Wait for warm-season grass green-up before disturbing

If you have bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, or St. Augustinegrass, resist the urge to rake, dethatch, or fertilize until the grass is fully green and actively growing — typically when nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 60-65°F.

Why It Works

Warm-season grasses are dormant in early spring. Disturbing them while dormant damages crowns and stolons that cannot repair themselves until active growth resumes. Early fertilization also feeds weeds instead of dormant turf.

Tips

• Green-up timing varies: bermuda starts around soil temps of 65°F, zoysia closer to 70°F.
• In the transition zone, this may not happen until May.