Lawn care calendar
Lawn Care Calendar for Southport, NC
What your lawn and landscape need each month from March to November, and how often we should come out.
How often we come out through the year
| Schedule | How often | When |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Once a month | March and November |
| Basic | Every 2 weeks | April, September and October |
| Advanced | Every week | May through August |
Pick your schedule when you build your lawn plan. You can change it as the seasons change.
Month by month
March
Once a month, then every 2 weeks
Lawn
- Pre-emergent weed control by early March to stop crabgrass
- First mow at green-up
- Hold off on fertilizer
Landscaping
- Spring bed cleanout
- Cut back ornamental grasses and dead perennials
- Fresh mulch or pine straw
April
Every 2 weeks
Lawn
- Mowing and edging every 2 weeks
- Spray broadleaf weeds
- First fertilizer once fully green (Bermuda, zoysia)
Landscaping
- Plant new shrubs and beds
- Trim azaleas and spring bloomers after they flower
May
Every week
Lawn
- Weekly mowing as growth takes off
- Fertilize centipede (mid-May) and St. Augustine
- Aeration season starts
Landscaping
- Bed weeding
- Hedge and shrub trimming
- Detailed edging
June
Every week
Lawn
- Mow a little higher in the heat
- About an inch of water a week
- Aeration window continues
Landscaping
- Remove dead or hanging limbs (hurricane season starts June 1)
- Monthly trimming
July
Every week
Lawn
- Peak growth, keep weed control going
- Watch St. Augustine for chinch bug damage
Landscaping
- Bed weeding and upkeep
August
Every week
Lawn
- Last nitrogen for centipede and zoysia by mid-August
- Keep mowing weekly
Landscaping
- Storm prep and limb removal
- One more shrub trim
September
Every week, then every 2 weeks
Lawn
- Growth slows
- Pre-emergent for winter weeds
- Light final feeding for Bermuda and St. Augustine only
Landscaping
- Final light hedge trim
- Plant shrubs and trees
October
Every 2 weeks
Lawn
- Keep mowing until growth stops
- Leaves and pine needles start dropping
Landscaping
- Fall cleanup
- Bed cleanouts
- Mulch or pine straw refresh
November
Once a month
Lawn
- Lawns go dormant after the first frosts
- Light mowing only
Landscaping
- Leaf and pine needle removal
- Storm debris (hurricane season ends Nov 30)
- Book next season’s plan
Once a monthEvery 2 weeksEvery week
The whole season at a glance
Written for the warm-season grasses common in Southport: centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda and zoysia. Exact timing shifts a little with the weather each year.
March
Once a month, then every 2 weeks
Lawn
- Pre-emergent weed control by early March to stop crabgrass
- First mow at green-up
- Hold off on fertilizer
Landscaping
- Spring bed cleanout
- Cut back ornamental grasses and dead perennials
- Fresh mulch or pine straw
April
Every 2 weeks
Lawn
- Mowing and edging every 2 weeks
- Spray broadleaf weeds
- First fertilizer once fully green (Bermuda, zoysia)
Landscaping
- Plant new shrubs and beds
- Trim azaleas and spring bloomers after they flower
May
Every week
Lawn
- Weekly mowing as growth takes off
- Fertilize centipede (mid-May) and St. Augustine
- Aeration season starts
Landscaping
- Bed weeding
- Hedge and shrub trimming
- Detailed edging
June
Every week
Lawn
- Mow a little higher in the heat
- About an inch of water a week
- Aeration window continues
Landscaping
- Remove dead or hanging limbs (hurricane season starts June 1)
- Monthly trimming
July
Every week
Lawn
- Peak growth, keep weed control going
- Watch St. Augustine for chinch bug damage
Landscaping
- Bed weeding and upkeep
August
Every week
Lawn
- Last nitrogen for centipede and zoysia by mid-August
- Keep mowing weekly
Landscaping
- Storm prep and limb removal
- One more shrub trim
September
Every week, then every 2 weeks
Lawn
- Growth slows
- Pre-emergent for winter weeds
- Light final feeding for Bermuda and St. Augustine only
Landscaping
- Final light hedge trim
- Plant shrubs and trees
October
Every 2 weeks
Lawn
- Keep mowing until growth stops
- Leaves and pine needles start dropping
Landscaping
- Fall cleanup
- Bed cleanouts
- Mulch or pine straw refresh
November
Once a month
Lawn
- Lawns go dormant after the first frosts
- Light mowing only
Landscaping
- Leaf and pine needle removal
- Storm debris (hurricane season ends Nov 30)
- Book next season’s plan
Good to know
- Centipede grows slower and needs less fertilizer than Bermuda or St. Augustine. Many centipede lawns can stay on every-2-weeks mowing through summer.
- Fertilizer timing depends on your grass type. We check what you have before setting a feeding schedule. See our grass and fertilizer guide for each grass type.
- December to February: lawns are dormant. Light cleanups and leaf removal as needed. For shrubs, see our pruning guide.
Want us to handle it all?
Our lawn plans follow this calendar, so your yard gets the right care at the right time.