Superb grass lawns don’t usually just end up that way. Hours of work go into maintaining natural grass. As well as sunlight and water, healthy grass usually needs fertilizing, mowing, aerating, weeding, and pesticides.
Fertilizing grass adds nutrients and optimizes the soil for healthy grass growth that can help your lawn withstand the stresses from the Texas heat and drought in this part of the country.
But when is the best time to fertilize grass in Texas?
That depends mainly on the grass type on your lawn and where in Texas you are. Here are a few guidelines…
When to Fertilize Grass in Texas?
The best time to fertilize grass depends mainly on your grass type and region. The general rule when fertilizing Texan lawns is to apply fertilizer in the active growing season. For warm-season grasses in the south of the state, fertilize in the spring and early fall; for cool-season grasses, apply the fertilizer in September and again in May for best results.
We take a closer look at typical warm-season and cool-season grasses found in Texan homes below…
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What is Lawn Fertilizer?
To remain healthy, grass needs a variety of nutrients as well as sunlight and water. Most notably, grass needs nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Grasses that lack these nutrients can become weak and prone to disease while their appearance also suffers.
Lawn fertilizer provides the required nutrients to grass and soil, encouraging healthy and strong grass growth. This, hopefully, produces a lawn that can stand up to the many challenges faced due to the climate, soil conditions, pests, etc.
Lawn fertilizer can be granular or liquid and is available both in organic and synthetic forms.
Understanding Grass Types in Texas
The best grass type for a Texan lawn will depend on where in the state you are located, the local climate (especially drought conditions), and your appetite for lawn maintenance.
The basic distinction you need to make between your grass choice is warm-season or cool-season.
The main warm-season lawn grasses in Texas include:
Many of these grasses can grow in vast expanses of the state but some are more tolerant of drought, shade, and low temperatures than others. Bermuda Grass often requires more maintenance, sunlight, and water than Zoysia grass, for instance.
The main cool-season lawn grasses in Texas are:
You will see these grasses more in the north of Texas than in the south.
Regional Considerations in Texas
The main regional considerations for lawn growers in Texas when it comes to fertilizing lawn grasses are:
Main Soil Types in Texas
Texas has four main soil types:
- Sandy soil: mainly in the coastal areas.
- Clay soil: typical in the eastern and central parts of Texas.
- Loamy soil (sand/clay/silt): mainly in North Texas.
- Chalky soil: mainly in the western areas of Texas.
The makeup of your soil will influence the fertilizer you need for your lawn to flourish.
Homeowners who are serious about developing the best possible lawn should test the soil to identify its type and any pH challenges or nutritional deficiencies. The soil may need lime, phosphorous, nitrogen or other nutrition to give your lawn the best chance.
You can order a soil test through your county Extension office or the Texas A&M Soil Testing Laboratory.
Fertilization for Different Grass Types in Texas
Though the general rule is to fertilize grass during the main active growing season, there are slight variations depending on the grass type as well as the region.
Fertilizing lawns is most effective when the nutrients directly feed active root and shoot growth. This is normally when the grass is coming out of a dormant state in spring. However, the precise time varies between cool-season and warm-season grasses…
Best Time for Warm-Season Grass Fertilization
The most active shoot and root growth for warm-season grasses occurs throughout the April to October period.
Fertilizing in the early spring can jumpstart growth at the precise time that your grass is getting ready for a “spurt”. Depending on your location, this could be anywhere from mid-March to mid-May.
Fertilizing grass again in the fall helps your lawn thicken and withstand the weeds in winter when it’s dormant. Summer fertilization can also help sustain growth during the peak heat and improve the quality of neglected lawns—but use slow-release fertilizers and avoid fertilizing during droughts.
Warm-season grasses in areas with longer growing seasons (in the south of Texas) may require more nitrogen-based fertilizer than other areas with shorter growing seasons.
Native warm-season grasses like Buffalo Grass may require less fertilization to flourish than other warm-season grasses as they are already well adapted to the conditions.
Best Time for Cool-Season Grass Fertilization
The most active shoot and root growth for cool-season grasses occurs mainly between mid-March and June and again between September and November.
The best time to fertilize most cool-season grasses is May, October, or both. In particular, the fall is ideal for fertilizing cool-season grasses, which grow best in cooler months and need proper nutrients to thrive in winter and spring.
Cool-season grasses like Tall Fescue may need a boost with fertilizing in the early fall (September) to encourage good root development and in the late spring (May) to promote lush growth.
Step-by-Step Fertilizer Application Guide
You need to tailor your lawn fertilizing schedule to your grass type and region. However, here are some general pointers to help you fertilize your lawn and produce a verdant masterpiece!
Test Your Soil
If you’re serious about getting the best lawn possible, check the raw materials you have to work with!
This starts with the soil beneath your lawn. You can have it tested (as described above) to identify any pH problems or nutrient deficiencies so that you can spread the right fertilizer to correct the balance.
Choose the Right Fertilizer
Once you understand what your soil is missing, the right fertilizer choices can add the right nutrients. Try to find a balanced fertilizer composition with slow-release options so that you don’t overload your soil, which can start to “burn” the grass and cause brown, yellow or streaked patches.
You’ll need to know the approximate size of your lawn before purchasing your fertilizer. For rectangular lawns, simply multiply the width by the length in square feet. For less geometric lawns, you’ll need to divide the lawn up into geometric shapes, make several calculations, and add the totals together at the end.
Knowing the size of your lawn and the results of your soil test will help you determine the correct amounts of fertilizer to buy and apply. Warm-season grasses generally require one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application.
Fertilizer packages list three numbers—known as the fertilizer analysis—that represent the percentage by weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You can check this fertilizer guide for more information if you are unsure what to buy.
Evenly Distribute the Fertilizer Using a Spreader
Spread the fertilizer evenly, in measured amounts, over the grass at the chosen time of year.
Nitrogen-based fertilizers will green up a lawn so unless you spread it evenly, your lawn will exhibit striping or streaking. This is difficult to achieve by hand so it’s best to use a drop-type spreader or rotary spreader.
Most homeowners will find drop-type spreaders are easier to operate and maneuver than rotary spreaders.
Water the Grass Area
After spreading the fertilizer, wait 24 hours and then water the area thoroughly so that the nutrients penetrate deep into the soil where the roots can absorb them.
Waiting a while to water the grass will allow the fertilizer to settle and activate properly, helping the nutrients reach the roots without washing them away.
Additional Tips for Healthy Texas Lawns
Besides choosing the best time to fertilize your lawn, follow these tips for a healthy Texan lawn:
For best results, any problems with weeds or pests should be resolved before fertilizer application.
FAQs
Considering the Switch to Artificial Grass?
A tailored lawn fertilization schedule according to the soil conditions, climate, and grass type should have your lawn flourishing before long.
However, if you’d rather your backyard stays verdant without the work involved in regularly fertilizing it, consider switching to artificial grass. Discuss your options with an artificial grass professional.
