NEW Orleans Audubon lawn care, month by month
| Month | Tasks |
|---|---|
| January | Apply crabgrass pre-emergent · Growth stops — final mow |
| February | Seed, sod, or plug new grass · First feeding at full green-up · Aerate / dethatch |
| March | 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 NEW Orleans Audubon lawn year
NEW Orleans Audubon's lawn year runs on warmth: the lawn wakes after the last frost around Jan 24, hits full stride in midsummer, and goes dormant with the first frost around Jan 2. 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 NEW Orleans Audubon
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant warm-season grass in NEW Orleans Audubon?
Seed, sod, or plug Bermuda, Zoysia, and other warm-season grasses in late spring — around Feb 7 – Feb 21 in NEW Orleans Audubon, 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 NEW Orleans Audubon?
Aim for Jan 3 – Jan 24 — the estimated stretch when NEW Orleans Audubon soil approaches the ~55°F germination threshold, anchored to the average last frost (Jan 24). 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 NEW Orleans Audubon?
Keep mowing as long as the grass grows — in NEW Orleans Audubon that's typically until Dec 19 – Jan 9, around the average first fall frost (Jan 2). Warm-season lawns then go brown-dormant for winter, which is normal.
What grass grows best in NEW Orleans Audubon?
Louisiana is warm-season country: Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede, bahia, buffalo. See the grass guides linked below for identification and care.