November Lawn Care in Houston: Warm Fall Watering, Winter Sod & Ryegrass Mistakes

November Lawn Care Guide: Warm to Cool Fall Watering, Ryegrass Overseeding & Planting Sod Now

November can be a weird month for Houston lawns. Some years feel like fall. Other years still feel like August. In the November 2025 Houston Grass Podcast, Michael Romine walks through what that means for your St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia lawns — and what you should (and shouldn’t) do as we slide toward winter.

Below is a blog version of that conversation, focused on real Houston conditions and warm-season grasses.


Choosing the Right Grass for Your Houston Lawn

How Much Sun Does Your Yard Really Get?

The first question Michael always asks is simple:
How much shade do you have?

Warm-season grasses need sun, and shade is one of the biggest reasons lawns struggle in Houston. In general:

  • St. Augustine is the most common grass for Houston homes and does better in shade than Bermuda.
  • Even St. Augustine needs around 6–7 hours of direct sunlight to stay thick and healthy.
  • Heavy shade under big oaks or on the north side of a house can limit your choices.

For shadier yards, Houston Grass carries:

  • Shade-tolerant St. Augustine varieties
  • Fine-bladed Zoysias, including Cavalier and Emerald
  • Other Zoysias like Palisades for areas with more sun

The key is this: don’t assume all Zoysias are shade-tolerant. Some need almost as much sun as Bermuda.

If you’re not sure how much shade you really have, you may need to pay attention throughout the day. The yard can look sunny at noon but be in deep shade for most of the morning and afternoon.


Traffic, Kids, and Big Dogs: Does Your Lawn Get Beat Up?

After shade, Michael looks at traffic:

  • Do you have kids running and playing in the yard?
  • Do you have big dogs outside all day on the same patch of grass?
  • Do you host lots of parties or have a high-use lawn?

In those situations:

  • Bermuda grass is usually the toughest and best choice for heavy traffic.
  • Some Zoysias can also handle traffic well, as long as they get plenty of sun.
  • St. Augustine handles moderate use but doesn’t bounce back from constant pounding as quickly as Bermuda.

Dog traffic and dog urine are a big deal. Thick grass can hold urine on top of the canopy instead of letting it filter down into the soil. In hot weather, that can burn spots into the lawn. Big dogs, heavy use, and small yards are hard on any grass, so variety choice really matters.


How to Order Grass in Houston (And Why Plugs Aren’t the Answer)

Call for Help With Measuring and Grass Type

One of the podcast questions was:
“How do I order grass sod or plugs for quick lawn repair?”

Michael’s short answer: give Houston Grass a call.

The team will:

  • Talk through your shade, traffic, and soil conditions
  • Help you decide which grass type fits your yard best
  • Help you estimate how many square feet or pallets you need

You don’t have to guess. A quick phone call can save you a lot of time and money.


Why Houston Grass Doesn’t Sell Plugs for Home Lawns

A lot of people ask about grass plugs for patching thin or bare spots. In theory, you plant small plugs and let them spread over time.

Michael explains that:

  • Plugs are how they plant grass on the farm, where fields are huge and time frames are long.
  • In a home lawn along the Gulf Coast, plugs can take a long time to fill in.
  • Most homeowners don’t want to wait that long, stare at bare dirt, or fight the weeds that pop up in between.

Because of that, Houston Grass doesn’t sell plugs for homeowners and usually recommends solid sod instead. Full coverage gives you instant ground cover, better weed control, and a much nicer look.


Finding Professional Grass Installation in the Houston Area

Why Reviews Matter

Another listener question was:
“How do I find professional grass installation services near me?”

Michael answers this as both a turf farmer and a regular shopper. When he hires someone, he looks for:

  • A steady stream of recent reviews
  • Detailed comments about quality of work and reliability
  • Patterns — the same names and same positive comments showing up over and over

Houston Grass collects reviews about once a month by emailing customers, so their review profile stays fresh. That steady feedback reflects their focus on quality sod from the family farm and consistent customer service.


Who Does Houston Grass Recommend for Installation?

Yes, Houston Grass does have an installer they recommend:
Omar Lopez.

Key points from the podcast:

  • Omar has been laying their grass for many years.
  • He installs sod from Houston Grass, which starts with higher quality than much of the market.
  • He does excellent work and is mentioned often in their reviews.
  • He offers free estimates for installation jobs.

Omar can also give an opinion on what type of grass might work in your yard. Just remember: he sees your lawn once, at a particular time of day. Shade moves. You still need to think about how your yard looks at different times before you make a final decision.

If you’re handy and have a small job, you can install sod yourself. But for larger jobs, professional installation is often worth it.


November Lawn Care in Houston: Water, Fertilizer & Dormancy

What About the Fall Fertilizer and Pre-Emergent?

In the episode, Michael talks about two fall treatments that should already be done by late November in Houston:

  • Fall fertilizer
  • Pre-emergent herbicide for winter weeds

Both of these are best applied in:

  • October, or
  • The first half of November

If you missed them this year, it’s not the end of the world. Your lawn isn’t ruined. But it’s a great reminder to set a calendar reminder for next year so you hit that window on time.

He also notes that late nitrogen when the grass is trying to shut down can encourage disease like brown patch, especially in St. Augustine. That’s another reason to respect the fall timing and not push your luck when the lawn is sliding toward dormancy.


Warm and Dry November? Don’t Stop Watering Yet

In November 2025, Houston was unseasonably warm and very dry. In that kind of year, the usual “slow down watering for winter” advice does not apply yet.

Michael shares what he is doing at his own home:

  • He is still watering about one inch of water per week.
  • That’s delivered through two cycles of his irrigation system.

When grass is still actively growing and the weather is hot and dry, your lawn is using water. Cutting watering too early can stress it before winter even starts.

So, if your lawn is still green and the soil is dry:

  • Don’t assume it’s “winter mode” just because the calendar says November.
  • Watch the weather and your grass, not just the month.

When Does Houston Grass Go Dormant?

In a typical year, warm-season grasses in Houston (St. Augustine, Bermuda, Zoysia) start to go dormant:

  • Mid to late December, after
  • The first real frost or two

Once that happens:

  • Growth slows way down.
  • Water use drops.
  • You can often get by with much less watering — sometimes once a week or even once every other week, especially if you’re getting rain.

But in a very dry winter, you still may need to water now and then. Dormant grass isn’t dead. The roots are still alive, and the soil shouldn’t stay bone dry for long periods.


Can You Install Grass Sod in December in Houston?

Yes — You Can Install Sod All 12 Months

One of the most common late-season questions is:
“Can I install grass sod in December?”

Michael’s answer is clear:
In Houston, you can install grass 12 months out of the year.

That includes:

  • December
  • January
  • February

The grass isn’t going to take off like it would in April, but it will settle in. The roots will quietly start tying into the soil as temperatures allow.


Why the Cooler Months Are Great for New Sod

Michael actually calls the milder months some of the best times to lay sod:

  • March, April, May
  • October, November, December (and often September)

During those months:

  • Temperatures are more moderate.
  • The new sod isn’t under the brutal stress of 100-degree summer heat.
  • You still have enough warmth for root growth.

If you install sod over bare dirt in November or December:

  • The grass may not look like much during winter.
  • But when everything else greens up in spring, your sod will green up too.
  • In the meantime, you’ve covered the dirt, reduced mud, and helped prevent erosion from heavy rains.

So don’t wait until spring if you’ve got bare soil now. Winter sod can be a smart move.


Should You Overseed With Ryegrass for Winter Color?

Why Houston Grass Does Not Recommend Ryegrass

Another big November question:
“Should I overseed my lawn with ryegrass for winter?”

Michael’s short answer:
We do not recommend it.

Here’s why:

  • To overseed, you spread ryegrass seed over your warm-season lawn in the fall.
  • The rye grass comes up and gives you a green lawn in winter while everything else is brown.
  • It usually lives until about May, when the heat finally kills it.

That sounds good in theory. But the problem shows up in spring.


How Ryegrass Competes With Your Permanent Grass in Spring

In the spring:

  • The ryegrass is still actively growing.
  • Your St. Augustine, Bermuda, or Zoysia is trying to wake up from dormancy.
  • Both grasses are jockeying for the same nutrients and moisture in the soil.

That competition can:

  • Stress your permanent grass.
  • Slow down its green-up.
  • Leave the lawn thin or weak going into the heat of summer.

Houston Grass does not overseed at their farm, and they don’t recommend homeowners overseed either for exactly this reason.


When Might Ryegrass Make Sense?

If you absolutely must have a green lawn all winter — maybe for a special event, or you just can’t stand brown grass — overseeding is possible. Just understand:

  • You’ll be mowing year-round, even in the dead of winter.
  • Your permanent grass may pay the price in spring.
  • It is more of a cosmetic choice than a good agronomic practice.

Houston Grass can supply ryegrass seed if you insist, but it’s not a popular item. They recommend you call ahead so they can answer your questions and make sure it’s truly what you want to do.


When in Doubt, Call and Ask

November lawn care in Houston is all about timing and judgment:

  • Choose the right grass based on shade and traffic.
  • Use fall fertilizer and pre-emergent in October and early November.
  • Keep watering if it’s still warm and dry.
  • Don’t be afraid to install sod in December to cover bare dirt and get a head start on spring.
  • Think twice before overseeding with ryegrass.

If you’re unsure what to do with your own lawn, Michael and the team at Houston Grass are happy to talk it through and point you in the right direction for your yard, your budget, and our Houston weather.