General Maintenance And Landscaping Tips For Central Texas Lawns

                Central Texas lawns are comprised mostly of St. Augustine and Bermuda grasses.  They generally thrive in high heat temperatures with minimal watering schedules.  However, the following recommendations apply to other grasses as well such as Zoysia or Buffalo Grass.  Any of these grasses can be maintained fairly easily using techniques found in this article. 

                Fertilizer may be spread at any time of the year but is most effectively applied during the Spring months, March through May.  Fertilizers come in many varieties but over the past few seasons the prices of organic fertilizers have fallen in line with the chemical based brands usually found at the home and garden superstores.  While organic fertilizers contain manure and other by products, they also include fewer acids and synthetics that may ultimately damage soil and run off into the water supply.  Pre-emergent is another product that may be applied during the Springtime and could help prevent weed growth.  Pre-emergent must be applied a week or more before the grass seed germinates and can be coupled with peat moss for best results.  Weed and feed may be applied during the early Spring or Fall when weeds are generally in their growth cycles.  Applied once annually, weed and feed can help grass become healthier and fuller.

                Scalping once annually generally no lower than two inches can help renew lawns and prepare them for the upcoming growing season.  Scalping is usually done during the first pre-Spring mowing and all of the clippings should be bagged.  When scalping the lawn consider also applying a pre-emergent to help prevent weeds from germinating later in the Spring.  Otherwise scalping may only succeed in clearing the way for weeds to germinate and flourish. 

                Tree trimming and removing girth from larger hedges will help provide considerable benefits to any lawn.  When trimming trees or hedges, consider removing girth and promoting height or upward growth.  This will keep low hanging branches well away from the lawn and help prevent the trees or hedges from dropping leaves and other debris into the yard.  When branches hang over any yard they deposit debris onto the lawn that may not be helpful to the health of the grass.  Leaves, seeds, and other deposits should be raked clean from the yard and bagged for disposal.  Aside from that, keeping trees and hedges neatly trimmed makes any yard appear larger so the benefits are inherent.  Leaves and acorns may be a benefit to the soil if they are mulched finely enough during the mowing process.  If mulched properly, they can contribute to the overall health of the yard as soil is comprised of such clippings. 

                Additionally, Central Texas Lawns are susceptible to infestations by pests like grubs or other blights such as fungus.  Knowing how to treat these infestations or prevent them before they occur is an important part of annual lawn maintenance.  Lawn grubs can cause grass to brown and die in quickly spreading patches that can decimate a yard in a few short months.  Lawns are more susceptible to grubs in times of severe drought so keeping the lawn watered at least twice a week during dry months will help prevent their appearance.  Once a grub infestation has been identified it can be treated and contained very effectively by using products such as Triacide, a Spectracide product.  Rake the lawn first and dispose of any brown or dried debris and then apply 1-2 rounds of Triacide to the affected areas using a hose end sprayer.  Fungus is another lawn infestation generally caused by too much watering, overnight watering, or even prolonged periods of rain.  Setting watering times usually no earlier than 1-2 hours prior to sunrise will help to prevent fungus from growing.  This will help to ensure that fungus will not have a chance to grow because it helps to eliminate the moist conditions that cause fungal infections.  Once a fungus infection has been detected it can usually be treated by applying one to two rounds of common fungicide. 

                Finally, applying Winter Rye seed or Dillo Dirt to any yard will help the overall composition of the soil and provide nutrients that will be used later to promote firmer, fuller lawns.  Healthier lawns will be less susceptible to pests and other infestations mentioned in the previous paragraph.  Winter Rye seed is usually applied at the end of the mowing season, lives and thrives throughout the winter months, and helps reduce erosion of the soil and increases drought tolerance.  Dillo Dirt is rich with manure and other by-products which add nutrients to any variety of grass, leading to a healthier lawn. 

                Although every lawn is different, caring for Central Texas lawns can easily be accomplished with a minimum of two watering days per week on average.  Knowing when to apply fertilizers and pre-emergents, trimming trees and hedges regularly, preventing pests and other infestations, and responsibly disposing of fallen debris will go a long way to nurturing healthy lawns.  For more suggested reading and a list of our services please see our website at www.northwestlawn.com.