Georgia Lawn Care Calendar: Bermuda, Zoysia & Fescue

A Georgia lawn-care calendar starts with the grass type. Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede are warm-season grasses; tall fescue is a cool-season grass. They should not receive the same fertilization, aeration, or seeding schedule.

The windows below are planning guidance for central Georgia. Weather, grass condition, product labels, and a soil test determine the actual work. GopherTurf schedules eight treatment visits annually, but not every visit includes fertilizer or every service.

January–February

For dormant warm-season lawns, assess drainage, clear leaf buildup, inspect winter weeds, and plan spring prevention. Soil testing helps plan amendments before active growth. Do not fertilize just to make dormant Bermuda green.

Tall fescue can remain active in cool weather. Its nutrition program should follow a fescue-specific schedule rather than the dormant warm-season plan.

March–April

Review summer-annual weed prevention before germination. As Bermuda and Zoysia green up, distinguish normal uneven recovery from persistent damage. Wait for appropriate active growth before nitrogen feeding or disruptive cultivation.

Record any weed-control application before planning seeding. Many products have restrictions that must be respected.

May–August

Active growth generally provides the recovery window for warm-season core aeration. Match feeding to the turf and lawn condition; Centipede does not need a Bermuda-style nitrogen program. Review irrigation when the weather changes, and investigate new patches before assuming they need more fertilizer.

Tall fescue faces summer heat stress. Do not use the same summer growth-pushing approach as on Bermuda.

September–October

For warm-season lawns, focus on winter-annual weed prevention and preparation for dormancy. Routine fall nitrogen can encourage growth at the wrong time. Fall aeration and overseeding are not universal Bermuda or Zoysia recommendations.

For suitable tall fescue lawns, fall is an important establishment and aeration window. Coordinate any overseeding with herbicide restrictions and a realistic watering plan. Temporary ryegrass winter color on Bermuda is a different project from repairing the Bermuda itself.

Before combining fall treatments, check our guide to overseeding after pre-emergent for the product and grass-type questions to resolve first.

November–December

Continue leaf removal, observe drainage after rain, and avoid unnecessary traffic on frozen or saturated turf. Review results and records from the year. Warm-season grass can be brown because it is dormant; compare suspicious areas with the surrounding lawn before diagnosing a problem.

Reference calendars

Use the UGA lawn-maintenance calendar collection for individual grass types. UGA's fall lawn guidance explains the fall distinction between warm- and cool-season lawns.

Build your lawn's schedule

Tell us the grass type, your main concern, and recent applications. Request a turf-management quote or review package prices. For the prevention windows in more detail, read our spring and fall pre-emergent guide.