Your First Year of Palm Coast Lawn Care, Simplified
Palm Coast lawns look simple at first glance, but they are not always easy. We have sandy soil that loses nutrients fast, salty air from the ocean, summer storms that dump water in a hurry, and yards that might be half St. Augustinegrass and half Bahia. If you are new to the area, it can feel like your yard is changing every week.
This month-by-month guide walks through mowing, fertilization, irrigation, and weed control for Palm Coast lawns with St. Augustinegrass and Bahia. Think of it as a local calendar you can follow, then adjust a little for your yard’s sun, shade, and drainage. Our team at The Master’s Lawn & Pest builds our own treatment schedules around this same North Florida pattern.
Know Your Lawn First: St. Augustinegrass vs. Bahia
Before you follow any calendar, you need to know what you are actually mowing. St. Augustinegrass and Bahia behave very differently in Palm Coast.
Here is a quick way to tell them apart:
St. Augustinegrass:
- Thick, carpet-like feel
- Wide, flat blades
- Rich green color when healthy
- Common in newer, irrigated neighborhoods
Bahia:
- More open, pasture-like look
- Thinner blades that form tough clumps
- Produces tall, V-shaped seedheads quickly
- Common in larger lots or areas without full irrigation
Many Palm Coast homes have St. Augustinegrass in the front and Bahia on side or back areas. That mix is normal. It just means you need to set your mowing height, fertilizer, and weed control based on the grass that is least flexible, not the one you like the look of most.
Why this matters:
- Mowing height is different for each grass
- They need different fertilizer amounts
- Some weed control products are safe on one, but not the other
If you are not sure what you have, look closely at blade width and seedheads, or ask a local lawn professional to confirm it once and build your plan from there.
Spring Kickoff: March to May Lawn Recovery and Growth
Early spring is when Palm Coast lawns wake back up. Soil warms, turf starts to grow, and weeds rush in after late winter rain. This is the perfect time to get your first year on track.
Mowing in spring:
- Early spring, start mowing again, but do not scalp winter-stressed turf
- St. Augustinegrass: keep it around 3.5 to 4 inches, never cut off more than one-third of the leaf at a time
- Bahia: keep it 3 to 4 inches, and expect seedheads; you may need more frequent mowing to keep them under control
Fertilization:
- Wait until soil stays warm, usually late March into April, before your first real feeding
- St. Augustinegrass: use a light to moderate feeding with a balanced, slow-release product that will not wash straight through our sandy soil
- Bahia: be conservative, this grass does not want heavy feeding, or you end up with thatch and more weeds instead of a thicker lawn
At The Master’s Lawn & Pest, we use custom-blended fertilizers for North Florida so we can feed lawns without shocking them when spring weather flips from dry to stormy.
Irrigation and weed control:
- Test your irrigation before the heat arrives, clear clogged heads, fix coverage gaps, and set timers to match local watering rules
- Aim for about 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water per cycle, 2 to 3 times a week depending on rain
- Use the “tuna can” test: set a few cans in the yard, run a cycle, and see how much water they collect
- Spring weed control focuses on new annual weeds; be sure anything you or a pro applies is labeled as safe for your grass type
Some stubborn Palm Coast weeds need licensed products and careful timing, so this is often where homeowners choose to bring in help.
Summer Survival: June to August Heat, Storms, and Weeds
Summer in Palm Coast means thick humidity, hot sun, and fast afternoon storms. Your lawn can grow fast, but it can also struggle if you push it too hard.
Mowing in peak heat:
- Raise mowing height slightly to shade the roots and help the soil hold moisture
- Keep mower blades sharp so you do not leave ragged, brown tips that invite disease
- St. Augustinegrass does best at the high end of its range in summer
- Bahia can stay around the middle, but do not cut it short just to delay the next mow, that stresses it badly
Fertilization and disease watch:
- For St. Augustinegrass, smaller, well-timed feedings are safer than one heavy summer dose
- Bahia often needs only a light touch in summer, or none at all if it did well in spring
Warm, wet conditions favor fungal diseases like brown patch and dollar spot, watch for:
- Circular or irregular brown areas that slowly expand
- Grass blades with dark edges or rotting bases
- Spots that stay wet-looking even when the rest of the yard dries
Irrigation and weeds:
- Daily rain does not always mean healthy turf, standing water can suffocate roots
- Cut back irrigation during weeks when storms are regular, then add it back if soil is dry 2 to 3 inches down
- Many summer weeds love wet spots, including tropical broadleaf weeds and sedges. Some of the products that control them can be hard on turf if misused, so licensed care is often the safer route
Our team adjusts Palm Coast treatment schedules around afternoon storm patterns and watering rules so we are not wasting products or stressing lawns.
Fall Tune-Up: September to November Root Strength and Repair
Fall in North Florida acts like a second growing season. Temperatures ease a bit, there is still decent rainfall, and your lawn can use this window to recover from summer and store energy.
Mowing and cleanup:
- Keep the higher summer mowing heights into early fall
- Before growth slows, you can lower the height just a little, but never scalp
- Clear leaves and storm debris so moisture does not sit trapped and cause fungus
- Bahia may look a bit thinner, focus on keeping it healthy, not perfect in color
Fertilization and roots:
- For St. Augustinegrass, choose a fall fertilizer aimed at root growth and stress tolerance, not just fast green color
- For Bahia, only feed lightly if the grass looks like it truly needs support
- Avoid heavy, late fall nitrogen, that can push soft growth that struggles later and is more open to disease
Irrigation and weed control:
- Gradually reduce watering as days get shorter, but do not let the soil get bone-dry if fall rain slows
- Use this time to clean up lingering summer weeds
- Many plans include pre-emergent herbicides in fall to block cool-season weeds like clover and chickweed, timing is tied to soil temperature, so it is easy to miss by a couple of weeks without local guidance
Winter Watch: December to February Light Care, Big Payoff
Winter in Palm Coast is mild. Grass growth slows down but does not fully stop the way it does in colder areas.
Mowing and appearance:
- Mow less often, only when the grass actually grows enough to need it
- Keep mowing heights a little higher to protect the crowns of the plants
- St. Augustinegrass may fade in color, Bahia can look patchy, that does not always mean it needs fertilizer
Fertilization and irrigation:
- Heavy winter fertilization is not recommended, nutrients can wash through sandy soil, and extra growth can invite disease
- Many lawns do not need any feeding until late winter or early spring
- Water only when turf shows stress such as a grayish tint or footprints that stay visible after you walk across the yard
Winter weeds and pests:
- Cool-season weeds can sneak into thin spots, pulling them early or treating them while they are small is much easier
Some lawn pests stay active in mild weather, watch for:
- Irregular brown or thinning patches that keep spreading
- Grass that pulls up too easily when you tug on it
- Licensed winter treatments can make spring much smoother, even if the lawn looks quiet from a distance
When to Call in Local Help for Your Palm Coast Yard
With a simple calendar and a basic idea of St. Augustinegrass versus Bahia, many Palm Coast homeowners can keep a healthy, nice-looking yard through the year. Still, there are times when going alone becomes frustrating.
You may want expert help when:
- Weeds keep coming back even after you tackle them
- You have mixed grass types or tricky shade and sun patterns and are not sure how to treat each area
- Thin, patchy, or diseased spots do not improve even after you adjust mowing and watering
At The Master’s Lawn & Pest, we build lawn care programs around North Florida soils and weather. We use local, custom-blended fertilizers, licensed weed, disease, and pest control that is safe for St. Augustinegrass and Bahia when applied correctly, and we can coordinate lawn, irrigation, and pest services so your yard gets a clear, consistent plan instead of guesswork.
Transform Your Palm Coast Lawn Into a Healthier, Greener Outdoor Space
If you are ready for a lawn that looks great and holds up to Florida’s climate, our team at The Master's Lawn & Pest is here to help. Explore our comprehensive Palm Coast lawn care services to find the best fit for your yard. We will assess your property, create a tailored plan, and handle the details so you can enjoy a lush, worry-free landscape. Have questions or want to schedule a visit? Simply contact us to get started.