Most Citrus County lawns need fertilizer no more than twice a year, and the county allows it only in April, May and October. A statewide calendar with monthly feedings does not fit those months. Choose a product with at least 65 percent slow-release nitrogen, skip phosphorus unless a soil test calls for it, and keep 25 feet from water. City Green follows the county rule, and a free estimate shows you the plan.
How Often Can You Fertilize in Citrus County?
Most lawns need fertilizer no more than twice a year, and the Citrus County fertilizer rules allow nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizer only in April, May and October. The county says twice a year is plenty for most Florida lawns. That means one feeding in spring and one in fall covers what the county expects.
This is different from most lawn advice online. Many calendars were written for the whole state, or for the whole country, and they suggest three or four rounds a year. In Citrus County, the rule sets the months, and the county recommends twice a year.
This post covers how often and how much. If you want the dates, the exceptions and the storm rules in one place, read when you can fertilize a lawn in Citrus County.
Why the Citrus County Window Is Narrower Than a Statewide Calendar
The window is narrow because the county limits fertilizer in the dormant season, the rainy season and before storms. According to the county, fertilizer may not be applied from November to March, when many lawns are dormant, or from June to September, when summer rain can wash it off the lawn. That leaves April, May and October.
The purpose is to keep nitrogen and phosphorus out of the springs, rivers, canals and ponds that Citrus County residents depend on. Fertilizer that sits on a wet lawn or hard surface can run into those waters.
A calendar with a feeding in July or January was not written for this county. Following it can mean wasted product and a rule violation. Check any schedule against the county page before you use it.
How Much Fertilizer to Apply Each Time
Apply only what the label and the county rule allow, and no more. The county requires at least 65 percent of the nitrogen to be slow-release, and it limits quick-release (water-soluble) nitrogen to 0.5 pound of nitrogen per application.
The reasoning is simple. Slow-release nitrogen feeds the grass over time, while quick-release nitrogen is easy to wash away. A heavy dose of the quick kind feeds the water instead of the lawn.
Measure the lawn before you buy. The label gives coverage for each bag, and a bag sized for a larger lawn tempts people to spread the extra. Spread the amount your square footage needs and save the rest.
What Type of Fertilizer to Buy
Buy a fertilizer with at least 65 percent slow-release nitrogen and 0 percent phosphorus. The three numbers on a bag show nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, in that order. The middle number should be zero unless a soil test shows your lawn is short on phosphorus.
The county explains that Citrus County soils already hold plenty of phosphorus naturally. Adding more does not help the grass and adds to what can run off. As an example, the county notes that a 16-0-8 product suits spring and fall applications.
Read the nitrogen breakdown on the label. A bag may list the slow-release share as "water insoluble nitrogen" or similar wording. If the label does not make the slow-release share clear, ask the store or choose a different bag.
Rules That Apply Every Time You Fertilize
Four rules apply each time, whatever the month. These come from the county rules page, and each one protects the water.
- Keep fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus at least 25 feet from any spring, pond, stream, lake, canal, sinkhole, wetland, stormwater inlet, or the top of a seawall or embankment
- Do not apply fertilizer to driveways, sidewalks or streets, and sweep spilled granules back onto the lawn instead of hosing them off
- Do not fertilize when a flood watch, tropical storm watch, or hurricane watch or warning is in effect for Citrus County
- Skip phosphorus unless a soil test confirms a deficiency
What You Can Do for Your Lawn Outside the Window
Plenty of lawn care continues outside April, May and October, because fertilizer is only one part of a healthy lawn. UF/IFAS describes a healthy, vigorous lawn as the best weed control, so watering, mowing height and regular checks all matter.
Look for chinch bugs and disease. UF/IFAS calls the southern chinch bug the most damaging insect pest of Florida turfgrass, and damage can appear in stressed turf at any time. Brown grass in winter may be dormancy and not a pest, so inspect the line between brown and green grass before treating.
Pale grass in the middle of summer does not mean the lawn needs fertilizer, and a dose of fertilizer will not fix a pest or a watering problem. See our guide to lawn pest and disease control for how to tell them apart.
Weed products need care. If a "weed and feed" product lists nitrogen or phosphorus on the label, treat it as fertilizer and keep it in the allowed months. UF/IFAS also warns that these products can damage landscape plants whose roots reach under the lawn. Confirm the details with the county before you apply one.
Does St. Augustinegrass Need More Than Twice a Year?
For most Citrus County lawns, no. St. Augustinegrass is the most widely planted turfgrass in Florida, and statewide guidance often shows more rounds. The county rule sets the months, April, May and October, and the county recommends twice a year for most lawns.
UF/IFAS also advises against fertilizing St. Augustinegrass in the cool months in Central and North Florida, when it may go dormant. That agrees with the county calendar. Too much nitrogen can also encourage diseases such as large patch, so more is not better.
Doing It Yourself or Hiring a Company
A homeowner can follow the rule alone, and many do. The steps are to buy the right bag, measure the lawn, keep clear of water and storm days, and spread it evenly in April, May or October. The rule applies to homeowners, landscapers and businesses alike, so hiring a company does not change the calendar.
The value of a company is the work around the rule: choosing the product, timing it inside the window, using herbicides labeled for your grass, and watching for pests and disease between feedings. City Green follows the Citrus County fertilizer ordinance in our lawn fertilization and weed control service. A free estimate comes first, and there is no contract.
If you live in Hernando, Beverly Hills or Citrus Springs, call (352) 601-0682 and we will look at the lawn with you.
Key Takeaways
- Most Citrus County lawns need fertilizer no more than twice a year, only in April, May and October.
- Statewide calendars may show more feedings, but the county sets the months and recommends twice a year.
- Choose at least 65 percent slow-release nitrogen and skip phosphorus unless a soil test calls for it.
- Keep 25 feet from water, off hard surfaces, and out of storm watches.
- Weed control and pest checks continue between the fertilizer months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fertilizing twice a year enough for a Citrus County lawn?
For most lawns, yes. The county states that twice a year is plenty for most Florida lawns, and it allows fertilizer only in April, May and October. A lawn that still looks weak may have a pest, disease or watering problem instead.
Do I need a soil test before I fertilize?
You need one only if you want to apply phosphorus. The county asks homeowners to skip phosphorus unless a soil test confirms a deficiency, and notes that Citrus County soils hold plenty naturally.
Does the fertilizer rule apply if I hire a company?
Yes. The rule applies to homeowners, landscapers and businesses. A company must follow the same months, the same slow-release requirement and the same 25-foot distance from water.
Can I use a weed and feed product?
Read the label first. If it contains nitrogen or phosphorus, treat it as fertilizer and use it only in the allowed months. UF/IFAS also warns that weed-and-feed products can damage landscape plants whose roots extend under the lawn, so confirm the details with the county before you apply one.
My lawn looks pale in winter. Should I fertilize?
No. Pale or brown grass in winter is often dormancy, and the county does not allow fertilizer from November to March. Check the border of brown and green grass for chinch bugs before you decide the lawn needs treatment.
Related Services and Areas
Questions about your own property? Contact the City Green team or visit the home page to see everything we do.
- Lawn Fertilization & Weed Control
- Lawn Pest & Disease Control
- Pest Control in Hernando, FL
- Pest Control in Beverly Hills, FL
- Pest Control in Citrus Springs, FL
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Written by Katharine Osborne, Owner and Operations Manager, City Green Pest Control & Fertilization. Katharine handles the office and the customer relationships at City Green.
