Spring can be a popular time for landscape maintenance due to the milder weather. Homeowners want to take advantage of cooler temperatures and the potential for more rainy days before the intense heat begins. Make the most out of the milder spring weather with our expert advice on lawn fertilization and weed control.
Many Texas homeowners have warm season grass. Common types of grasses for the North Texas area are St. Augustine grass, Bermuda grass, Buffalo grass, and Zoysia grass. Warm season grasses are starting to awaken from a more dormant, less active state in the Spring. This makes spring lawn fertilization ideal because growing season will begin.
Springtime can also give you a head start on weed control. Spring weed control can help keep dandelions, crabgrass, and clovers from starting to take over your beautiful landscape. Pre-emergent timing is important when it comes to weed control in the Spring.
Finding the Best Lawn Fertilizer for Spring
Spring lawn fertilizer application can help jump start growth and provide nutrients to warm season grass after it has awakened from the dormancy of colder weather. This is when grass begins to grow, so having these nutrients during early springtime can help keep your lawn looking fresh. March or April can be the best time to apply lawn fertilizer in the spring, when the grass just starts to turn green. The types of nutrients contained in fertilizers will be nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen is a key nutrient in fertilizer and can help your lawn thrive. The best way to determine which nutrients your lawn is lacking is by conducting a soil test to determine the pH of the soil in your yard to see what nutrients the soil is lacking. Generally, a well rounded NPK slow release fertilizer is best for spring applications. Phosphorus fertilizers are not usually needed in North Texas as our native soils typically have an abundance of it. Only apply phosphorus if a soil test shows it’s depleted in your soil.
It is important to make sure that you do not apply too much fertilizer to your lawn. Factors to take into account include the type of grass you have, and how big your lawn is. You want to make sure that you apply the right amount of nitrogen to your lawn. This is usually 1 pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet.
Spring Weed Control
Springtime can give you a head start on weed control. Dandelions, clovers, and crabgrass can start to germinate and spread in the spring. Crabgrass is one of the most dreaded grassy type weeds because it can show up in even the most manicured and well cared for lawns. Crabgrass grows faster than typical lawn grasses which gives crabgrass an easy opportunity to dominate your lawn. Applying pre-emergent herbicides are key to keeping spring weeds such as crab grass from germinating but must be applied when the soil temperature stays at 55 degrees for a matter of days. The best time to catch this weather is late February through March.
Spring is also a good time for a grub worm preventative program. If grub control programs are started in early spring, it has a chance to move through the soil and can be ready to combat grubs during hatching season in late July.
Starting a Fertilization and Weed Control Program
Starting a fertilization and weed control program can be difficult if a lawn has previously been neglected. Professional fertilization and weed control services can make this process easy by using the right products and application techniques. Licensing is required in Texas by the Department of Agriculture. Fertilization and weed control companies are required to have an Ornamental and Turf Applicator License to legally apply lawn care products to your lawn and landscape.
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