The grass is green, the sun is shining and the flowers are blooming! Summer is almost here, and with it come warmer temperatures than at any other time of the year. Although it’s great to get outside, the summer heat can be stressful on your lawn and garden, so following a proper fertilizer program for your lawn is essential. Carolina Fresh Farms has seasonal fertilizer programs for the most popular grass types for home lawns. Regardless of if you have a St. Augustine, zoysia, bermuda, fescue or centipede lawn, Carolina Fresh Farms has your lawn’s summer fertilizer requirements covered. Read below to learn more, or visit any of our six locations.
In addition to fertilizer applications, it’s a good idea to start preparing for upcoming fungicide applications as we enter mid- to late summertime. Between August 15th and September 15th, make preventative fungicide applications for warm-season lawns, including St. Augustine, zoysia, bermuda and centipede grass. Carolina Fresh Farms carries Headway, Eagle, and Pillar G fungicides that will help prevent lawn disease.
If you suspect disease in your lawn, refrain from fertilizing it with nitrogen fertilizers. Nitrogen not only feeds your grass—it will feed the disease as well. The turfgrass may expand and cause more damage due to nitrogen fertilizer applications.
St. Augustine Summer Fertilizer Program
St. Augustine’s summer fertilizer requirements prepare it to both battle the heat of the summer and to take on the shift to cooler temperatures in the fall. Starting near the end of June and into the beginning of July (around June 21st–July 1st), Carolina Fresh Farms recommends applying 20-0-25 EXPO at five pounds per 1,000 sq. ft. to provide nitrogen to your St. Augustine. Use 6-1-11 with 7% Fe (iron) on your St. Augustine between August 1st–15th. The iron produces a green color without creating unnecessary top growth late in the season. This is not encouraged because new growth may not survive the summer heat. These fertilizer recommendations can be applied to most St. Augustines, including Palmetto® and Tamstar St. Augustine, which are sold at various Carolina Fresh Farms locations. Download our St. Augustine care guide here for more details about St. Augustine maintenance.
Zoysia Summer Fertilizer Program
Summer fertilizer recommendations for zoysia closely mirror St. Augustine’s fertilizer needs during the warm summer months. Between June 21st and July 1st, you should begin applying 20-0-25 EXPO at five pounds per 1,000 sq. ft. on your zoysia lawn. This provides your zoysia with the required amount of nitrogen the grass needs during summer. At the beginning of August (roughly before August 15th), fertilizer applications should be made with a 6-1-11 with 7% Fe (iron) fertilizer to enhance the green color without flushing top growth late in the season. Top growth is not encouraged now because your grass is under much stress from the heat that new growth may not withstand. Use these same fertilizer recommendations for any zoysia, including Carolina Fresh Farms’ Palisades, Chisholm and Royal Zoysia. Download our zoysia care guide here for more details about zoysia maintenance.
Bermuda Summer Fertilizer Program
Bermuda’s fertilizer schedule for the summer somewhat differs from St. Augustine and zoysia. Around the beginning to mid-June, make applications of 20-0-25 EXPO, then apply 25-0-5 with 51% MESA between July 7th and July 21st. This produces a rich, green color without flushing unnecessary top growth in late summer. Lastly, between August 7th and August 21st, make another application of the 20-0-25 EXPO. This summer fertilizer program will benefit any type of bermuda, including our 419 Bermuda. Download our bermuda care guide here for more details about bermuda maintenance.
Fescue Summer Fertilizer Program
As a cool season grass compared to warm season grasses like St. Augustine, zoysia, bermuda and centipede, fescue requires a different approach for fertilizer applications during the summer. Instead of 2–3 fertilizer applications, it’s recommended that you apply a 6-1-11 with 7% Fe (iron) fertilizer sometime between June 21st–July 7th. This will produce a green color and provide your fescue with the proper balance of nutrients during the warm summer months. Use this fertilizer program on various fescue cultivars, including Carolina Fresh Farms’ Caroline Blue II Fescue. Download our fescue care guide here for more information about fescue maintenance.
August 1st–September 1st is also a great time to collect and send soil samples for fescue. You should collect a soil sample at least once a year to keep a well-maintained lawn and garden. Be sure to collect soil samples around the same time every year for more consistent results. Avoid collecting a soil sample when the ground is wet or recently fertilized.
Centipede Summer Fertilizer Program
Centipede only needs one application of fertilizer during the summer between July 1st and August 1st. Carolina Fresh Farms recommends the 6-1-11 with 7% Fe (iron) fertilizer throughout our locations. This fertilizer is a great option because it will make your lawn rich in color so it remains lush and green for the rest of the summer. This fertilizer program can be used on Common Centipede. Download our centipede care guide here for more information about centipede maintenance.
Summer fertilizer programs are different from other times of the active growing season (spring, summer and fall) because it’s the hottest time of the year and causes your lawn a lot of stress. Keeping it fertilized with the proper nutrients gives it its best fighting chance to stand up against external stressors like high temperatures, periods of drought or insect pressure. For more information, check out our Sod Care page or contact us.