Winter is a dormant or semi-dormant period for St. Augustine grass, and maintenance during this time is focused on weed prevention, minimizing turf stress, and protecting the lawn until spring returns. Because St. Augustine grass naturally loses vigor during colder temperatures, winter weeds can quickly establish if preventative herbicide applications are not made in fall and winter. Keeping leaves and debris cleared from the lawn helps reduce excess moisture buildup and disease pressure, while limiting heavy traffic on dormant turf helps prevent thinning and compaction damage. Fertilization is generally reduced or paused during winter dormancy, as pushing growth during cold weather can weaken the lawn and increase susceptibility to disease. Proper winter care helps St. Augustine grass emerge healthier, thicker, and more uniform once temperatures begin warming again in spring.
Prevent Weeds & Feed Your Lawn
Early spring pre-emergent application. This helps create a weed barrier before soil temperatures rise and before spring/summer weeds like crabgrass begin germinating.
Broadleaf Weed Control
Atrazine is a trusted selective herbicide designed specifically for St. Augustine and centipede grass. It controls many common broadleaf and grassy weeds without harming these sensitive warm-season turf types when used correctly.
Spring is a critical recovery and growth period for St. Augustinegrass as the lawn exits winter dormancy and begins actively spreading and thickening. The primary focus during spring is encouraging healthy green-up, preventing weeds, and building strong turf before summer heat and humidity arrive. Applying a pre-emergent herbicide early in the season helps prevent crabgrass and other invasive summer weeds, while post-emergent weed control targets any winter weeds still lingering in the lawn. Once the grass is actively growing, regular fertilization helps promote dense growth, improve color, and strengthen the turf for the stress of summer. Spring is also an important time to monitor for common St. Augustinegrass issues like chinch bugs and large patch disease, which can quickly damage weakened turf. Proper mowing and watering practices during spring help encourage lateral spread and create the thick, carpet-like lawn St. Augustinegrass is known for.
Prevent Weeds & Feed Your Lawn
Apply 6-weeks from last application. Guardian will extend prevention of weeds and crabgrass from germinating in your lawn. It will also continue to feed the lawn as temperatures begin to increase.
Take Out Existing Weeds
Apply Celsius Wg Weed Killer on the entire lawn to make sure all weeds are removed.
Enhance Dary Green Color
Apply Almighty six weeks after your pre-emergent. This professional-grade nitrogen fertilizer is designed to deliver rapid green-up while feeding your lawn for weeks.
Apply Insecticide in May
Apply Aloft Insecticide to prevent grubs and armyworm infestations.
Broadleaf Weed Control
Atrazine is a trusted selective herbicide designed specifically for St. Augustine and centipede grass. It controls many common broadleaf and grassy weeds without harming these sensitive warm-season turf types when used correctly.
Summer is peak growing season for St. Augustine grass, and the focus is maintaining dense growth while protecting the lawn from heat stress, insects, disease, and drought conditions. St. Augustine grass thrives in warm temperatures but requires consistent maintenance to stay healthy through periods of extreme heat and humidity. Regular fertilization helps maintain color and encourage strong turf density, while deep, infrequent watering promotes healthier root development and improved drought tolerance. Proper mowing height is especially important during summer, as cutting St. Augustine grass too short can stress the lawn and make it more vulnerable to weeds and disease. Summer is also when chinch bugs, sod webworms, grubs, and fungal diseases like gray leaf spot become more active, making preventative insect and fungicide applications an important part of a complete lawn care program. When properly maintained, St. Augustine grass spreads aggressively, crowds out weeds, and delivers a thick, lush lawn throughout the summer season.
Strengthen Grass and Protect Against Stress
Your lawn needs to be fed regularly. Apply Emerald twice, 6 weeks apart, through the summer.
No Nitrogen Micronutrients
If you are in a nitrogen blackout area, apply Nutrigreen – contains potassium to help support turf strength and stress tolerance, along with key micronutrients like magnesium, sulfur, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc.
Spot spray Celsius WG
Celsius WG is a selective herbicide that targets a broad spectrum of common warm-season lawn weeds, including crabgrass, goosegrass, dallisgrass, and more.
Fall is the time to help St. Augustine grass recover from summer stress while preparing the lawn for winter dormancy and a healthier spring green-up. As temperatures begin cooling, the focus shifts toward strengthening the root system, improving turf health, and preventing winter weed invasion. Applying a balanced fall fertilizer with potassium can help improve stress tolerance and overall plant health without encouraging excessive late-season growth. Fall is also one of the most important times to apply pre-emergent herbicide to prevent cool-season weeds like poa annua, chickweed, and henbit from establishing during winter. Continued mowing and proper watering remain important through early fall but should gradually decrease as growth slows. Proper fall care helps centipedegrass transition more smoothly into dormancy while reducing weed pressure and improving spring performance.
Prevent Weeds & Feed Your Lawn
Guardian will continue to feed your lawn if you have a longer growing season while preventing crabrass and other weeds from germinating.
Spot Spray Weeds with Celsius WG
All-in-one weed killer for crabgrass, yellow nutsedge, and broadleaf weeds in lawns.
Late Fall Fertilization
Apply 6-weeks after applying Guardian. Emerald will keep your lawn green which preparing it for the winter.
Continued Fertilization (Tropical Areas)
Emerald will continue to promote dark
green color, strengthen grass,
and protect against stress.
Spot Spray Weeds with Celsius WG
All-in-one weed killer for crabgrass, yellow nutsedge, and broadleaf weeds in lawns.
High pH Soils
Now is a great time to apply acidifier to lower pH if needed.
Low pH Soils
Now is a great time to apply Phast-cal to increase pH if needed.
Have Questions?
Everything you need to know before you start your program.
St. Augustine grass should be fertilized once it is actively growing and fully greened up in spring. In warmer areas, this may begin earlier in the year, while cooler transition areas may need to wait until later spring. Avoid heavy nitrogen applications while the lawn is dormant.
Most St. Augustine lawns need about 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year, depending on climate, soil type, irrigation, and desired maintenance level. In hot summer weather, it is usually better to avoid over-pushing growth with too much nitrogen.
For summer applications, 10-0-20 is usually the better choice every 6 weeks. It provides a lighter nitrogen feed while delivering more potassium to help with heat, drought, disease pressure, and summer stress. 20-0-10 is better in late spring or early summer when the lawn needs more growth, color, and recovery.
Yes. Pre-emergent is an important part of a St. Augustine lawn care program because it helps prevent crabgrass, annual weeds, and other unwanted grasses before they germinate. For best results, apply a spring pre-emergent in mid-January and again in March, then apply a fall pre-emergent around September.
Yes. Guardian 13-0-10 can be used on established St. Augustine lawns as part of a weed prevention program. Applying it in mid-January and again in March helps extend spring pre-emergent protection before summer weeds become a problem. Do not use it on newly planted, sprigged, or establishing grass unless the label allows it.
St. Augustine grass usually performs best when mowed around 3 to 4 inches high. Mowing too short can weaken the lawn, expose the soil, increase weed pressure, and make the grass more vulnerable to heat and drought stress.
St. Augustine grass can turn yellow from several causes, including nutrient deficiency, iron deficiency, too much water, poor drainage, compacted soil, disease, or insect pressure. If the lawn is yellow but still growing, an iron-containing fertilizer or balanced lawn program may help improve color without overloading the lawn with nitrogen.
