The first warm days of a Texas spring are a welcome sight. As the gray of winter fades, the urge to get outside and cultivate a lush, green lawn is powerful. For many DFW homeowners, this enthusiasm leads to a flurry of weekend activity—fertilizing, mowing, and watering. But what if your best intentions are actually setting your lawn up for a summer of struggle?
Before you rush out, take a moment to learn from the experts. At A1 Grass, we see the same well-meaning but damaging mistakes every spring. Avoiding these three common pitfalls is the key to building a lawn that’s not just green in April, but resilient enough to thrive through the August heat.
1. Fertilizing Too Early
It’s a sunny, 70-degree day in late February. It feels like spring, so it must be time to fertilize, right? Wrong.
This is perhaps the most common mistake we see. Fertilizing your warm-season Texas grass (like St. Augustine, Bermuda, or Zoysia) while it’s still dormant is counterproductive. The grass isn’t actively growing yet, so it can’t use the nutrients. Instead, you’re simply feeding winter and early-spring weeds, giving them the fuel they need to take over before your lawn even wakes up.
Pro Tip:
Be patient. Wait until the grass has been actively growing for a few weeks and has required mowing 2–3 times. This is a sure sign that the roots are awake and ready to absorb nutrients. In North Texas, this is typically mid-April to early May.
2. Cutting the Grass Too Short (Scalping)
After a winter of no mowing, it’s tempting to give your lawn a short, crew-cut-style “fresh start.” This practice, known as scalping, is extremely damaging.
Your grass blades function like tiny solar panels—absorbing sunlight needed for photosynthesis, which fuels strong root development. Cutting them too short reduces the grass’s ability to feed itself. The result? Weak, shallow roots that struggle through heat and drought. On top of that, exposing the soil gives weed seeds the sunlight they need to germinate.
Pro Tip:
Never remove more than one-third of the grass blade in one mowing.
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St. Augustine: 3–4 inches
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Bermuda: 2–3 inches
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Zoysia: 2–3 inches
Taller grass shades the soil, protects moisture, and encourages deeper, more drought-resistant roots.
3. Watering Daily and Lightly
Frequent, shallow watering is one of the fastest ways to create a weak lawn. When you water for just a few minutes each day, moisture only reaches the top inch of soil. This trains the roots to stay close to the surface, waiting for their next daily sip.
Once the Texas heat hits and watering restrictions start, these shallow-rooted lawns turn brown quickly—they simply have no stored moisture to rely on.
Pro Tip:
Water deeply and infrequently.
Aim to apply 1 inch of water during each watering session. This pushes moisture deep into the soil and encourages the roots to follow. A deep soak once or twice per week is far more effective than daily light watering, especially in the DFW heat.
Work Smarter, Not Harder, This Spring
A beautiful lawn doesn’t come from sheer effort—it comes from smart, timely decisions. By avoiding these three common mistakes, you’re not just growing grass; you’re cultivating a resilient lawn that can thrive even in the harshest Texas summer.
If you’re looking at your yard and thinking it’s time for a fresh start with sod that’s ideal for the DFW climate, contact the experts at A1 Grass. We’ll help you choose the perfect variety and set you up for a successful spring and a beautiful summer.