Ninety Nine Is lawn care, month by month
| Month | Tasks |
|---|---|
| January | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| February | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| March | Apply crabgrass pre-emergent |
| April | Apply crabgrass pre-emergent |
| May | Seed, sod, or plug new grass · First feeding at full green-up · Aerate / dethatch |
| June | First feeding at full green-up · Aerate / dethatch |
| July | Peak growth — regular mowing, about 1″ of water a week |
| August | Last nitrogen of the year |
| September | Last nitrogen of the year |
| October | Growth stops — final mow |
| November | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| December | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
Reading the Ninety Nine Is lawn year
Ninety Nine Is's lawn year runs on warmth: the lawn wakes after the last frost around Apr 20, hits full stride in midsummer, and goes dormant with the first frost around Oct 24. 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 Ninety Nine Is
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant warm-season grass in Ninety Nine Is?
Seed, sod, or plug Bermuda, Zoysia, and other warm-season grasses in late spring — around May 4 – May 18 in Ninety Nine Is, 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 Ninety Nine Is?
Aim for Mar 30 – Apr 20 — the estimated stretch when Ninety Nine Is soil approaches the ~55°F germination threshold, anchored to the average last frost (Apr 20). 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 Ninety Nine Is?
Keep mowing as long as the grass grows — in Ninety Nine Is that's typically until Oct 10 – Oct 31, around the average first fall frost (Oct 24). Warm-season lawns then go brown-dormant for winter, which is normal.
What grass grows best in Ninety Nine Is?
South Carolina is warm-season country: Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede, bahia, buffalo. See the grass guides linked below for identification and care.