Last updated:
Last verified: October 6, 2026, against St. Johns River Water Management District.
Quick answer: Jacksonville lawns are warm-season subtropical turf — St. Augustine is the most common, with Zoysia, Bahia, and Centipede also grown. SJRWMD limits irrigation to set days, and the rules tighten under drought orders. Questions? (904) 747-8308.
Separate turf identification and observed water demand before scheduling the work
North Florida is warm-season turf country on sandy, fast-draining soil that holds little water or nutrients. That makes grass choice, soil prep, and watering on the SJRWMD schedule the three things that decide how a First Coast lawn does.
St. Augustine — the First Coast standard
The most common Jacksonville lawn grass; it is broad-bladed, handles part shade, and greens up lush in the warm season. It needs steady moisture and is prone to chinch bugs in summer and sod webworms, so scouting matters.
Jacksonville turf comparison: Record the existing grass, daily sun, traffic, drainage, irrigation coverage, and maintenance preferences before selecting a turf option. Compare each candidate against those observed conditions, then document the establishment steps and ongoing care the property can support.
A tough, low-maintenance, drought-tolerant grass that does well on sandy soil and large or low-irrigation lots, with a coarser look than St. Augustine.
Centipede — low-maintenance for North Florida
A slow-growing, low-input grass suited to North Florida’s acidic sandy soils; it needs little fertilizer but does not take heavy traffic.
Jacksonville Watering Rules
Authority: St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). The durable, normal-year schedule:
- Jacksonville daylight-saving schedule (normal year): The District allows Wednesday and Saturday for odd-numbered or no-address properties, Thursday and Sunday for even-numbered properties, and Tuesday and Friday for nonresidential sites. Irrigation is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and limited to no more than one hour per zone.
Current status (as of October 6, 2026):
- Confirm the active order at sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions before setting a controller.
A Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declared by SJRWMD remains in effect for portions of Duval County and other counties. Landscape irrigation under the order is limited to one day a week (Saturday for odd-numbered or no addresses, Sunday for even-numbered addresses, Tuesday for nonresidential properties) and prohibited between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., with no more than three-quarters of an inch of water per zone and one hour per zone.
Drought stages change, so confirm the current rule with the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) before setting a controller.
- Spring (Mar–May): sod and plant in the warm soil, pre-emergent, scout early for chinch bugs as it heats up.
- Jacksonville summer check: Follow the assigned SJRWMD irrigation day and adjust mowing to measured growth. UF/IFAS Extension Duval County says turf fertilizer should never be applied before heavy rain; diagnose visible insect or disease symptoms before selecting a treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Augustine is the most common First Coast lawn grass and handles part shade; Zoysia is a premium dense option, and Bahia or Centipede suit low-input, sandy, large-lot yards. These are all warm-season grasses suited to North Florida; cool-season grasses are not used here.
Under the Phase III Extreme Water Shortage order that SJRWMD has in effect for portions of Duval County, landscape irrigation is limited to one day a week and prohibited between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.: Saturday for odd-numbered or no addresses, Sunday for even-numbered addresses, and Tuesday for nonresidential properties. The District’s normal schedule is two days a week during daylight saving time and never between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Confirm the active rule with SJRWMD first.
Because North Florida’s sandy soil drains fast and holds almost nothing. Water and nutrients wash straight through, so beds need amendment, organic matter, and efficient micro-irrigation before plantings can establish. Skipping that prep is the usual reason new shrubs and sod struggle on the First Coast while amended beds take off.
Chinch bugs in the heat of summer, brown patch fungus in cooler wet stretches: those two cause most St. Augustine browning in Jacksonville. Check sunny lawn edges first for chinch damage and look for circular rings after rain for fungus. Early treatment clears both, so inspect the lawn on every mow.