Grass and fertilizer guide
Lawn Fertilizer & Grass Care Guide for Brunswick County, NC
Which grass you have, when to feed it, how much, how often we fertilize, and what else it needs through the year. Based on NC State Extension recommendations for coastal North Carolina lawns.
Step 1
Grass types in Brunswick County
Our hot, humid summers and sandy coastal soil favor warm-season grasses. These four make up nearly every lawn in Southport and the surrounding area. Cool-season grasses like tall fescue struggle in our summer heat.
Side-by-side comparison
| Centipede | St. Augustine | Bermuda | Zoysia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mow height | 1 to 2 in (never over 2½) | 2½ to 4 in | 1 to 2½ in | Keep under 1½ to 2½ in |
| Nitrogen per year | Lowest: about 1 to 2 lb | About 2½ to 3 lb (never over 4) | Highest: about 3 to 4 lb | About 1½ to 2½ lb (never over 4) |
| First feeding | Mid-May, never earlier | May, or 2 weeks after green-up | Several weeks after full green-up (Apr to May) | About 3 weeks after green-up |
| Last nitrogen | Mid-August (optional) | Mid-September, ½ lb or less | September, ½ lb max | Mid-August |
| Sun and shade | Sun to moderate shade | Best shade tolerance | Full sun only | Sun to partial shade |
| Soil pH | Acidic, about 5.5 | 6 to 6.5 | 6 to 6.5 | Follow soil test |
| Wear tolerance | Low | Low | Highest | High |
Nitrogen amounts are pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. See below for how to turn that into pounds of fertilizer.
Our fertilizer program
How often we fertilize: 4 times a year
We come out to fertilize 4 times a year, and each visit is timed to your grass type, so your lawn gets fed when it can actually use it. No visits in winter while the lawn is dormant.
| Grass | Visit 1 | Visit 2 | Visit 3 | Visit 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centipede | Mid-MayFirst nitrogen feeding (never earlier) | June to JulyIron for color, only if the lawn is yellowing | Mid-AugustNitrogen with high potassium | OctoberPotassium only, 4 to 6 weeks before first frost |
| St. Augustine | MayLight nitrogen, 2 weeks after green-up | JuneLight nitrogen | JulyFull nitrogen feeding | AugustLight nitrogen, last regular feeding |
| Bermuda | Late April to MayNitrogen once fully green | JuneNitrogen | July to AugustNitrogen | SeptemberLight nitrogen plus potassium for winter |
| Zoysia | Late April to MayLight nitrogen, about 3 weeks after green-up | Late June to early JulyNitrogen | Mid-AugustNitrogen, last of the year | September to OctoberPotassium only, no nitrogen |
Exact dates shift a little with the weather each year. We recommend a soil test before your first visit so we can match the fertilizer to what your lawn actually needs. Add fertilizer to any lawn plan, or ask about it in your free quote.
Step 2
Fertilizer basics for Brunswick County
Start with a soil test
A soil test tells you exactly what your lawn needs, including pH and whether to add lime. Brunswick County soils are often already high in phosphorus, which is not the case in most of North Carolina, so many lawns here do best with a phosphorus-free fertilizer (a 0 in the middle of the bag numbers). Tests are run by the NC Department of Agriculture lab, and the Brunswick County Extension office in Bolivia can help you get started.
Reading the bag
The three numbers on a fertilizer bag are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, in that order. A 15-0-14 bag is 15% nitrogen, no phosphorus and 14% potassium.
How much to buy
Example: 1 lb of nitrogen from a 16-0-8 bag is 100 ÷ 16 = about 6¼ lbs of fertilizer for every 1,000 sq ft.
Rules that apply to every grass
- Never fertilize a dormant (tan) lawn from December to February.
- Do not feed before green-up. Early nitrogen invites disease and cold damage.
- Too much nitrogen causes thatch and disease, especially in St. Augustine and zoysia.
- Water about 1 in a week while the lawn is growing. Sandy soil does better with ½ in every third day.
- Always follow the product label.
Step 3
Care schedule by grass type
Pick your grass to see what to do in each season.
Centipede care schedule
Our 4 fertilizer visits: Mid-May · June to July · Mid-August · October
Spring (Mar to May)
Fertilizer
No nitrogen before mid-May. Then 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft. Lime is rarely needed.
Mowing, water and weeds
Mow at 1 to 2 in. Pre-emergent weed control by March 1. Wait 3 weeks after green-up for any weed spray. Dethatch in late May if over ½ in thick.
Summer (Jun to Aug)
Fertilizer
Optional 1 lb nitrogen in mid-August. Use a high-potassium, phosphorus-free blend if your soil test shows high phosphorus.
Mowing, water and weeds
About 1 in of water a week (sandy soil: ½ in every third day). Preventive grub treatment in June if grubs were a problem.
Fall (Sep to Nov)
Fertilizer
Potassium only: 1 lb of potash per 1,000 sq ft, 4 to 6 weeks before the first frost. No lime unless a soil test calls for it.
Mowing, water and weeds
Keep mowing at 1 to 2 in until it goes dormant.
Winter (Dec to Feb)
Fertilizer
Do not fertilize.
Mowing, water and weeds
Mow or blow to clear leaves. Water only in long dry spells. Spot-treat chickweed and henbit.
St. Augustine care schedule
Our 4 fertilizer visits: May · June · July · August
Spring (Mar to May)
Fertilizer
½ lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft in May or 2 weeks after green-up, whichever is later. Lime only if the soil test says so.
Mowing, water and weeds
Before green-up, mow to 2½ in to clear dead leaves, then keep it 2½ to 4 in. Pre-emergent in mid to late February. Spring large patch treatment once soil reaches 55°F. Aerate late spring if compacted.
Summer (Jun to Aug)
Fertilizer
½ lb nitrogen in June, 1 lb in July, ½ lb in August.
Mowing, water and weeds
About 1 in of water a week. Check sunny yellow spots for chinch bugs. Dethatch if thatch reached ¾ in.
Fall (Sep to Nov)
Fertilizer
A light final feeding (½ lb or less) by mid-September, then stop.
Mowing, water and weeds
Preventive large patch fungicide once soil cools to 80°F, repeated monthly until it drops below 60°F.
Winter (Dec to Feb)
Fertilizer
No fertilizer or lime.
Mowing, water and weeds
No mowing needed. Pick up sticks and leaves. Water during dry winters.
Bermuda care schedule
Our 4 fertilizer visits: Late April to May · June · July to August · September
Spring (Mar to May)
Fertilizer
½ to 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft several weeks after the lawn is fully green.
Mowing, water and weeds
First mow at green-up, as low as you can without scalping. Pre-emergent mid-February to early March. Dethatch in late May if over ½ in.
Summer (Jun to Aug)
Fertilizer
1 lb of nitrogen every 4 to 6 weeks.
Mowing, water and weeds
Mow at 1 to 2½ in, often enough to avoid scalping. About 1 in of water a week. Treat summer weeds while they are actively growing.
Fall (Sep to Nov)
Fertilizer
No more than ½ lb nitrogen in September. Add potassium (a low-nitrogen, high-potash blend) 4 to 6 weeks before frost to help prevent spring dead spot.
Mowing, water and weeds
Raise the mowing height about ½ in from late September to mid-October.
Winter (Dec to Feb)
Fertilizer
Do not fertilize. Soil test every 2 to 3 years.
Mowing, water and weeds
Mow or blow to clear leaves for an earlier, more even green-up.
Zoysia care schedule
Our 4 fertilizer visits: Late April to May · Late June to early July · Mid-August · September to October
Spring (Mar to May)
Fertilizer
½ lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft about 3 weeks after green-up. Hold off if large patch is showing.
Mowing, water and weeds
First mow at green-up. Pre-emergent mid-February to early March. Never spray glyphosate on dormant zoysia. Dethatch lightly after green-up; it recovers slowly.
Summer (Jun to Aug)
Fertilizer
½ to 1 lb nitrogen in late June or early July, and again in mid-August.
Mowing, water and weeds
½ to 1 in of water a week. Treat summer weeds only when they are present and growing.
Fall (Sep to Nov)
Fertilizer
No nitrogen. Apply 1 lb of potash per 1,000 sq ft instead.
Mowing, water and weeds
Pre-emergent for winter weeds. Preventive large patch fungicide if it is a yearly problem.
Winter (Dec to Feb)
Fertilizer
Do not fertilize. Soil test every 3 years.
Mowing, water and weeds
No mowing needed. Clear rocks, sticks and leaves.
Not sure which grass you have?
- Centipede: light apple-green, medium-width blades, slow growing, and often yellows in shelly or high-pH soil.
- St. Augustine: the widest, coarsest blades with a rounded tip, thick runners on top of the soil, and good color in shade.
- Bermuda: fine blades, very dense in full sun, and runners that creep into beds and over sidewalks.
- Zoysia: fine, stiff blades that feel like a thick carpet underfoot.
Still not sure? We can tell you what you have when we come out for your free quote.
How NextGen can help
- Silver and Gold lawn plans include monthly spraying for weed control.
- Fertilizer application is available as an add-on to any plan: 4 visits a year, timed to your grass type, $50 to $120 per month.
- Our month-by-month lawn calendar shows how often we mow through the year.
General guidance for warm-season lawns in Brunswick County, based on NC State Extension lawn maintenance calendars and the Brunswick County Extension Center. Every lawn is different, so follow your soil test results and product labels. Sources: Brunswick County turf calendars, centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda and zoysia calendars.