Choose your grass and region to get a full-year lawn care calendar: when to fertilize, put down crabgrass preventer, control weeds and grubs, aerate and overseed. Add your lawn size and fertilizer analysis to see exactly how many pounds to spread each time.
Last updated:
Your lawn
Average last spring / first fall frost. Pick your own dates for a closer fit.
Feeding plan
Leave blank for the current year.
Fertilizer amount
sq ft
% N
First number of N-P-K on the bag, e.g. 24 for 24-0-6.
Include
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Lawn Fertilizer Schedule
Pick your grass type. Not sure? Fescue, bluegrass and ryegrass are cool-season; Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine and Centipede are warm-season.
Choose your region by its frost dates, or enter your own average last spring and first fall frost.
Select a feeding plan: low-input, standard or lush.
Enter your lawn area and the nitrogen % from the fertilizer bag to see pounds per feeding.
Tick the extra tasks you want and read the calendar. Download it as CSV to keep.
Cool-season vs warm-season lawn calendar
The single most important fact for a fertilizer schedule is when your grass actively grows. Cool-season grasses grow best at about 60–75°F, so they are fed mostly in fall. Warm-season grasses grow best at about 80–95°F, so they are fed from late spring through summer.
Task
Cool-season (fescue, bluegrass, rye)
Warm-season (Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine)
Main feeding
Early fall + late fall
After green-up, then every 6–8 weeks
Last feeding
Late fall, near first frost
About 6 weeks before first frost
Crabgrass pre-emergent
Early spring (soil ≈ 55°F)
Early spring, plus fall for winter weeds
Broadleaf weeds
Fall
Spring, while weeds are young
Aeration & dethatching
Early fall
Late spring to early summer
Overseeding / repair
Late summer to early fall
Late spring to midsummer (seed, plugs or sod)
Yearly nitrogen needs by grass type
Grass
Season
lb N per 1,000 sq ft per year
Kentucky bluegrass
Cool
3–4
Tall fescue, perennial ryegrass
Cool
2–4
Fine fescue
Cool
1–2
Bermudagrass
Warm
2–5
St. Augustinegrass
Warm
2–4
Zoysiagrass
Warm
2–3
Centipede, Bahia, Buffalograss
Warm
0.5–2
The schedule splits the yearly amount across feedings and never puts down more than 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft at once. Pounds of product = N rate × area ÷ 1,000 ÷ (N% ÷ 100).
Tips for a healthier lawn
Get a soil test every 2–3 years. Lime, sulfur, phosphorus and potassium should only be added when the test shows a need.
Water fertilizer and pre-emergent in with about ¼ inch of water unless the label says otherwise, and sweep granules off driveways and sidewalks.
Slow-release nitrogen is gentler in warm weather and reduces the risk of burning the lawn.
Some states and towns restrict fertilizer near water or during certain months. Check local rules before you spread.
Cool-season grasses such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass grow most in spring and fall, and fall feeding builds the strongest roots. A standard plan is a light feeding in late spring, a main feeding in early fall and a late-fall feeding while the grass is still green. Avoid heavy feeding in summer heat.
When should I fertilize a warm-season lawn?
Feed warm-season grasses such as Bermuda, Zoysia and St. Augustine after they fully green up in late spring, then every 6 to 8 weeks through summer. Stop about 6 weeks before the first fall frost so the grass can harden off for dormancy.
When do I apply crabgrass pre-emergent?
Apply it before crabgrass germinates, which happens when soil stays around 55°F for several days. That is usually a few weeks before to about a week after your last spring frost. A second, split application 6 to 8 weeks later extends control into summer.
How much fertilizer do I put down?
Most lawns get no more than 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in one feeding. Pounds of product = nitrogen rate × lawn area ÷ 1,000 ÷ nitrogen fraction. For 0.75 lb N on 5,000 sq ft with a 24% N fertilizer: 0.75 × 5 ÷ 0.24 ≈ 15.6 lb.
When is the best time to aerate and overseed?
For cool-season lawns, late summer to early fall, roughly 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost, while the soil is warm and the air is cooling. Warm-season lawns are aerated and patched in late spring to early summer when they grow fastest.
Can I seed and use pre-emergent at the same time?
Usually not. Most pre-emergents stop grass seed from sprouting too, so you should wait 8 to 12 weeks (or as the label says) between them. Plan spring pre-emergent for areas you are not seeding and do the seeding in fall.
How much nitrogen does my grass need per year?
Typical yearly needs in pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft are about 3 to 4 for Kentucky bluegrass, 2 to 4 for tall fescue and St. Augustine, 2 to 5 for Bermuda, 2 to 3 for Zoysia, and only 1 to 2 for fine fescue, Centipede and Bahia.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.