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Lawn Care & Maintenance in Tampa, FL

Quick answer

Lawn care in Tampa Bay centers on warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, bahia and zoysia that grow nearly year-round. The City of Tampa, Pinellas County and unincorporated Hillsborough County ban nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer from June 1 through September 30. Anyone fertilizing for hire needs a state Limited Commercial Fertilizer Applicator certificate.

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Lawn care in Tampa Bay runs on a different calendar from most of the country. Grass grows almost all year, the heaviest growth comes during the summer rains, and local rules limit both when you can water and when you can fertilize. A program built for a northern lawn, or for a lawn in another Florida county, can easily be wrong here.

Know your grass

  • St. Augustinegrass: the most common lawn grass in the area. Good shade and salt tolerance depending on cultivar, but it can't be seeded and is prone to chinch bugs in hot, dry weather.
  • Bahiagrass: very drought tolerant and low input, often used on larger or unirrigated lots. It has a coarser look, sends up tall seed heads in summer and has very poor salt tolerance.
  • Zoysiagrass: dense and fine-textured with good wear tolerance. Some cultivars go dormant and brown quickly in drought.
  • Bermudagrass: needs full sun and frequent, low mowing. Common on sports fields and some sunny home lawns.

The summer fertilizer ban

Several Tampa Bay governments prohibit applying lawn and landscape fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus from June 1 through September 30. That includes the City of Tampa, Pinellas County (which covers St. Petersburg and Clearwater), and unincorporated Hillsborough County, which adopted its rule in 2021. Pinellas also requires granular products to contain at least 50 percent slow-release nitrogen, limits phosphorus unless a soil test shows a need, and keeps fertilizer at least 10 feet from water bodies and seawalls. Rules in Pasco County and individual cities can differ, so ask any lawn company which ordinance applies at your address and how they adjust the program in summer, often with iron or micronutrient products.

Licensing to look for

Florida requires anyone who applies fertilizer for hire to hold a Limited Commercial Fertilizer Applicator certificate from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), which requires Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMP) training first. Applying pesticides to lawns for hire falls under FDACS pest control licensing, and the separate Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance certificate covers only plant beds and ornamentals, not turf. Pinellas County also requires commercial applicators to display a county decal. It's fair to ask to see credentials.

Mowing and watering basics

  • Mow high for St. Augustine and bahia; standard St. Augustine cultivars are often kept around 3.5 to 4 inches. Scalping invites weeds and drought stress.
  • Remove no more than about a third of the blade per mowing, and keep blades sharp.
  • Water only on your assigned day and hours. Under the 2026 shortage order, most of the region is limited to once a week at night.
  • Look for folded blades or footprints that stay visible before watering; UF/IFAS advises watering when the lawn shows stress rather than on a fixed schedule.

Common Tampa Bay lawn problems

  • Chinch bug damage in sunny St. Augustine during dry spells, which looks like drought but spreads outward
  • Fungal problems such as large patch in cooler, wet months
  • Mole crickets in bahia and Bermuda
  • Thin turf under oaks that have grown over decades

Your county UF/IFAS Extension office can help identify problems and offers soil testing. Not sure which grass fits? See our Tampa Bay lawn grass guide, then request a lawn care company.

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How a sprinkler zone waters a lawn. Press the buttons to run each step and see what happens inside. Made with Colorfigures ·
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Frequently asked questions

When is the fertilizer ban in Tampa Bay?

The City of Tampa, Pinellas County and unincorporated Hillsborough County prohibit lawn and landscape fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus from June 1 through September 30. Other cities and Pasco County may have different rules, so check your local ordinance.

Does a lawn care company need a license in Florida?

Anyone applying fertilizer for hire needs a Limited Commercial Fertilizer Applicator certificate from FDACS, which requires GI-BMP training. Applying pesticides to lawns for hire falls under FDACS pest control licensing. Mowing alone doesn't need a state license.

Why does my St. Augustine lawn have spreading brown patches in summer?

In sunny, dry areas chinch bugs are a common cause, and their damage can look like drought. In cooler, wet months, fungal disease such as large patch is more likely. Have it diagnosed before treating; your UF/IFAS Extension office can help.

Sources and further reading

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