Lawn care calendar for South Carolina.
Clemson publishes one yearly maintenance program per warm-season grass, and all four hold nitrogen back until the lawn has fully greened up.
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 South Carolina
In South Carolina, for St. Augustinegrass, fertilize May 1 to May 31; weed control Feb 15 to Mar 31 and Sep 1 to Sep 30; mow May 1 to Aug 31 at 2.5 to 4 in, per Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2018.
For bermudagrass, fertilize May 1 to May 31; weed control Feb 15 to Mar 31 and Sep 1 to Sep 30; mow May 1 to Aug 31 at 1.25 to 1.5 in, per Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2018.
For centipedegrass, seed May 1 to May 31; fertilize May 1 to May 31; weed control Feb 15 to Mar 31 and Sep 1 to Sep 30; mow May 1 to Aug 31 at 1 to 2 in, per Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2024.
For zoysiagrass, fertilize May 1 to May 31; weed control Feb 15 to Mar 31 and Sep 1 to Sep 30; mow May 1 to Aug 31 at 1.5 in, per Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2018.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Augustinegrass | not in the source | May 1 to May 31 | Feb 15 to Mar 31Sep 1 to Sep 30 | May 1 to Aug 31 at 2.5 to 4 in | May 1 to Aug 31 | Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2018 |
| Bermudagrass | not in the source | May 1 to May 31 | Feb 15 to Mar 31Sep 1 to Sep 30 | May 1 to Aug 31 at 1.25 to 1.5 in | May 1 to Aug 31 | Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2018 |
| Centipedegrass | May 1 to May 31 | May 1 to May 31 | Feb 15 to Mar 31Sep 1 to Sep 30 | May 1 to Aug 31 at 1 to 2 in | May 1 to Aug 31 | Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2024 |
| Zoysiagrass | not in the source | May 1 to May 31 | Feb 15 to Mar 31Sep 1 to Sep 30 | May 1 to Aug 31 at 1.5 in | May 1 to Aug 31 | Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2018 |
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.
St. Augustinegrass
5 tasks
St. Augustinegrass in South Carolina
Fertilize
May 1 – May 31
1/2 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.
St. Augustinegrass in South Carolina
Weed control
Feb 15 – Mar 31
Preemergent herbicide for crabgrass, goosegrass and sandspurs: mid-February in coastal and central areas, mid-March in piedmont and mountain areas; a second application 8 to 10 weeks later. End date is interpreted.
St. Augustinegrass in South Carolina
Weed control
Sep 1 – Sep 30
Preemergent herbicide in September, with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later.
St. Augustinegrass in South Carolina
Mow
May 1 – Aug 31
Mow at 2.5–4 in.
The ideal height ranges from 2.5 to 4 in depending on site and management. Lower to 2 to 2.5 in just before spring green-up and raise 1/2 to 1 in once nights fall below 70 F.
St. Augustinegrass in South Carolina
Water
May 1 – Aug 31
When the whole lawn looks dry, apply 3/4 to 1 inch of water the next morning.
Bermudagrass
5 tasks
Bermudagrass in South Carolina
Fertilize
May 1 – May 31
1/2 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.
Bermudagrass in South Carolina
Weed control
Feb 15 – Mar 31
Preemergent herbicide: mid-February in coastal and central areas, mid-March in piedmont and mountain areas. End date is interpreted.
Bermudagrass in South Carolina
Weed control
Sep 1 – Sep 30
Preemergent herbicide in September, with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later.
Bermudagrass in South Carolina
Mow
May 1 – Aug 31
Mow at 1.25–1.5 in.
Start the season mowing at 1.25 to 1.5 in.
Bermudagrass in South Carolina
Water
May 1 – Aug 31
When the whole lawn looks dry, apply 3/4 to 1 inch of water the next morning.
Centipedegrass
6 tasks
Centipedegrass in South Carolina
Seed
May 1 – May 31
Replant large bare areas in May using sod, seed (1/4 to 1/2 lb per 1,000 sq ft) or plugs.
Centipedegrass in South Carolina
Fertilize
May 1 – May 31
1/2 to 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in early May after the lawn fully greens up (whole month shown); a late-summer application is possible before August 15 in the Upstate and before September 1 on the coast. 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.
Centipedegrass in South Carolina
Weed control
Feb 15 – Mar 31
Preemergent herbicide: mid-February in coastal and central areas, mid-March in piedmont and mountain areas. End date is interpreted.
Centipedegrass in South Carolina
Weed control
Sep 1 – Sep 30
Preemergent herbicide in September, with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later.
Centipedegrass in South Carolina
Mow
May 1 – Aug 31
Mow at 1–2 in.
The ideal mowing height is 1 to 2 in.
Centipedegrass in South Carolina
Water
May 1 – Aug 31
When the whole lawn looks dry, apply 3/4 to 1 inch of water the next morning.
Zoysiagrass
5 tasks
Zoysiagrass in South Carolina
Fertilize
May 1 – May 31
1/2 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.
Zoysiagrass in South Carolina
Weed control
Feb 15 – Mar 31
Preemergent herbicide: mid-February in coastal and central areas, mid-March in piedmont and mountain areas. End date is interpreted.
Zoysiagrass in South Carolina
Weed control
Sep 1 – Sep 30
Preemergent herbicide in September, with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later.
Zoysiagrass in South Carolina
Mow
May 1 – Aug 31
Mow at 1.5–1.5 in.
For most zoysiagrass cultivars a mowing height of 1.5 in is recommended.
Zoysiagrass in South Carolina
Water
May 1 – Aug 31
When the whole lawn looks dry, apply 3/4 to 1 inch of water the next morning.
Four warm-season grasses
Clemson's Home & Garden Information Center has a yearly maintenance program for St. Augustinegrass, bermudagrass, centipedegrass and zoysiagrass. This site has no cool-season calendar for South Carolina, and it recorded a seeding window from these programs only for centipedegrass, where large bare areas are replanted in May.
Green-up decides the first feeding
Each program puts the first nitrogen, 1/2 to 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft, in early May after the lawn fully greens up, and says not to apply nitrogen from January to April or from September to December. The centipedegrass program adds a late-summer feeding that is possible before August 15 in the Upstate and before September 1 on the coast.
Preemergent timing differs between coast and mountains
Preemergent herbicide goes down in mid-February in coastal and central areas and in mid-March in piedmont and mountain areas, with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later for St. Augustinegrass. Each program also lists a September application. The end of the spring window on the calendar is this site's reading.
Mowing heights across the four grasses
St. Augustinegrass is ideally 2.5 to 4 in depending on site and management; Clemson says to lower it to 2 to 2.5 in just before spring green-up and raise it 1/2 to 1 in once nights fall below 70 F. Bermudagrass starts the season at 1.25 to 1.5 in, centipedegrass is 1 to 2 in and most zoysiagrass cultivars are 1.5 in. Watering follows one rule across all four: when the whole lawn looks dry, apply 3/4 to 1 inch the next morning.
Sources
The dates and figures on this page come from these publications.
- [1]Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center) ↗ (opens in a new tab)HGIC 1218, St. Augustinegrass Yearly Maintenance Program (revised 2018).Publication year 2018 · Read 2026-10-29
- [2]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
- [3]Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center) ↗ (opens in a new tab)HGIC 1215, Centipedegrass Yearly Maintenance Program (revised 2024).Publication year 2024 · Read 2026-10-29
- [4]Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center) ↗ (opens in a new tab)HGIC 1217, Zoysiagrass Yearly Maintenance Program (revised 2018).Publication year 2018 · Read 2026-10-29