Planting
It is not the proper time of the year to plant either cool or warm weather grass seed. You can plant sod, it will be dormant and brown when planted, but it will green up in March or April. If severe freezing temperatures occur the newly laid sod can be damaged though.
Fertilizing
No fertilizer is necessary this month.
Pest Control
Use a weed-control product to eliminate broadleaf weeds. Do not use a weed-and-feed though – it is too early in the season for that.
Mowing
Continue to mow cool season grasses.
Watering
If the weather turns dry and you have ryegrass growing, irrigation may be necessary.
Planting
It is still too early to plant warm season grass seed, but you can lay sod.
Fertilizing
Warm-season grasses are just waking up and reestablishing a strong root system. Wait until early April to apply the first fertilizer application.
Pest Control
Apply a weed preventing pre-emergent to help prevent summer weeds.
Mowing
If sufficient growth occurs you should mow. Do not mow grass especially short the first few times. Scalping the lawn is not recommended and can lead to a weakened root system.
Watering
If needed, water thoroughly. This encourages roots to grow deep.
Planting
This month begins the prime planting season for warm-season grasses which runs until August or September.
Fertilizing
Fertilizer helps produce a lush, vigorous, dark green lawn. Although all lawns will benefit from an application of fertilizer those that have been damaged or are in low vigor certainly should be fertilized.
Pest Control
Apply broadleaf weedkillers now and next month. Read the label since not all are safe for all types of grass. Many products combine several weed control aids in one formulation making them effective in controlling a wide variety of weeds.
Mowing
Make sure your blades are sharp and mow as needed.
Watering
Watch the weather and if it is dry water thoroughly and deeply as needed.
Planting
Warm-season grasses may be done through September. Planting now gives the grass allows it to establish over the long summer months and better endure the cold of its first winter.
Fertilizing
If you didn’t last month do so this month.
Pest Control
This is the last month to apply broadleaf weedkillers before the weather becomes hot.
Mowing
Ideally, no more than the top third of the grass blades should be cut each time you mow.
Watering
Your lawn requires ½ to 1 inch of water per week. If we haven’t received that amount of rain, then irrigation becomes necessary.
Planting
Continue to plant warm-season grasses throughout the summer.
Fertilizing
Lawns (other than centipede) that were fertilized in April may be fertilized again this month. Also fertilize lawns sodded in April or early May.
Pest Control
Watch for chinch bugs – look for areas of dead, straw-like grass starting in sunny, hot areas of the lawn. Treat with insect-control aids.
Mowing
Recommended mower heights:
Common Bermuda: 1 to 1 ½ inches
Hybrid Bermuda: ½ to 1 inch
Centipede: 1 to 2 inches
St Augustine: 2 – 3 inches
Zoysia: ½ to 1 ½ inches
Watering
Continue to apply 1/2 inch of water to the lawn twice a week if the weather is dry.
Planting
Continue to plant lawns despite the heat as long as you can give them adequate water.
Fertilizing
If you last fertilized in April you might fertilize again. Fertilizer will create a deeper green color.
Pest Control
Chinch bugs continue to be a problem.
Mowing
Mow regularly at recommended heights.
Watering
Do not water lightly every day, this encourages diseases and creates a shallow root system. Apply sufficient water when irrigating to reach a depth of 6 to 8 inches.
Planting
Continue to plant warm-season grasses.
Fertilizing
Apply a fertilizer that has a high first number, a low second number and a third number somewhere in between.
Pest Control
Fleas infest lawns this time of year and can be easily treated.
Mowing
Continue to mow as needed.
Watering
Unless at least ½ inch of rain falls, it should not be considered a “good rain” and additional irrigation will be needed.
Planting
This is the last month to plant warm-season lawn seeds.
Fertilizing
Wait till the end of October to winterize your Texas lawn.
Pest Control
Watch for army worms – they chew grass blades and can make the lawn look terrible.
Mowing
Don’t let your grass get overgrown before mowing.
Watering
Water as needed.
Planting
Plant ryegrass seed this month.
Fertilizing
Winterize your lawn at the end of this month. This helps the grass not only make it through winter, but gives it a boost in spring!
Pest Control
Brown patch may appear if the weather is unusually wet. Apply weed prevention aids to the lawn to control cool-season annual weeds
Mowing
Do not mow an over seeded lawn the first time until the new grass is 1 – 2 inches high.
Watering
Do not allow turfgrass to go into dormancy without receiving adequate water. Water deeply and thoroughly if a good rain does not occur for 0 to 14 days during this time of year.
Planting
Continue to overseed ryegrass if you have not already done so.
Fertilizing
Fertilize ryegrass planted in October in late November after the warm season grass has gone dormant.
Pest Control
Apply a preemergence herbicide early this month if you did not do so in October.
Mowing
Mow ryegrass regularly. Set the mower to a height of 1 to 2 inches.
Watering
In normal circumstances enough rain should fall this month to make it unnecessary to irrigate.
Planting
Ryegrass can be planted through the winter. Dormant sodding of warm-season grasses (St. Augustine, Bermuda, Centipede) can be done but the turf can be damaged by a freeze.
Fertilizing
Fertilize ryegrass after your warm-season grass has gone dormant (turned brown). The ryegrass will turn a darker shade of green and will also grow vigorously.
Pest Control
Pest control is minimal this time of the year
Mowing
Keep ryegrass mowed to a height of 2 inches.
Watering
Dormant warm-season grasses will usually receive enough water through rainfall. Lawns over seeded with ryegrass may need to be watered if the weather is mild and dry.
