What Your Lawn Needs This Month: April
Your personalized April lawn care guide. Pick your grass type below and every recommendation updates — mowing height, products, rates, and timing — all tailored to your lawn.
St. Augustine
warm seasonSt. Augustine is hitting full green-up after the last frost. Active growth is underway and the lawn is hungry. This is the month to get your fertilizer down and start monitoring for chinch bugs.
Mow Height
3.5 – 4 inches
Mow Frequency
Every 7 – 10 days
Water / Week
1.5 – 2 in / week
April tasks for St. Augustine
Apply complete fertilizer with iron
Do this weekSt. Augustine responds well to a complete NPK fertilizer in April. The iron component deepens color without pushing excessive top growth. Apply when the lawn is dry and water in lightly after application.
Mow at the right height
Do this weekSt. Augustine needs to be mowed higher than most warm-season grasses. Floratam varieties should stay at 3.5 to 4 inches. Dwarf varieties like Palmetto or Captiva can go to 2.5 to 3 inches. Never cut below 2 inches — that invites weeds and stresses the root system.
Scout for chinch bugs
Do this weekChinch bugs are the number one pest for St. Augustine and they start showing up in April. Look for irregularly shaped yellow patches, especially in sunny, dry areas near driveways or sidewalks. Part the grass at the edge of a yellowing area and look for small black insects with white wings.
Treat broadleaf weeds carefully
This monthSt. Augustine is sensitive to many common herbicides during spring green-up. Use Celsius WG per label — it is labeled for St. Augustine including Floratam. Do NOT use atrazine: Floratam is not tolerant of it (Texas A&M EHT-144). Always check the label twice before applying.
Core aerate if compacted
OngoingSt. Augustine spreads by stolons and can thin out in compacted soil. If water sits on the surface after irrigation or your soil feels rock-hard, core aeration helps. Pull plugs 2 to 3 inches deep during active growth only.
Pro tip for St. Augustine owners
St. Augustine plays by different rules than bermuda or zoysia. It needs to be mowed higher, watered more, and treated with herbicides carefully. If you remember one thing: never mow below 3.5 inches and always check herbicide labels for St. Augustine safety.