Publication 430-522

Maintenance Calendar for Warm-Season Turfgrasses in Virginia

Authored by Mike Goatley, Shawn Askew and David McCall, Virginia Tech; and Chantel Wilson, 4-H STEM Specialist, Penn State Extension

Predominant warm-season turfgrasses for Virginia lawns are bermudagrass and zoysiagrass, with centipedegrass and St. Augustinegrass possible in eastern Virginia. The calendar below summarizes preferred and secondary maintenance periods.

Annual Maintenance Calendar

  • Preferred timing
  • Secondary timing
  • No timing shown in the publication
Recommended timing by activity and month
Maintenance activity Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Planting: initial establishment or renovation Preferred Preferred Secondary Secondary
Nitrogen fertilization Secondary Secondary Preferred Preferred Preferred Preferred Secondary Secondary
Preemergence (PRE) herbicides Preferred Preferred Preferred Preferred
Postemergence (POST) herbicides Secondary Secondary Preferred Preferred Preferred Preferred Preferred Preferred Preferred Preferred Secondary
Disease concerns Secondary Secondary Secondary Secondary Secondary
Insect concerns Secondary Secondary Secondary
Winter overseeding Preferred Preferred
Cultivation or dethatching Preferred Preferred Secondary

Note: The source uses continuous timing bars that begin or end within some months. This accessible table summarizes those approximate periods by month.

Maintenance Notes

  1. Planting: Establishment methods vary by species and cultivar. Many improved cultivars can be established only by vegetative means such as sod, sprigs or plugs. Sod can be established year-round when soils are not frozen and supplemental irrigation is available.
  2. Nitrogen fertilization: Begin after spring greening is complete. Secondary timings apply only to overseeded lawns. Bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass can receive up to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually; centipedegrass and zoysiagrass should receive only 1-2 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Readily available nitrogen may be applied up to 0.7 pound per 1,000 square feet per active growing month. Consider slowly available nitrogen sources containing at least 15% water-insoluble nitrogen. Apply other nutrients or lime according to soil-test results and test home lawn soils every 3-4 years.
  3. Preemergence herbicides: Spring applications primarily target summer annual grasses such as crabgrass. Fall applications primarily target annual bluegrass and winter annual broadleaf weeds such as henbit and chickweed. Consider effects on future seeding before applying. When turf is not overseeded, nonselective postemergence herbicides may provide winter weed control during bermudagrass dormancy.
  4. Postemergence herbicides: Weeds must be actively growing. Cool-season weeds actively grow at temperatures of at least 50°F; warm-season weeds typically require at least 80°F for maximum control. Do not apply POST broadleaf herbicides during the spring transition period.
  5. Disease concerns: Most summer fungi cause cosmetic damage. Gray leaf spot on St. Augustinegrass may be an exception. Recurring concerns include spring dead spot in bermudagrass and large patch in zoysiagrass. Treat these in early to mid-fall even though symptoms may not appear until spring greening.
  6. Insect concerns: Most summer insects do not cause enough damage to warrant treatment. Heavy white-grub populations may warrant treatment in late summer in some seasons.
  7. Winter overseeding: Perennial or annual ryegrass can be overseeded into bermudagrass at 5-10 pounds of pure live seed per 1,000 square feet for winter color. Overseeding other warm-season grasses is not recommended because of spring transition competition.
Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University

Produced by Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, 2025.

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