Spring Overview for Florida Lawns
Spring in Florida (March through May) marks the transition from dormancy to active growth. Soil temperatures rise above 65°F, triggering your grass to green up and grow vigorously. This is your window to establish a strong foundation before the brutal summer heat arrives.
Key priorities this season: fertilize to fuel growth, apply pre-emergent for weed prevention, and start monitoring for chinch bugs as temperatures climb.
Spring Care by Grass Type
🌱 St. Augustine Grass
Florida's most popular lawn grass — thick, carpet-like blades
- ✓Mowing height: 3.5-4 inches (never remove more than 1/3 of blade)
- ✓First fertilizer: Mid-March to early April when grass is actively growing
- ✓Watering: 1 inch per week (including rain)
- ⚠Watch for: Chinch bugs in sunny spots, brown patch fungus (early spring), take-all root rot
🌱 Bermuda Grass
Fine-textured, aggressive grower — loves full sun
- ✓Mowing height: 1-2 inches (can go lower than St. Augustine)
- ✓First fertilizer: Late March when grass reaches 50% green-up
- ✓Spring scalping: Consider one low cut (1/2 inch) in early March to remove dead material
- ⚠Watch for: Dollar spot, mole crickets, spring dead spot
🌱 Zoysia Grass
Dense, low-maintenance — slower to green up in spring
- ✓Mowing height: 1.5-2.5 inches
- ✓First fertilizer: Late April (Zoysia greens up later than other warm-season grasses)
- ✓Dethatching: Spring is ideal if thatch exceeds 1/2 inch
- ⚠Watch for: Large patch (Zoysia patch), billbugs, hunting billbug damage
🌱 Bahia Grass
Low-maintenance, drought-tolerant — common in pastures and low-input lawns
- ✓Mowing height: 3-4 inches
- ✓First fertilizer: April (Bahia needs less nitrogen than other grasses — 2-3 lbs N/1000 sq ft per year total)
- ✓Overseeding: Spring is ideal for filling in thin spots
- ⚠Watch for: Mole crickets (major pest for Bahia), dollar spot, armyworms
What to Watch For This Spring
🐛 Chinch Bugs (Peak: April-September)
Start checking sunny spots near driveways and sidewalks. Look for irregular yellow patches that spread outward.
Action: Weekly inspection. Part the grass and look for tiny black bugs with white wings.
🍄 Brown Patch Fungus (Active: March-May)
Circular brown patches with yellow "smoke ring" edges. Thrives in humid nights (70-80°F) with cool mornings.
Action: Avoid evening watering. Apply fungicide if spreading. Shop Fungicide →
🌿 Iron Chlorosis
Yellow grass blades with green veins. Common after spring growth surge on high-pH Florida soils.
Action: Apply chelated iron spray or granular iron sulfate. Shop Chelated Iron →
🌼 Summer Weed Emergence
Crabgrass, spurge, and chamberbitter start germinating when soil temps hit 55-60°F (early March in South FL).
Action: Apply pre-emergent by mid-February (South FL) or early March (Central/North FL).
What to Apply This Spring
Fertilizer (March-April)
Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer once grass is actively growing. Look for 16-4-8 or similar ratios with at least 50% slow-release nitrogen. Shop Lawn Fertilizer on Amazon →
Rate: 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft. Water in lightly after application.
Pre-Emergent Herbicide (Feb-March)
Prevents summer weeds from germinating. Apply when soil temperature reaches 55°F for 3+ consecutive days. Shop Pre-Emergent on Amazon →
Products: Prodiamine, pendimethalin, or dithiopyr. Water in within 24 hours.
Iron Supplement (April-May)
Provides quick green-up without excessive growth. Safe for Florida's high-pH soils. Shop Iron Supplements on Amazon →
Options: Ironite granules, chelated liquid iron, or iron sulfate.
Common Spring Problems in Florida
My lawn is still brown — when will it green up?
Different grass types green up at different times. St. Augustine typically greens up first (March), followed by Bermuda, then Zoysia (April). If your lawn stays brown when neighbors are green, you may have cold damage or take-all root rot — upload a photo for diagnosis.
Should I dethatch my lawn this spring?
Only if thatch exceeds 1/2 inch. Too much dethatching damages the lawn. Spring is the best time for Zoysia and Bermuda. For St. Augustine, be gentle — it doesn't recover from aggressive dethatching as well.
I missed pre-emergent — what now?
You can still apply pre-emergent in early spring, but effectiveness decreases as soil temps rise. For weeds that have already emerged, switch to post-emergent herbicides labeled for your grass type.
How often should I water in spring?
Most Florida lawns need 1 inch of water per week total (including rain). In spring, 2-3 deep waterings per week is better than daily light watering. Water early morning (before 10 AM) to reduce disease pressure.
Recommended Products for Spring
Scotts Southern Turf Builder
32-0-10 formula designed for Southern grasses. Includes slow-release nitrogen and potassium for root development.
View on Amazon →Prodiamine 65 WDG Pre-Emergent
Professional-grade pre-emergent herbicide. One application provides 4-6 months of weed prevention.
View on Amazon →Ironite Mineral Supplement
Fast-acting iron for quick green-up without excessive growth. Safe for all grass types.
View on Amazon →Bayer Advanced Fungus Control
Propiconazole-based fungicide for brown patch, dollar spot, and other lawn diseases.
View on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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