a new tab)AGR-212, Fertilizing Your Lawn (2014); nitrogen timing and rates by grass and maintenance level, and the April preemergent timing for crabgrass.Publication year 2014 · Read 2026-10-30
[7]
Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University) ↗ (opens in a new tab)ANR-0239, Home Lawn Maintenance (2023); Table 2 monthly nitrogen schedule by grass and Table 1 mowing heights.Publication year 2023 · Read 2026-10-30
[8]
University of Maryland Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Starting a New Lawn (2026); seeding rates per 1,000 sq ft by turf type, page updated March 16, 2026.Publication year 2026 · Read 2026-10-30