Lawn care calendar for Georgia.
The University of Georgia publishes five lawn calendars, one per grass, and rates each month as best, possible or marginal.
Get dates for my ZIP →By LawnYear editorial team · Published · Updated Windows are read from the extension publications listed under Sources; the dates are approximate.
Short answer for Georgia
In Georgia, for bermudagrass, seed May 1 to Jul 31; fertilize May 1 to Aug 31; weed control Feb 1 to Mar 31; mow Apr 1 to Oct 31 at 1 to 2 in, per University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (2023).
For zoysiagrass, seed May 1 to Jun 30; fertilize May 1 to Aug 31; weed control Feb 1 to Mar 31; mow Apr 1 to Oct 31 at 1 to 2 in, per University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (2023).
For centipedegrass, seed May 1 to Jul 31; fertilize May 1 to Aug 31; weed control Feb 1 to Mar 31; mow May 1 to Sep 30 at 1 to 2 in, per University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (2023).
The table below also covers St. Augustinegrass and tall fescue.
Approximate dates for your state. Check with your local cooperative extension office before you act.
Windows by grass and task
| Grass | Seed | Fertilize | Weed control | Mow | Water | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bermudagrass | May 1 to Jul 31 | May 1 to Aug 31 | Feb 1 to Mar 31 | Apr 1 to Oct 31 at 1 to 2 in | Apr 1 to Oct 31 | University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2023 |
| Zoysiagrass | May 1 to Jun 30 | May 1 to Aug 31 | Feb 1 to Mar 31 | Apr 1 to Oct 31 at 1 to 2 in | Apr 1 to Oct 31 | University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2023 |
| Centipedegrass | May 1 to Jul 31 | May 1 to Aug 31 | Feb 1 to Mar 31 | May 1 to Sep 30 at 1 to 2 in | Apr 1 to Sep 30 | University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2023 |
| St. Augustinegrass | not in the source | May 1 to Aug 31 | Feb 1 to Mar 31 | Apr 1 to Sep 30 at 2 to 3 in | Apr 1 to Sep 30 | University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2023 |
| Tall fescue | Oct 1 to Oct 31 | Feb 1 to Mar 31Oct 1 to Nov 30 | Feb 1 to Mar 31 | Jan 1 to Dec 31 at 2 to 3 in | Jan 1 to Dec 31 | University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2023 |
Calendar by grass
Grasses the source covers with one shared calendar are shown together. Open a group for each task, its note and its source. Want dates for your ZIP code? Use the lawn schedule by ZIP tool.
Bermudagrass
5 tasks
Bermudagrass in Georgia
Seed
May 1 – Jul 31
Best 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.
Bermudagrass in Georgia
Fertilize
May 1 – Aug 31
Best 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.
Bermudagrass in Georgia
Weed control
Feb 1 – Mar 31
Spring preemergent (crabgrass, goosegrass) is best in February and March; April is possible.
Bermudagrass in Georgia
Mow
Apr 1 – Oct 31
Mow at 1–2 in.
Common 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.
Bermudagrass in Georgia
Water
Apr 1 – Oct 31
1 inch per week if there is no rainfall (April to October on the calendar).
Zoysiagrass
5 tasks
Zoysiagrass in Georgia
Seed
May 1 – Jun 30
Best months for seeding a new zoysiagrass lawn are May and June (April and July possible): 1 to 2 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Overseeding with ryegrass is not recommended.
Zoysiagrass in Georgia
Fertilize
May 1 – Aug 31
Best months May to August (April and September possible); 2 to 3 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.
Zoysiagrass in Georgia
Weed control
Feb 1 – Mar 31
Spring preemergent is best in February and March; April is possible.
Zoysiagrass in Georgia
Mow
Apr 1 – Oct 31
Mow at 1–2 in.
1 to 2 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.
Zoysiagrass in Georgia
Water
Apr 1 – Oct 31
1 inch per week if there is no rainfall (April to October on the calendar).
Centipedegrass
5 tasks
Centipedegrass in Georgia
Seed
May 1 – Jul 31
Best months for seeding a new centipedegrass lawn are May to July (August possible): 0.25 to 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Overseeding with ryegrass is not recommended.
Centipedegrass in Georgia
Fertilize
May 1 – Aug 31
Feed in May and July (best months), June and August are possible; 1 to 2 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.
Centipedegrass in Georgia
Weed control
Feb 1 – Mar 31
Spring preemergent is best in February and March; April is possible.
Centipedegrass in Georgia
Mow
May 1 – Sep 30
Mow at 1–2 in.
1 to 2 in; raise 1/2 in in hot weather. The calendar marks May to September.
Centipedegrass in Georgia
Water
Apr 1 – Sep 30
1 inch per week if there is no rainfall (April to September on the calendar).
St. Augustinegrass
4 tasks
St. Augustinegrass in Georgia
Fertilize
May 1 – Aug 31
Best months May to August (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.
St. Augustinegrass in Georgia
Weed control
Feb 1 – Mar 31
Spring preemergent is best in February and March; April is possible.
St. Augustinegrass in Georgia
Mow
Apr 1 – Sep 30
Mow at 2–3 in.
2 to 3 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 September. St. Augustinegrass cannot be established from seed.
St. Augustinegrass in Georgia
Water
Apr 1 – Sep 30
1 inch per week if there is no rainfall (April to September on the calendar).
Tall fescue
6 tasks
Tall fescue in Georgia
Seed
Oct 1 – Oct 31
October is the best month for seeding a new lawn: 5 to 6 lb of turf-type tall fescue per 1,000 sq ft. February, March, September and November are possible.
Tall fescue in Georgia
Fertilize
Feb 1 – Mar 31
Best months February and March (April possible); 2 to 4 lb N per 1,000 sq ft a year. Follow the soil test.
Tall fescue in Georgia
Fertilize
Oct 1 – Nov 30
Best months October and November (September possible); 2 to 4 lb N per 1,000 sq ft a year. Follow the soil test.
Tall fescue in Georgia
Weed control
Feb 1 – Mar 31
Spring preemergent is best in February and March; April is possible. Do not apply preemergence if the lawn is to be seeded or sodded within 3 to 4 months.
Tall fescue in Georgia
Mow
Jan 1 – Dec 31
Mow at 2–3 in.
2 to 3 in all year; raise 1/2 in in hot weather and remove no more than 1/3 of the height at once.
Tall fescue in Georgia
Water
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 inch per week if there is no rainfall.
Months are rated, not dated
Each UGA calendar marks months B (best), P (possible) or M (marginal) instead of giving dates. The windows below use the best months. The possible months sit just outside them: for bermudagrass seeding, May to July is best and April and August are possible. UGA also notes that location can shift the schedule, so adjust for north or south Georgia.
Warm-season grasses seed in late spring, tall fescue in fall
Best seeding months are May to July for bermudagrass and centipedegrass, May and June for zoysiagrass, and October for tall fescue (February, March, September and November are possible). The St. Augustinegrass calendar says the grass cannot be established from seed, so it has no seeding window here.
Soil temperature starts spring feeding
The four warm-season calendars say not to apply nitrogen in spring until the soil at 4 in is constantly 65 F and rising. Yearly nitrogen differs by grass: 2 to 5 lb per 1,000 sq ft for bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass, 2 to 3 lb for zoysiagrass, 1 to 2 lb for centipedegrass, and 2 to 4 lb for tall fescue.
Cautions about overseeding and preemergent herbicide
For zoysiagrass and centipedegrass the calendars say overseeding with ryegrass is not recommended. For tall fescue they say not to apply preemergence if the lawn is to be seeded or sodded within 3 to 4 months. Tall fescue is mowed at 2 to 3 in all year; the warm-season grasses are mowed in the 1 to 2 in range, except St. Augustinegrass at 2 to 3 in.
Sources
The dates and figures on this page come from these publications.
- [1]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
- [2]University of Georgia Cooperative Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Zoysiagrass Lawn Calendar (September 2023); months rated B best, P possible, M marginal.Publication year 2023 · Read 2026-10-29
- [3]University of Georgia Cooperative Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Centipedegrass Lawn Calendar (September 2023); months rated B best, P possible, M marginal.Publication year 2023 · Read 2026-10-29
- [4]University of Georgia Cooperative Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)St. Augustinegrass Lawn Calendar (September 2023); months rated B best, P possible, M marginal.Publication year 2023 · Read 2026-10-29
- [5]University of Georgia Cooperative Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Turf-Type Tall Fescue Lawn Calendar (September 2023); months rated B best, P possible, M marginal.Publication year 2023 · Read 2026-10-29