Quick answer: Orlando lawns are warm-season subtropical turf — St. Augustine is the most common, with Zoysia and Bahia also grown. SJRWMD limits irrigation to set days, and the rules tighten under drought orders. Questions? (407) 863-3647.
Orlando Grass Types & Watering Guide
Central Florida is warm-season turf country on deep, fast-draining sand that holds little water or nutrients. Grass choice, soil prep, and watering on the SJRWMD schedule are the three things that decide how an Orlando-area lawn does.
Which Grass Is Right for Your Orlando Lawn?
St. Augustine — the Central Florida standard
The most common Orlando lawn grass; broad-bladed, handles part shade, and lush in the warm season. It needs steady moisture and is prone to chinch bugs in summer heat, so regular scouting pays off.
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 larger or low-irrigation lots, with a coarser texture than St. Augustine.
Florida-Friendly beds for low-water yards
On full-sun, water-wise yards, native and adapted Florida-Friendly plantings with mulch and micro-irrigation cut water use while staying colorful through the heat.
Orlando Watering Rules
Authority: St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), with OUC and Orange County enforcement. 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 your local utility before setting a controller.
Drought stages change — confirm the current rule with St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), with OUC and Orange County enforcement before you set a controller.
Orlando Lawn Care Calendar
- Spring (Mar–May): sod and plant in 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 an Orlando lawn?
St. Augustine is the most common Central Florida lawn grass and handles part shade; Zoysia is a premium dense option, and Bahia suits low-input, sandy, large-lot yards. These are warm-season grasses suited to Central Florida; cool-season grasses are not used here.
How often can I water my lawn in Orlando?
SJRWMD sets the schedule, with OUC and Orange County enforcing: two days per week in Daylight Saving Time (odd Wed/Sat, even Thu/Sun), one day per week in winter, never 10am to 4pm. A Phase III drought order currently tightens this to once a week — confirm the active rule with SJRWMD.
Why does my Orlando lawn need so much soil prep?
Central Florida’s deep sand drains fast and holds little water or nutrients, so amending beds, adding organic matter, and using efficient micro-irrigation make a real difference in how plantings establish.
What are the brown patches in my St. Augustine lawn?
In summer they are often chinch bugs, which thrive in the heat; in cooler, wetter spells brown patch fungus is common. Both are treatable when caught early, so scout regularly.
Get a Free Lawn Assessment or call (407) 863-3647