Broward County homeowners in Tamarac, Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Plantation, Hollywood, and Pompano Beach share one lawn care challenge that sets them apart from most of the country: there is no off-season.
While homeowners in Minnesota or Ohio get a four-month break every winter, South Florida lawns — predominantly St. Augustine grass — remain actively growing 12 months a year. This demands a consistent, year-round maintenance approach that adapts to each season's specific conditions.
This guide from The Fresh Feel's lawn care team breaks down exactly what your Broward County lawn needs, month by month.
Understanding Broward County's Two Seasons
Florida's lawn care calendar divides into two distinct periods:
- Wet Season (June–October): Hot, humid, with daily afternoon thunderstorms. Grass grows aggressively. Pest pressure is highest. Fungal disease is a real risk.
- Dry Season (November–May): Warm, drier, with minimal rainfall. Grass grows more slowly but never stops. Irrigation becomes critical. Good time for fertilization, aeration, and major landscaping projects.
Month-by-Month Lawn Care Calendar for Broward County
January — Winter Maintenance Mode
January is the coolest month in Broward County, with nighttime temperatures occasionally dipping into the 50s. Grass growth slows but doesn't stop.
- Mowing: Reduce frequency to every 2–3 weeks. Maintain height at 3.5–4 inches for St. Augustine — never scalp.
- Watering: Irrigate 2–3 times per week if no rainfall. Morning watering only.
- Fertilizing: Avoid nitrogen fertilizer this month. Cool temperatures and slow growth mean nitrogen applications go to waste or encourage disease.
- Weed Control: Winter is a good time to address dollarweed, clover, and broadleaf weeds with selective post-emergent herbicides. Cooler temps make treatment more effective.
- Pest Watch: Monitor for sod webworms and chinch bugs in warmer microclimates near concrete and pavement.
February — Pre-Season Preparation
- Mowing: Every 2–3 weeks. Start watching for growth acceleration as temperatures warm.
- Pre-Emergent Herbicide: Apply pre-emergent herbicide in mid-to-late February to prevent crabgrass and other summer annual weeds from germinating. This is one of the most important applications of the year.
- Irrigation Check: Inspect and repair irrigation system before the dry season intensifies. Check all heads, adjust patterns, and calibrate run times.
- Aeration Consideration: If your lawn is heavily compacted (common in clay-modified soils near canals), February is a good time to aerate before the growing season kicks in.
March — Growing Season Begins
- Mowing: Increase to weekly or every 10 days as growth accelerates. This is often when homeowners are caught off guard by suddenly fast growth.
- Fertilization: Apply your first spring fertilizer — a balanced formulation like 15-0-15 or a Florida-specific blend with slow-release nitrogen. This is the most important fertilizer application of the year.
- Watering: Dry season is at its peak. Water 3 times per week (following county restrictions), early morning, for approximately 45 minutes per zone.
- Pest Scout: Begin weekly chinch bug monitoring. Look for irregular brown patches expanding from warm, sunny areas — especially near sidewalks and driveways.
April — Peak Dry Season Care
- Mowing: Weekly mowing. Pay attention to blade sharpness — spring growth can be rapid and requires sharp cuts to avoid tearing.
- Irrigation: Highest irrigation demand of the year. Lawns in Broward County may need irrigation every other day in April if there's no rainfall.
- Fertilization: Second light application if the first was in early March. Focus on iron supplementation to enhance color — sulfate of iron gives a deep, dark green color without excessive growth stimulation.
- Sod Repair: If areas of lawn didn't survive winter stress, April is the best time to install new sod before summer's wet season begins.
May — Transition to Wet Season
- Mowing: Weekly, potentially twice weekly for vigorous-growing lawns. Grass is actively growing rapidly.
- Fertilization: Apply potassium-focused fertilizer (e.g., 5-0-20) to build stress tolerance as the heat intensifies. Avoid heavy nitrogen before the rainy season — you want controlled growth, not a jungle.
- Pest Alert: Chinch bug pressure peaks in May and June. Scout weekly and treat immediately at first sign of damage. Early treatment prevents major lawn damage.
- Pre-Emergent Round 2: Apply second pre-emergent application to capture weeds the first application missed.
June — Wet Season Begins
- Mowing: Weekly or more. Summer growth in South Florida is relentless.
- Irrigation Reduction: Reduce irrigation as summer rains begin. Many homeowners leave irrigation running full blast during June–September — this wastes water and encourages fungal disease. Rain sensors are required by law in Broward County.
- Fungal Disease Watch: High humidity + warm nights = fungal disease risk. Watch for brown patch (circular brown areas with yellowed border), gray leaf spot (tiny lesions on grass blades), and take-all root rot.
- Fertilizer Restrictions: Broward County's fertilizer ordinance restricts nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer from June through September. Use only slow-release or compliant formulations.
July & August — Peak Growing Season
- Mowing: Weekly minimum, possibly every 5 days for Floratam in peak conditions.
- Pest Management: Highest pest pressure of the year. Treat for chinch bugs, sod webworms, and grubs proactively based on your lawn's history.
- Disease Management: Monitor closely for fungal disease. Early morning watering is critical — never water in the evenings during wet season. Treat at first sign of disease progression.
- Minimal Fertilization: Limit fertilizer applications per county ordinances. Focus on keeping the lawn healthy rather than pushing aggressive growth.
September — Storm Season Wind-Down
- Mowing: Weekly. Begin watching for growth slowdown as days shorten.
- Pre-Emergent: Apply fall pre-emergent herbicide to control winter annual weeds before they germinate.
- Storm Cleanup: Post-hurricane cleanup — remove debris, assess any lawn damage, and plan repairs for the dry season.
- Soil Test: Consider a soil test every 2–3 years to guide fall fertilization. Your local UF/IFAS Extension office offers soil testing services.
October — Fall Transition
- Mowing: Reduce to every 10–14 days as growth slows with cooling temperatures.
- Fertilization: Apply your fall potassium application once the fertilizer blackout period ends. Potassium builds root strength and cold hardiness for winter.
- Weed Control: Good time for broadleaf weed treatment as growth slows and weed treatments are more effective in cooler conditions.
- Irrigation Transition: Begin reducing irrigation frequency as the rainy season ends. Transition from 2x/week to 1–2x/week.
November — Dry Season Returns
- Mowing: Every 2–3 weeks. Enjoy the slower growth pace.
- Irrigation: Increase irrigation as dry season establishes. Start monitoring for dry stress symptoms.
- Mulching: Great time to refresh mulch in landscaped beds — helps retain moisture as the dry season deepens.
- Major Landscaping Projects: The mild November–February weather is the best time for major landscaping work — plant installation, hedging, and hardscaping.
December — Winter Maintenance Mode
- Mowing: Every 2–3 weeks.
- Cold Protection: While Broward County rarely sees damaging cold, temperatures in the upper 40s can stress St. Augustine grass. Avoid mowing immediately before forecasted cold nights.
- Year-End Assessment: Walk your lawn and note areas that struggled during the year — pest damage patches, irrigation dead zones, compaction areas — and plan corrections for the coming spring.
Professional Year-Round Lawn Care Service
Managing all of the above consistently, every month, is a significant time investment. The Fresh Feel's professional lawn care service handles the year-round maintenance of Broward County properties — mowing, edging, trimming, blowing — on a schedule calibrated to actual growth conditions rather than a rigid calendar.
We serve Tamarac, Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Plantation, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, and all surrounding Broward communities. Contact us for weekly, biweekly, or monthly service plans.