The short answer: Keeping a healthy lawn in West Palm Beach takes year-round attention because our warm, humid climate creates unique challenges that homeowners in other parts of the country never face.
Our tropical weather means grass grows almost all year, weeds pop up constantly, and insects and fungus thrive in the heat and moisture. The good news is that with the right approach, you can have a lawn that makes your neighbors jealous.
Quick overview:
- Fertilization: Your lawn needs food 4 to 8 times per year depending on your program
- Weed control: Broadleaf weeds and sedge require different treatments throughout the season
- Pest prevention: Fire ants, mole crickets, and grubs can destroy a lawn fast without proper protection
Read on to learn exactly what your West Palm Beach lawn needs and when it needs it.
The Complete Lawn Care Approach: Our 8-Round Program
At Lawn Squad, we developed our lawn care programs specifically for warm season lawns like the ones growing in West Palm Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Jupiter, and Loxahatchee.
Our programs work because they follow the natural growth cycles of South Florida turf. We time each treatment to give your lawn exactly what it needs when it needs it, not just when the calendar says so.
Whether you handle your own lawn care or hire a professional, understanding these basics will help you make smarter decisions about your property.
Why Lawn Care Matters More Than Most West Palm Beach Homeowners Realize
Skipping treatments or using the wrong products at the wrong time can set your lawn back months. Here in Palm Beach County, the consequences show up fast.
Miss a pre-emergent application in winter and you will be fighting crabgrass all summer. Skip insect control in spring and fire ants will build mounds across your yard. Ignore early signs of fungus and brown patches can spread across your entire lawn in just a few weeks.
The key principle every West Palm Beach homeowner needs to understand is timing. Our growing season runs almost year-round, which means problems can develop any month. Generic lawn care advice written for northern climates simply does not apply here.
That is why working with a local company like Lawn Squad matters. We know the specific challenges of Palm Beach and Martin County lawns because we treat thousands of them every year.
Year-Round Lawn Care Guide for West Palm Beach
Here is what your lawn needs throughout the year to stay healthy and green.
Round 1: Winter (January)
This is when you set the foundation for the entire year. Apply pre-emergent herbicide to stop weed seeds from sprouting when temperatures warm up. Treat any existing broadleaf weeds you can see. This is also a great time to test your soil so you know exactly what nutrients your lawn is missing.
Why this matters: Pre-emergent creates a barrier in the soil. If you wait until you see weeds, it is already too late for this treatment to work.
Round 2: Late Winter (February)
Continue pre-emergent protection and add your first fertilizer application. Your grass is waking up and needs nutrients to fuel new growth. Start surface insect control now before populations explode in the heat.
Why this matters: Feeding your lawn early gives it strength to outcompete weeds naturally.
Round 3: Early Spring (April)
Focus shifts to insect prevention. Fire ants and mole crickets become active as soil temperatures rise. Continue broadleaf weed control and surface insect treatments.
Why this matters: Fire ant prevention now saves you from painful stings and ugly mounds all summer long.
Round 4: Late Spring (May)
This is your most important treatment window. Apply fertilizer with root stimulant to prepare grass for summer stress. Control sedge, which thrives in our wet season. Treat for disease before fungus takes hold. Consider aeration to reduce soil compaction.
Why this matters: Everything you do now determines how your lawn handles summer heat and daily afternoon thunderstorms.
Round 5: Summer (Late June)
Maintain weed and insect control. Continue sedge suppression and aeration if needed. Your lawn is under maximum stress from heat, so focus on keeping problems at bay rather than pushing growth.
Why this matters: Summer is survival mode for West Palm Beach lawns. Smart maintenance now prevents major damage.
Round 6: Late Summer (August)
Apply pre-emergent again to prevent fall weed germination. Feed your lawn with fertilizer to help it recover from summer stress. Continue disease control as humidity remains high.
Why this matters: This treatment sets up your lawn for its best growing period in fall.
Round 7: Early Fall (September)
Maintain pre-emergent protection and continue surface insect control. Broadleaf weed pressure increases as temperatures drop slightly.
Why this matters: Fall is prime recovery time. Keep weeds and pests from stealing nutrients your grass needs.
Round 8: Late Fall (November)
Final fertilizer application prepares your lawn for winter dormancy. Continue broadleaf weed control. Treat any disease issues before cooler weather arrives.
Why this matters: A well-fed lawn going into winter comes out stronger in spring.
Critical warning: Never apply fertilizer during drought conditions or when your lawn is stressed from lack of water. You can burn the grass and cause more damage than the weeds ever would.
Lawn Squad’s ELITE program handles all eight rounds with 14 different treatments, so you never have to worry about missing a critical window.
DIY Lawn Care Guide for West Palm Beach Homeowners
If you prefer handling your own lawn care, here is what you need to know.
Step 1: Know Your Grass Type
Most West Palm Beach lawns have St. Augustine, Bermuda, or Zoysia grass. Each type has different needs for water, mowing height, and fertilizer rates. Using the wrong products or settings can damage your turf.
Step 2: Get a Soil Test
Before you spend money on fertilizer, find out what your soil actually needs. A simple soil test tells you the pH level and which nutrients are lacking. You might be wasting money on products your lawn does not need.
Step 3: Follow the Right Schedule
Timing matters more than product selection. Apply pre-emergent before weeds germinate, not after. Feed your lawn when it is actively growing, not when it is stressed.
Important: Avoid Sedge Mistakes
Many homeowners try to treat nutsedge with regular weed killer. It will not work. Sedge is not a broadleaf weed, so it requires a special product designed specifically for sedge control. Using the wrong treatment wastes your money and gives sedge more time to spread.
Step 4: Water Correctly
Most West Palm Beach lawns need about one inch of water per week, including rainfall. Water deeply and infrequently rather than a little bit every day. Early morning is the best time to water because it reduces disease risk.
How to Calculate Your Lawn Size
You need to know your lawn’s square footage to buy the right amount of products and avoid over or under application.
Step by step process:
- Measure the length and width of your lawn in feet
- Multiply length times width to get square feet
- Subtract areas without grass like driveways, patios, and garden beds
Example: If your yard is 100 feet long and 80 feet wide, that equals 8,000 square feet. If your driveway and patio take up 500 square feet, your actual lawn size is 7,500 square feet.
For odd-shaped lawns, break the area into rectangles and add them together. Most West Palm Beach properties range from 5,000 to 15,000 square feet of turf.
What About Aeration?
Aeration is one of the most overlooked services for South Florida lawns. It involves removing small plugs of soil to reduce compaction and allow water, air, and nutrients to reach grass roots.
Our sandy soil compacts easily, especially in high-traffic areas. Compacted soil makes it harder for roots to grow deep, which means your grass struggles more during drought and heat stress.
Lawn Squad includes aeration in our ELITE program during rounds 4, 5, and 6 when your lawn benefits most from improved soil conditions.
We recommend aeration at least once per year for most West Palm Beach lawns, and twice per year for heavily used areas or lawns that have struggled with drought stress.
Common Lawn Care Mistakes West Palm Beach Homeowners Make
After serving Palm Beach County since 2001, we have seen just about every lawn care mistake possible. Here are the ones we see most often.
Mistake 1: Mowing Too Short
Many homeowners think cutting grass short means they can mow less often. Actually, scalping your lawn stresses the grass and lets weeds take over. St. Augustine should be cut at 3.5 to 4 inches.
Mistake 2: Watering at Night
Evening watering seems convenient, but wet grass sitting overnight creates perfect conditions for fungal disease. Water early in the morning instead.
Mistake 3: Skipping Pre-Emergent
Pre-emergent herbicide is invisible insurance. It stops weeds before they start. Once you see crabgrass or other weeds, pre-emergent cannot help you.
Mistake 4: Using the Wrong Products
Products designed for cool-season grasses can damage your warm-season lawn. Always check that products are safe for your specific grass type.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Early Warning Signs
Small brown patches, unusual spots, or thinning areas are your lawn asking for help. Catching problems early makes them much easier and cheaper to fix.
Professional Lawn Care vs. DIY: Which Should You Choose?
DIY lawn care gives you complete control over your schedule and products. It costs less upfront if you already have equipment. You learn a lot about your property and can address issues immediately.
Best for: Homeowners who enjoy yard work, have flexible schedules, and want to invest time learning proper techniques.
Professional lawn care provides expert knowledge of local conditions, commercial-grade products that work better than retail options, and guaranteed results. You do not have to store chemicals or remember complex schedules.
Best for: Busy homeowners, those who want reliable results without the learning curve, and anyone who would rather spend weekends enjoying their lawn than working on it.
Your West Palm Beach Lawn Care Calendar at a Glance
ELITE Program
| Round | Timing | Key Treatments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January | Pre-emergent, weed control, disease control, soil test |
| 2 | February | Pre-emergent, fertilizer, weed control, insect control |
| 3 | April | Weed control, insect control, fire ant prevention |
| 4 | May | Fertilizer, root stimulant, sedge control, disease control, aeration |
| 5 | Late June | Weed control, insect control, sedge control, aeration |
| 6 | August | Pre-emergent, fertilizer, weed control, insect control, disease control |
| 7 | September | Pre-emergent, weed control, insect control |
| 8 | November | Fertilizer, weed control, disease control |
ESSENTIAL Program
| Round | Timing | Key Treatments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January | Pre-emergent, weed control |
| 2 | February | Pre-emergent, fertilizer, weed control |
| 3 | April | Weed control |
| 4 | May | Fertilizer, weed control |
| 6 | August | Pre-emergent, fertilizer, weed control |
| 8 | November | Fertilizer, weed control |
The Bottom Line
A healthy lawn in West Palm Beach requires understanding our unique climate and timing treatments to match the way grass actually grows here.
Key principles to remember:
- Pre-emergent applications in winter and late summer prevent most weed problems
- Fire ant and mole cricket prevention in spring saves you headaches all year
- Fertilizer timing matters more than fertilizer amount
- Proper watering technique prevents disease while keeping grass hydrated
- Professional programs take the guesswork out of lawn care completely
When you follow the right schedule with the right products, you can have a lawn that stays green and healthy throughout the year.
Let Lawn Squad Handle It For You
Every West Palm Beach lawn is different. Your soil composition, grass type, shade patterns, irrigation system, and past treatment history all affect what your lawn needs.
Our programs account for all these factors with customized treatment plans designed specifically for properties in Palm Beach and Martin counties.
Lawn Squad programs include:
- Unlimited service calls at no extra charge
- Professional-grade products applied at the right rates
- Expert timing based on local growing conditions
- Fire ant and mole cricket prevention
- Disease control before problems start
Tired of guessing what your lawn needs? Frustrated by weeds that keep coming back? Ready to enjoy your weekends instead of working in the yard?
Contact Lawn Squad today at 561-954-4170 or visit https://lawnsquad.com/contact-us/ to get a free quote and start enjoying the lawn you deserve.
