September may still feel a lot like summer in Fayetteville, but your lawn is already beginning its transition toward fall. For warm-season grasses like Bermuda, centipede, zoysia, and St. Augustine, this is an important time to help your lawn finish the growing season healthy and prepare for the cooler months ahead.
Keep Mowing While Your Lawn Is Growing
Don’t put the mower away just yet. Warm-season lawns will continue actively growing while temperatures remain warm.
Continue mowing regularly and avoid removing too much of the grass blade at one time. Keeping your lawn at an appropriate height helps it continue photosynthesizing and storing energy before it enters winter dormancy.
Pay Attention to September Rainfall
September weather in Fayetteville can vary significantly. We may see plenty of rainfall, or we can experience stretches of hot, dry weather.
Continue monitoring your lawn and landscape for signs of drought stress. When supplemental irrigation is needed, deeper watering encourages a stronger root system than frequent, shallow watering.
Be Careful With Late-Season Fertilizing
As warm-season grasses begin approaching dormancy, this isn’t the time to push large amounts of tender new growth that may be vulnerable when temperatures eventually drop.
Your lawn’s needs will depend on the type of grass you have and your soil conditions. A soil test can help take the guesswork out of fertilization and identify what nutrients your lawn actually needs.
Stay Ahead of Weeds
Fall and winter weeds can become noticeable just as your warm-season lawn begins slowing down.
September is a good time to evaluate your lawn for existing weed problems and start thinking ahead to cool-season weed prevention. Identifying the weeds you’re dealing with—and knowing your turf type—is important before choosing any treatment.
Clean Up Thatch and Debris
Keep leaves, pine needles, branches, and other heavy debris from accumulating on your lawn. Thick layers can block sunlight and hold excess moisture against the grass.
A little routine cleanup now can help your lawn transition into dormancy in better condition.
Remember: Brown Doesn’t Mean Dead
One of the biggest changes coming for warm-season lawns is dormancy. As temperatures cool later in the year, Bermuda, centipede, zoysia, and St. Augustine lawns will naturally lose their green color.
That’s normal. A dormant lawn isn’t necessarily a dead lawn—it’s simply resting until warmer temperatures return.
Set Your Lawn Up for a Strong Spring
September lawn care is less about forcing new growth and more about helping your turf finish the growing season in good condition. A healthy lawn going into dormancy has a better foundation for greening up again when spring returns.
Need help with your lawn or landscape this fall? Green Biz Nursery & Landscaping is here to help Fayetteville-area homeowners keep their outdoor spaces looking their best through every season.