Lawn care calendar for Texas: when to fertilize and seed

Texas stretches from the Panhandle to the Gulf, and the calendar moves with the last and first frost. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension writes its lawn calendars for warm-season grasses, and its dates are tied to grass growth, soil temperature and the first historic frost rather than to fixed days.

Short answer

Feed once the grass is growing, and make the last nitrogen application 4 to 6 weeks before the first frost.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says to make the first fertilizer application when the lawn is actively growing and has been mowed at least twice, and the last nitrogen application 4 to 6 weeks before the first historic frost. Crabgrass preventer goes on before germination, which typically happens around mid-February in South Texas, early March in North and Central Texas and mid-March in the Panhandle.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Texas warm-season lawn calendar by month
Month	Warm-season lawns	Weeds, water and pests
January	Mow only if needed to stop winter weeds from flowering	Irrigation stays off in winter
February	South Texas: put down crabgrass preventer before mid-February germination	Preventer goes down when soil holds near 55 F for 4 to 5 days
March	North and Central Texas: finish preventer by early March; Panhandle by mid-March	Run the water-wise checklist before turning irrigation on
April	First feeding once the lawn is growing and has been mowed twice	Mow weekly at your grass's height
May	Feed with 0.5 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet	Irrigate only to prevent wilting
June	Do not fertilize stressed grass	Spot-treat summer weeds as needed
July	Mow weekly; remove no more than a third of the blade	Replace at least 60% of evapotranspiration
August	No nitrogen in hot, dry late-summer spells	Scout for chinch bugs and fall armyworms
September	Fall preventer when soil falls to about 70 F for 4 to 5 days	Prevents winter weeds such as henbit and annual bluegrass
October	Last nitrogen 4 to 6 weeks before the first frost, depending on region	Rain often covers the lawn's needs
November	Dormant; no fertilizer this late	Turn irrigation off when growth stops
December	Grass is dormant; in South Texas it may not go fully dormant	Treat winter weeds as needed

The calendar covers warm-season grasses, the ones AgriLife writes its home-lawn calendars for. Dates shift with the weather.

Which grasses grow where in Texas

AggieTurf lists six warm-season species used in Texas lawns, bermudagrass, buffalograss, centipedegrass, seashore paspalum, St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass, and six cool-season species. Bermudagrass is one of the best-adapted species for home lawns across the state, though it tolerates shade poorly and wants frequent mowing and moderate to high fertility.

St. Augustinegrass is widely planted, especially in urban areas, because it tolerates shade, but it has weak cold tolerance and is prone to chinch bugs. Buffalograss suits low-input lawns and does not do well in East Texas, where annual rainfall exceeds 30 inches. In north Texas, where warm-season grasses may struggle with winter injury, AggieTurf lists tall fescue as adapted, though cool-season grasses are not widely planted in Texas because of heat and drought.

Frost dates from NOAA

Dates are the NOAA 1991-2020 normals for the last spring and first fall 32 F freeze at 50% probability. At Amarillo the average last spring frost is April 13 and the average first fall frost is October 27. At Dallas-Fort Worth the dates are March 8 and November 24, at Austin-Bergstrom March 12 and November 16 and at San Antonio February 26 and November 28.

At Houston Intercontinental Airport they are February 13 and December 9. From Amarillo to Houston the last spring frost is two months apart on these averages (computed from the dates).

Spring

Texas A&M suggests 1 to 4 feedings a year of 0.5 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet each time, with a mix of quick-release and slow-release products and no more than 4 pounds in a year. Do not apply nitrogen before the lawn has fully greened up, and do not feed grass under stress.

Mow weekly at the height your grass prefers: common bermudagrass 1.5 to 3 inches, hybrid bermudagrass 1 to 2.5 inches, St. Augustinegrass 2.5 to 4 inches, zoysiagrass 1 to 2.5 inches and centipedegrass 1.5 to 2 inches. Aerate compacted lawns when the soil is moist, and remove thatch, which at 1/2 to 1 inch deep can begin to block water.

Summer

Water only when needed to prevent wilting or to replace at least 60% of evapotranspiration, and skip irrigation when rain is falling. Check your city or water utility for local watering rules.

Texas A&M says not to fertilize during hot, dry periods in late summer when moisture may be limiting. Spot-treat summer weeds, and scout for white grubs, chinch bugs and, as fall nears, fall armyworms.

Fall

Make the last nitrogen application 4 to 6 weeks before the first historic frost. Computed from the NOAA normals above, that is September 15 to 29 at Amarillo, October 13 to 27 at Dallas-Fort Worth, October 5 to 19 at Austin, October 17 to 31 at San Antonio and October 28 to November 11 at Houston.

Over-irrigation and nitrogen in early fall can increase large patch disease, so keep fall feedings modest. Fall preventer goes down when soil temperature drops to about 70 F for 4 to 5 days, and irrigation goes off once the lawn stops growing.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and soil testing

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension runs AggieTurf, which carries the lawn calendars, the turfgrass species pages and mowing guides. County agents are listed at counties.agrilife.org.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory takes samples from Texans and from anyone else in the continental United States, and its work centers on plant nutrient analysis. AgriLife's St. Augustinegrass calendar says to apply nutrients other than nitrogen based on soil test results.

Frequently asked questions

When should I fertilize my lawn in Texas?

Start when the lawn is actively growing and has been mowed at least twice, and finish with the last nitrogen 4 to 6 weeks before the first historic frost. Use 0.5 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet each time, up to 4 pounds a year.

When should I put down crabgrass preventer in Texas?

Before crabgrass germinates, which is typically mid-February in South Texas, early March in North and Central Texas and mid-March in the Panhandle. Apply when soil temperatures reach about 55 F for 4 to 5 consecutive days.

When should I plant a lawn in Texas?

During the active growth period of a warm-season grass. AgriLife's St. Augustinegrass calendar says the best time to establish warm-season grass is during active growth, and its bermudagrass calendar says not to fertilize before the lawn has fully greened up.

Which grass is best for a Texas lawn?

It depends on shade, cold and rainfall. Bermudagrass suits sun, St. Augustinegrass suits shade but is cold-sensitive, buffalograss suits low-input lawns away from East Texas, and tall fescue is an option in North Texas.

Can Lawnzo help me follow a Texas lawn schedule?

Lawnzo, a lawn-care planner for iPhone, builds a seasonal plan from your grass, sun and irrigation, checks each task against the forecast and shows why it keeps, delays or skips a job. Its journal records products and photos.