Texas Lawn Care Tips: Effective Weed Control and Fertilization Strategies

Michael Watrous

December 3, 2025

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5 min read

Maintaining a lush, green lawn in Texas can be challenging. From scorching summers to clay-heavy soils and persistent weeds, keeping your turf healthy requires the right strategies. The foundation of a thriving lawn? Weed control and fertilization.

In this guide, we’ll share practical tips for each season, fertilization best practices, pest prevention, and expert insights to help your Texas lawn stay thick, green, and weed-free all year long.

Why Weed Control and Fertilization Are Critical for Texas Lawns

Texas lawns face unique conditions:

Extreme heat and drought can weaken turf.
Invasive weeds such as crabgrass and nutsedge steal nutrients and water.
Clay-heavy or compacted soil can limit nutrient absorption.
Pests like grubs and chinch bugs target weak or stressed grass.

A consistent approach to weed control and fertilization strengthens turf, making it resilient and naturally resistant to weeds and pests.

Seasonal Lawn Care for Texas Turf

Proper timing of weed control and fertilization ensures optimal results.

Spring: Start Strong

Apply pre-emergent herbicides to prevent weeds before they sprout.
Fertilize with slow-release nutrients to strengthen roots and promote steady growth.
Inspect for early pests like grubs and armyworms. Healthy lawns resist infestations better.
Mow regularly and maintain grass height to shade soil and prevent weed growth.

For more tips, see: Top Lawn Care Tips for a Healthy Turf.

Summer: Protect and Maintain

Texas summers are tough on lawns. Focus on maintaining healthy turf:

Spot-treat weeds with post-emergent herbicides.
Light fertilization for warm-season grasses like Bermuda or St. Augustine.
Deep, early-morning watering to conserve moisture and encourage root growth.
Monitor for pests such as chinch bugs and armyworms.

Fall: Repair and Strengthen

Fall is the perfect time to recover from summer stress:

Aerate your lawn to relieve soil compaction and enhance nutrient absorption. Learn more about aeration
Apply fall fertilizer to strengthen roots before winter.
Control fall weeds such as henbit and poa annua.
Overseed bare or thin areas to create dense turf for spring.

Winter: Maintenance and Planning

Even mild Texas winters require some attention:

Spot-treat winter weeds safely.
Light feeding for cool-season grasses helps maintain green color.
Plan spring treatments for pre-emergent weed control and fertilization.

Fertilization Tips for a Strong Texas Lawn

Fertilization is essential for healthy turf:

Identify your grass type – Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia, or Tall Fescue.
Apply fertilizers at the right time for seasonal growth patterns.
Avoid over-fertilizing, which can damage grass and promote weed growth.
Conduct soil tests to balance nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and iron.

For more information, see: The Benefits of Lawn Aeration.

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Common Texas Lawn Pests

Healthy, well-fertilized lawns resist pests, but you should still monitor for:

Grubs – damage roots, causing brown patches.
Armyworms – rapidly eat grass blades.
Chinch bugs – thrive during hot, dry periods.
Sod webworms – active in spring and summer.

Proper weed control and fertilization help create dense turf that’s less attractive to pests.

Check out Identifying and Managing Common Lawn Pests for detailed guidance.

Combining Weed Control and Fertilization for Best Results

Weed control eliminates competition for nutrients and water.
Fertilization strengthens and thickens turf.
Together, they produce a lawn that’s healthier, denser, and naturally resistant to weeds and pests.

Professional Turf Management: When to Call a Pro

Consider professional help if:

Weeds keep returning
Lawn is thin or patchy
Soil is compacted
Summer heat frequently damages turf

Experts provide ongoing weed control, fertilization, aeration, and pest management for a consistently healthy lawn. Learn more: Transform Your Lawn with Expert Turf Management.