Gardening

Keep mowing your lawn. Grass growth will slow so you may only need to mow 1-2 a month for the grass itself. Mowing more often might be necessary if your lawn is primarily weeds.

Apply a fall fertilizer to help your lawn recover. I like a ratio of 16-4-8 in a liquid format before rain or watering the lawn. If using granular’s last month was really the last to apply one as they last several months and you don’t want the fertilizer to just feed winter weeds when you lawn goes dorment as it gets colder.

Apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent winter weeds. Check the label to make sure the weeds you had last year in your yard are on the label. Crabgrass, dandelions, thistle, nutsedge, and annual bluegrass are common.

If you have weeds that need to be removed, apply a liquid post-emergent herbicide like Spectracide, Bayer Advanced, or Image. This will kill anything existing prior to our pre-emergent applications. I find Spectracide works best on broad leaf weeds, Bayer Advaced works best on Crabgrass, and Image is the best at killing Nutsedge. Spectricide is the cheapest but it’s worth paying for one of the others if you have a particular issue with crab grass or Nutsedge. Also look at the ten day forecast when you do this and make sure it’s dry for a few days so that the herbicide isn’t immediately washed out.

I like to trim my trees later in the winter so now is also the time I inspect growth and decide which branches I want remove later to lift the canopy or help promote future growth in the right areas.

The winter weeds are trying to go to seed before the heat kills them. Keep the lawn mowed every week to reduce production of the weed seeds for next winter. Yes I know this can often be easier said than done when we have a rainy May.

You will be stuck with the weekly watering recommendation provided by SAWS. https://www.saws.org/the-drought-continues-and-so-do-stage-2-watering-rules/ Make sure to check the SAWS website for the latest watering schedule based on the aquifer level.

San Antonio lawn care schedule

Scalping a lawn refers to mowing it very short, typically down to a height of 1-2 inches. While this can be beneficial in some cases, such as removing thatch buildup, it can also be damaging to the lawn if done improperly.

Here are the steps to safely scalp your lawn:

1. Choose the right time: The best time to scalp your lawn is in early spring, when the grass is just starting to grow. This will allow it to recover quickly.
2. Mow the lawn: Set your lawn mower to its lowest setting and mow the entire lawn. Be sure to remove any clippings or debris that are left behind.
3. Water the lawn: After scalping the lawn, give it a good watering to help it recover.
4. Fertilize the lawn: Once the grass starts to grow back, give it a boost with a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen.
5. Avoid repeat scalping: Scalping the lawn too often can damage the grass and make it more vulnerable to disease and pests. It’s best to only scalp the lawn once or twice a year.

Remember that while scalping can be beneficial in some cases, it’s not always necessary or beneficial for your lawn. Be sure to consider the specific needs of your lawn and consult with a professional if you’re unsure whether or not to scalp it.

I normally list off stuff available at the big box type stores so people can easily find stuff that works at a good price.If you want to spend a little more and step up to the best stuff around this is what I use.

The Andersons PGF Balanced 10-10-10 Fertilizer with Micronutrients and 2% Iron (5,000 sq ft) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FXR8R75/ This one is very mild and balanced. I use this in the early spring and fall when the lawn is starting up or slowing down.

The Andersons Barricade Professional-Grade Granular Pre-Emergent Weed Control – Covers up to 5,800 sq ft (18 lb) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NZ2BMMK/ I put down per-emergent at least once a quarter. This stuff is great to stop my neighbors weeds from spreading to my lawn.

The Andersons DuoCide Professional-Grade Lawn Insect Control – Covers up to 9,000 sq ft (18 lb) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PH2ZZJH/ I typically place this down in early March, late May, and September to control grubs and other burrowing insects.

The Andersons Professional PGF Complete 16-4-8 Fertilizer with 7% Humic DG 5,000 sq ft https://smile.amazon.com/Andersons-Complete-16-4-8-Fertilizer-sq-ft/dp/B07SYLCKRH/ This is my spring fertilizer for when things need lots of energy to grow like crazy.

Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK – Simple Lawn Solutions (32 Ounce) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XWFL84R/ This is great for supplemental treatments in the whole lawn or troubled spots. I typically spray it the day before getting rain or my irrigation system running. I find that helps to get it watered in for a quick response.

For spreading all of the dry material I just use a typical hand spreader. https://smile.amazon.com/Hand-Powered-Engineered-adjustable-assembled-immediately/dp/B07KMWVBJS/

I also like to add home compost, composted manure, and cheap garden soil in areas needing soil improvement but you can find that your average big box store.