First Coast Outdoor Care
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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.
Jacksonville Grass Types & Watering Guide
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.
Which Grass Is Right for Your Jacksonville Lawn?
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.
Zoysia — the premium lawn
A dense, fine-bladed grass with good wear and drought tolerance once established and some shade tolerance. Slower to establish and pricier, but a premium look.
Bahia — low-input and drought-tough
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), enforced locally by JEA. The durable, normal-year schedule:
- Daylight Saving Time (mid-March to early November): two days per week — odd addresses Wednesday and Saturday, even addresses Thursday and Sunday.
- Eastern Standard Time (early November to mid-March): one day per week — odd Saturday, even Sunday.
- No watering between 10am and 4pm; about one hour per zone maximum.
- Hand watering and micro-irrigation of non-lawn plants are allowed at other times.
Current status (as of June 2026):
- A Phase III Extreme Water Shortage order is currently in effect: lawn watering once per week — odd addresses Saturday, even Sunday — prohibited 8am to 6pm, about three-quarters of an inch per zone.
- Confirm the current order with SJRWMD or JEA before setting a controller.
Drought stages change — confirm the current rule with St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), enforced locally by JEA before you set a controller.
Jacksonville Lawn Care Calendar
- Spring (Mar–May): sod and plant in the warm soil, pre-emergent, scout early for chinch bugs as it heats up.
- Summer (Jun–Sep): peak growth and the rainy season — mow often, watch for chinch bugs and fungus, water only on your allowed day.
- Fall (Oct–Nov): ease off fertilizer, keep mowing, plant trees and beds as it cools.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): slower growth; St. Augustine may brown in a cold snap and recover. Good season for hardscape and design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best grass for a Jacksonville lawn?
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.
How often can I water my lawn in Jacksonville?
Two days per week during Daylight Saving Time, one day per week in winter, never between 10am and 4pm: that is the SJRWMD schedule JEA enforces in Jacksonville. Odd-numbered addresses get Wednesday and Saturday, even-numbered get Thursday and Sunday. A Phase III drought order currently cuts everyone to once a week, so check the active rule with SJRWMD first.
Why does my Jacksonville lawn need so much soil prep?
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.
What are the brown patches in my St. Augustine lawn?
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.
Get a Free Lawn Assessment or call (904) 747-8308