Monthly summer feeding (warm-season)
Warm-season turf is a heavy summer feeder. Feed nitrogen roughly monthly through the growing season.
- When
- Jun 1 – Aug 31 (northern hemisphere) · Dec 1 – Feb 28 (southern)
- Material
- summer nitrogen fertilizer (slow-release)
- Rate
- 20–25 g/m² · about 4–5 lb per 1,000 sq ft
- Repeat
- Every 28–35 days
- For
- Warm-season lawns (Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine)
- Needs
- spreader
- Rule
- wm-summer-fertilize · Walheim; Scotts; Turgeon
Warm-season turf is a heavy summer feeder — feed nitrogen roughly monthly through the growing season for dense, deep-green growth.
Why monthly
Unlike cool-season grass, which slows down in heat, Bermuda and Zoysia do their main growing in summer. They use nitrogen quickly, and a lawn that runs short turns pale and thins out. Small, regular feeds keep it dense and deep green without surges of growth.
What and how much
A summer lawn fertilizer with slow-release nitrogen, at 20–25 g/m², about 4–5 lb per 1,000 sq ft, every four to five weeks from June to the end of August. Zoysia, St. Augustine and Centipede need less than Bermuda; use the lower end or skip a feed if growth is already strong.
How
- Apply to dry grass and water it in straight after, to avoid scorching in heat.
- Spread in two passes at right angles.
- Skip a feed during drought dormancy, when the lawn is brown from lack of water.
When to stop
Stop nitrogen about six weeks before your first expected frost and switch to a high-potassium feed; see autumn feeding for warm-season lawns.
Sources
- Lance Walheim — Lawn Care For Dummieswalheim
- Scotts — Lawnsscotts
- A.J. Turgeon — Turfgrass Managementturgeon