Jacksonville lawn care, month by month
| Month | Tasks |
|---|---|
| January | Apply crabgrass pre-emergent · Growth stops — final mow |
| February | Apply crabgrass pre-emergent · Seed, sod, or plug new grass · First feeding at full green-up |
| March | Seed, sod, or plug new grass · First feeding at full green-up · Aerate / dethatch |
| April | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| May | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| June | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| July | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| August | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| September | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| October | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| November | Last nitrogen of the year |
| December | Growth stops — final mow |
Reading the Jacksonville lawn year
Jacksonville's lawn year runs on warmth: the lawn wakes after the last frost around Feb 1, hits full stride in midsummer, and goes dormant with the first frost around Jan 5. The two dates to respect most are the pre-emergent deadline in late winter — southern soil warms early — and the last-nitrogen cutoff 6–8 weeks before frost, which protects the lawn from winter injury.
Grasses that fit Jacksonville
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant warm-season grass in Jacksonville?
Seed, sod, or plug Bermuda, Zoysia, and other warm-season grasses in late spring — around Feb 15 – Mar 1 in Jacksonville, once soil has warmed well past the last frost. That gives new grass a full growing season to mature before its first winter dormancy.
When do I put down crabgrass preventer in Jacksonville?
Aim for Jan 11 – Feb 1 — the estimated stretch when Jacksonville soil approaches the ~55°F germination threshold, anchored to the average last frost (Feb 1). It's an estimate: a soil thermometer reading 50–55°F at 2″ depth for several days is the precise trigger, and pre-emergent must go down before crabgrass sprouts, not after.
When should I stop mowing in Jacksonville?
Keep mowing as long as the grass grows — in Jacksonville that's typically until Dec 22 – Jan 12, around the average first fall frost (Jan 5). Warm-season lawns then go brown-dormant for winter, which is normal.
What grass grows best in Jacksonville?
Florida is warm-season country: Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede, bahia, buffalo. See the grass guides linked below for identification and care.