9 Summer Lawn Care Tips for Atlanta, GA

If you live in Atlanta, your lawn faces 3 summer challenges: heat, humidity, and Georgia red clay that compacts faster than it drains.

The right approach depends on whether you’re growing warm-season grass like Bermudagrass or Zoysiagrass, or cool-season tall fescue, as each handles summer differently.

An Atlanta LawnStarter pro can take care of the work for you; this guide covers what to do if you’re managing your lawn yourself.

Key takeaways:
• Water your Atlanta lawn about 1 inch per week in summer, ideally between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. • Mow warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass about 1/2 inch taller than usual in summer to protect against heat stress. • Never fertilize cool-season grasses like tall fescue in summer. It forces growth that makes the grass vulnerable to Atlanta’s heat.

Common Atlanta Lawn Grasses

Atlanta lawns typically grow Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, or tall fescue. Warm-season varieties dominate because they thrive in Atlanta’s hot, humid summers, while tall fescue performs well in shadier yards across the north metro suburbs.

Grass Type	Best For
Bermudagrass	Full sun, high-traffic yards
Zoysiagrass	Dense lawns, partial shade
Centipedegrass	Low-maintenance yards, acidic soil
St. Augustinegrass	Shady, humid spots
Tall fescue	Year-round green, shaded yards

Source: University of Georgia Extension

See Related: 5 Best Grass Types for Your Atlanta, GA, Lawn

9 Atlanta Summer Lawn Care Tips

1. Watering Is the No. 1 Atlanta Lawn Care Task for Summer

Water your Atlanta lawn about 1 inch per week in summer. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia need it to stay green, and tall fescue needs it just to survive the heat.

• Best time to water: Water in the early morning, between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. to allow the soil to absorb water before midday heat causes evaporation. Avoid evening watering, which leads to fungal disease.

• Apply about 1/2 inch per hour: The Atlanta region has mainly clay soils that absorb water slowly. Apply more than 1/2 inch per hour and it turns into puddling and runoff.

• Use the cycle and soak method: Run the sprinklers in 10-15 minute sessions with 40-60 minute breaks to let the water soak in.

Don’t have an automatic sprinkler system yet? LawnStarter pro Shon Matthews of Unique Kuts in Fayetteville, GA, recommends installing one. “Get a sprinkler and put it on a timer so as to not over- or under-water the grass.”

Note: Water restrictions may apply when the Georgia Environmental Protection Division declares a Drought Response. Check with your local water authority.

See Related: How Often Should I Water My Lawn?

2. Mow Taller to Protect Atlanta Lawns From Heat

During summer, the University of Georgia (UGA) Extension recommends increasing the mowing height by 1/2 inch to improve resistance to high temperatures and drought and also limit weed development.

Here’s how tall you should mow the grass during summer in the Metro Atlanta area by type of grass:

Type of Grass	Standard Height	Summer Mowing Height
Bermudagrass (common)	1-2 inches	1.5-2.5 inches
Bermudagrass (hybrid)	1-1.5 inches	1.5-2 inches
Centipedegrass	1-2 inches	1.5-2.5 inches
St. Augustinegrass	2-3 inches	2.5-3.5 inches
Zoysia	1-2 inches	1.5-2.5 inches
Tall fescue	2-3 inches	2.5-3.5 inches

Source: University of Georgia

Bermudagrass, Zoysia, and St. Augustinegrass grow fast during summer, so you may need to mow more than once a week. Keep these rules in mind:

• Mow often enough to remove only one-third of the grass height each time. This promotes fast recovery and reduces vulnerability to heat and disease.

• Trim the grass in the morning, so it has time to heal before sunset.

• Don’t mow during drought, which leads to stress and slower recovery.

• Keep mower blades sharp. Clean cuts help grass heal faster and stay disease-resistant.

See Related: How to Sharpen Mower Blades

3. Aerate Your Atlanta Lawn to Help It Breathe Easier in the Summer

“Make sure that it can breathe,” is what Atlanta LawnStarter Pro Macon Ramsey of Mr. Lawn Service says is the secret to a perfect lawn. Atlanta has clay soils that get easily compacted from foot traffic and rain, making it hard for grass roots to breathe.

To loosen compacted soil, core aerate the soil at least once a year. A core aerator drills small holes through the surface, giving oxygen, water, and fertilizer a clear path to the roots.

Lawn aeration improves:

• Drainage: Prevents water puddles that could lead to fungal diseases.

• Fertilizer uptake: Ensures fertilizers efficiently reach the roots.

• Water absorption: Helps grasses quickly and deeply absorb water.

• Overseeding results: Encourages new grass to develop faster and healthier.

Renting a core aerator typically runs about $100 per day. Hiring a pro to aerate is often easier. Professional aeration pricing in Atlanta typically ranges from $97 to $180 for most yards.

See Related: How to Aerate a Lawn

4. Fertilize Atlanta’s Warm-Season Grasses (And Leave Tall Fescue Alone)

Starting in May, warm-season grasses grow rapidly and need nutrients through summer. Begin fertilizing once the soil temperature stays consistently above 65 degrees at a 4-inch depth, or when the lawn reaches about 50% green-up.

In Metro Atlanta, this typically falls in late April or early May. Stop nitrogen applications by mid-August so the grass can prepare for winter dormancy.

Pro summer fertilization tips:

• Don’t fertilize tall fescue in the summer. It forces growth and makes this cool-season grass vulnerable to heat and drought.

• Avoid fertilizing during a drought or while the grass is dehydrated, as it stresses the plants. 

Before you fertilize, run a soil test to see which nutrients your lawn actually needs. Guessing wastes money and risks damaging the turf.

From there, you can apply the fertilizer yourself or hire a pro to fertilize if time is tight. Professional fertilization costs typically range from $58 to $349 in Atlanta.

See Related: How to Choose the Right Fertilizer

5. Don’t Bag Your Clippings

When grass clippings are cut thin and left on the lawn, they retain moisture in the soil and keep the ground cooler during summer.

Clippings from Bermuda, Zoysia, and other warm-season grasses also make good mulch for flower beds and veggie gardens. Cut the clippings small before spreading them.

Pro Tip: Don’t use grass clippings as mulch if you’ve applied herbicides or pesticides to the lawn.

See Related: 13 Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Tips for Atlanta, GA

6. Keep Summer Weeds Under Control in Your Atlanta Lawn

If you spread pre-emergent weed control in spring, your lawn should be partially protected from common summer weeds like clover, yellow nutsedge, crabgrass, and annual bluegrass (Poa annua).

If weeds have already appeared, apply post-emergent herbicides or hand-pull them if there are only a few. Use only selective herbicides and spot-spray to avoid harming the grass.

Not sure which product to use? Order professional lawn treatments in Atlanta from LawnStarter to take care of the weeds.

See Related:

• How to Get Rid of Clover and Not Kill Grass

• How to Get Rid of Crabgrass

7. Manage Atlanta’s Summer Lawn Pests

Atlanta’s hot, humid summers create ideal conditions for several lawn pests. The most common lawn pests to watch for during summer:

• Fire ants: Build unsightly mounds and destroy grass roots. UGA Extension recommends the Two-Step Method: a broadcast bait once or twice a year, combined with individual mound treatment as needed.

• Fall armyworms: Target Bermudagrass and fescue. Brown patches and flocks of birds feeding on the turf are warning signs. Act fast. Armyworms can destroy a lawn in days.

• White grubs: The larvae of June beetles, masked chafers, and Japanese beetles. Grubs feed on grass roots from late summer into fall, causing the turf to feel spongy and pull up easily. Preventive applications work best in June, before larvae mature.

• Two-lined spittlebugs: Mostly a centipedegrass problem, but also worth knowing about if you have St. Augustine. Look for white, foamy masses on grass blades and yellowing or purple-brown discoloration.

See Related: 11 Summer Lawn Pests and How to Get Rid of Them

8. Prevent Summer Lawn Diseases in Atlanta

Routinely check your lawn for signs of disease. The most common Atlanta lawn diseases to watch for are:

• Fairy ring

• Gray leaf spot

• Leaf spot and melting out

• Pythium blight

• Pythium root rot

• Take-all root rot

To reduce your lawn disease risk: aerate properly and remove thick thatch, mow at the correct height and water only as needed and never in the evening.

Treating lawn diseases involves applying the right fungicide. For aggressive diseases, LawnStarter offers professional lawn treatment service in Atlanta to resolve the problem quickly.

See Related: Common Lawn Diseases and How to Spot Them

9. Overseed Your Atlanta Lawn in Early Summer

Overseeding (scattering new grass seed over your existing lawn) keeps your turf dense and more resistant to drought, heat, and weeds. Early summer is the right time to overseed warm-season grasses like Bermuda or centipede, when the soil is warm enough for fast germination.

For tall fescue and other cool-season grasses, overseed in fall instead. Cooler temperatures allow new seedlings to establish before the following summer’s heat.

See Related: How to Overseed Your Lawn in 8 Simple Steps

Let LawnStarter Handle Your Atlanta Lawn Care

Keeping your lawn watered, mowed, and pest-free takes consistent effort, especially in Atlanta’s demanding summer climate. Let a vetted LawnStarter Atlanta lawn care pro take it off your plate so you can enjoy a healthy green yard all season.

With LawnStarter, only about 1 in 30 pros pass our vetting and background check. The crew that shows up actually knows what they’re doing. Get an instant price today and see how easy it is to cross lawn care off your to-do list for good.

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Main Image: Illustration by Whitney Lehnecker / LawnStarter; Photo by Natalia Pedroza / LawnStarter