Spring lawn care in Houston will keep you busy for a few hours for a few weekends, but we’ll make it easy. Just follow our 8-point checklist and your lawn will beat the heat and humidity of our summers.
What’s there to do? Get your mower ready, aerate and fertilize our heavy clay soil, and prevent weeds and control lawn pests.
That is a lot to get done, but tackle one job at a time on our checklist. Or hire a LawnStarter Houston lawn care pro to take yard care off your spring to-do list.
OK, let’s get started…
1. Get Your Lawn Mower Ready
Before mowing season resumes in force, clean and inspect your lawn mower, wipe down the surfaces to remove dirt or buildup. Replace or sharpen your lawn mower blades to keep the cuts clean and prevent disease-inviting tears in your grass.
Check your air filters, spark plugs, and change oil as needed.
For electric lawn mowers and string trimmers, charge batteries and check for terminal corrosion. Inspect power cords for damage and replace the string, if needed, in your trimmer.
See Related:
— How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades
— DIY Lawn Mower Maintenance Guide
— How to Clean and Change a Lawn Mower Air Filter
2. Prep Your Sprinkler System
Houston’s mild winters leave sprinkler systems vulnerable to surprise freezes. Open the main water valve slowly, as high water pressure can damage pipes if restored too quickly. Test each zone separately to spot any freeze damage or line breaks.
If you use a smart controller on your sprinkler, the city offers rebates up to $187.49 via Houston Public Works.
See Related:
— How to Adjust, Repair Lawn Sprinkler Heads
— Keep Your Grass Healthy with a Lawn Sprinkler Audit
3. Water Wisely
Spring weather in Houston takes twists and turns, so water accordingly. Lawns typically need about an inch of water per week, including rain. Houston’s WaterMyYard.org program offers free weekly watering recommendations based on local weather data.
Multiple factors determine how long you should water your lawn. One of those factors is your soil type:
- Clay soil: If you have the typical clay soil found around Houston, run your sprinklers for about 15-20 minutes per zone once or twice a week, as the clay takes longer to absorb.
- Sandy soil: If you have sandy soil, run your sprinklers for about 30 minutes per zone once or twice per week, less if it rains.
- Loamy soil: If you have loamy soil, run them 20-25 minutes per zone once or twice a week.
Pro Tip: It’s best to do water your lawn before 9 a.m. to keep it from evaporating in the heat.
See Related:
— Signs Your Lawn Needs Watering
— Signs You Are Overwatering Your Lawn
4. Aerate Compacted Soil
The clay soil of the greater Houston area is notorious for poor drainage and is easily compacted by heavy foot traffic, lawn and other heavy equipment, and drenching rainfall. Compacted soil prevents water and oxygen from reaching grass roots.
Opt for core aeration vs spike aeration to remove soil plugs and help water and air flow to grass roots. Do this between late March and early April when the soil isn’t soaked. Leave plugs on your lawn to break down and add nutrients naturally.
After aerating, water your lawn lightly and keep people off it for two weeks.
See Related:
— How to Test for Compacted Soil
— What is Aeration? [Video]
5. Fertilize Your Grass
Fertilizing in the spring nourishes your lawn as it emerges from winter dormancy. Wait until the soil temp is consistently 65 degrees, typically around April 1, about six weeks after the last frost. Applying fertilizer too early wastes money and can promote disease in cool, wet conditions.
Grab a cheap soil test kit and send it to the Harris County AgriLife Extension Office. A soil test’s results reveal your soil’s pH, nutrient levels, and specific deficiencies, ensuring you choose the right fertilizer blend for your lawn’s actual needs.
Apply a slow-release fertilizer to get the maximum benefits through the growing season, but avoid using it when heavy rain is expected to prevent it from washing out of your lawn.
See Related:
— When to Fertilize Lawns in Texas
— How to Fertilize Your Lawn
6. Get Rid of Spring Lawn Pests
Spring brings out lawn pests like white grubs, fire ants and sod webworms, all of which can damage your Houston lawn. Chinch bugs also emerge, creating yellow circles that grow larger over time. And watch for small brown moths flying in zigzag patterns at dusk as a warning sign for coming armyworms.
Here are some tips to help you fight common Houston lawn pests:
Grubs: Apply grub prevention products in April or May.
Chinch bugs: Check for chinch bugs by parting the grass at the damaged area and looking for small black bugs with white wings.
Fire ants: Use broadcast fire ant baits in early spring when ants are actively searching for food.
Armyworms: Watch for small green caterpillars or irregular chewing patterns on grass blades, especially if you’ve seen those zigzag-flying moths.
See Related:
— How to Get Rid of Chinch Bugs
7. Control Weeds Now
Houston’s long growing season begins around March 1, so it’s vital to get after weeds like dollarweed, crabgrass, and dandelions before they emerge and get a foothold in your lawn.
Apply pre-emergent herbicides in late-February to early-March. Fertilize to encourage strong grass growth because a thick lawn crowds out weeds. Apply a post-emergent herbicide or hand-pull any young weeds that pop up.
See Related:
— Read Your Weeds: Identify Them to Learn About Your Lawn’s Health
— Common Lawn Weeds in Texas: How to Identify and Control Them
8. Mow the Right Way
Cutting your grass correctly helps keep your lawn healthy.
Start mowing when grass reaches about 3 inches tall, typically mid to late March, and mow your lawn to its optimal height.
Most Houston lawns have one of the following warm-season grasses:
- St. Augustinegrass: Mow to 2.5 to 4 inches inches tall to shade roots and keep out weeds.
- Bermudagrass: Mow to 1 to 2 inches for common varieties for dense, durable growth.
- Centipedegrass: Slower growing, ideal mowing height is 1.5 to 2 inches.
- Zoysiagrass: Mow to 1.5 to 2 inches, but in shade, let it go to 2.5 inches.
Other mowing tips:
- One-third rule: Don’t cut more than 1/3 of the grass height at one time. This keeps your grass healthy and prevents disease.
Don’t bag grass clippings: Leave grass clippings on the lawn to break down and feed your soil. - Shift mowing pattern: Change your mowing direction each time to avoid making tracks and prevent soil from getting packed down.
See Related:
— How to Mow Your Lawn the Right Way
— Common Lawn Mowing Mistakes to Avoid
Win the Neighborhood Lawn Game
There’s a lot of yard work to be done on your lawn are checklist, but the end result — a green, healthy lawn — will make you proud.
But if you don’t have the time or the energy to get your lawn prepped for spring and to care for it all year, LawnStarter can help. Our local lawn care professionals understand Houston’s clay soil, humidity challenges, and warm-season grass needs. Get matched with trusted Houston lawn care experts for lawn mowing, lawn treatments, and more so you can enjoy a beautiful, healthy lawn all season long.
Main Image: Lawn mowed by a LawnStarter pro in Houston, Texas. Photo Illustration by Amy Stenglein / LawnStarter
