When to Fertilize Your Lawn in Charleston: Seasonal Guide for Healthy Turf

Timing is everything when it comes to lawn fertilization - especially in Charleston’s warm, humid climate. Apply fertilizer too early or too late, and you could waste product, burn your grass, or even encourage weeds.

Here at Heroes Lawn Care of Charleston, we help local homeowners understand when and how to fertilize for optimal turf health all year long. Here’s your seasonal guide to get the timing right.

Why Timing Matters in the South Carolina Lowcountry

Charleston’s climate is classified as humid subtropical, which means:

• Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede dominate
• Lawns grow most actively between late spring and early fall
• Winters are mild but can still trigger dormancy

That means fertilization should be planned around the growing season, not the calendar alone.

Best Times to Fertilize in Charleston

Early Spring (Mid-March to April)

• Use a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer
• Helps grass green up after dormancy without overstimulating growth
• Avoid fertilizing too early or during cold snaps

Late Spring (May to Early June)

• Apply a second round once turf is actively growing
• Use a balanced fertilizer (N-P-K ratio around 3-1-2)
• Optional: add pre-emergent weed control

Summer (Late June to August)

• Use with caution; only fertilize if the grass is healthy and watered
• Choose slow-release, low-nitrogen formulas to avoid burning
• Great time for micronutrient supplements

Early Fall (September to Mid-October)

• Final feeding of the year for warm-season grasses
• Encourages strong roots before winter
• Avoid late fertilization - it can interfere with dormancy

What Happens If You Fertilize at the Wrong Time?

• Fertilizing too early in spring can cause weak, leggy growth
• Summer over-fertilization can burn your lawn
• Fall fertilizing too late can lead to disease susceptibility

What Type of Fertilizer Should I Use?

In Charleston, the best fertilizers are tailored for sandy soils and warm-season turf, such as:

• Slow-release nitrogen for steady feeding
• Iron supplements to maintain deep green color
• Phosphorus-free blends unless soil test shows a deficiency

We always recommend a soil test before beginning a new program. At Heroes Lawn Care, we handle this as part of our routine service.

Let Charleston’s Local Lawn Pros Handle the Timing

Lawn fertilization in Charleston isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why we build customized schedules for each yard that are based on grass type, soil makeup, and timing.

Want a healthy, weed-free lawn year-round? Let our local team build a fertilization plan that works with Charleston’s climate...not against it.