July 14 Rainy Tuesday Summary

Rain has paused grass harvesting and installation this week, but Houston area lawns need attention right now. Michael Romine shares what homeowners should do about fungus risk, irrigation systems, and chinch bugs after days of heavy rain — plus how to get a grass delivery or installation quote, rain or shine.

Rained Out on the Farm This Week

Good morning from a soggy Arcola! In this week’s update, Michael Romine of Houston Grass is standing next to a yard forklift with not much to do. It rained all day Monday, it’s raining again Tuesday, and with more rain in the forecast Wednesday, the family farm in Bay City is rained out — likely for the rest of the week.

There’s about a quarter of a pallet of Raleigh St. Augustine pieces left in the yard, so not much will be moving this week. The good news? The second half of the week and the weekend look hot and dry again, so Houston Grass expects to be back to harvesting and installing early next week.

In the meantime, here’s what all this rain means for your lawn — and what you should do about it today.

Watch for Gray Leaf Spot and Summer Patch

With this much moisture on the Texas Gulf Coast, if anything is going to go wrong in your lawn, it’s going to be fungus. The two diseases Michael says to watch for right now are:

• Gray leaf spot — the most likely problem after extended rain, especially in St. Augustine grass. Look for small brown or gray lesions on the grass blades.
• Summer patch — a possibility as well, showing up as irregular patches of thinning, yellowing, or browning turf.

Both diseases can be treated with Heritage G fungicide, a granular fungicide that’s easy for homeowners to apply. Michael’s advice: have a bag of fungicide on hand before you see a problem. When conditions are this wet, fungus can move fast, and being ready to treat at the first sign of trouble makes all the difference. We stock Heritage G at our office.

Turn Off Your Irrigation System

If you’re on the Texas Gulf Coast, your lawn has received inches of rain over the past few days. That means it’s time to shut off your irrigation system — and keep it off.

Michael’s estimate: even if the rain stopped right now, most Houston area lawns could go at least a week without irrigation. Leaving your sprinklers running after heavy rain does two bad things:

1. It wastes water (and money on your water bill).
2. It invites fungus. Gray leaf spot, summer patch, and other lawn diseases thrive on excessive moisture. Watering a lawn that’s already saturated is practically an invitation.

So walk out to that controller today and switch it off. Your grass — and your water bill — will thank you.

One Bit of Good News: Chinch Bugs Floated Away

Chinch bugs love hot, dry conditions, and all this rain has taken them out of the picture for now. As Michael puts it, they’ve floated away. You won’t need to worry about chinch bug damage in the near term — just stay ready with that fungicide instead.

We Can’t Harvest Today, But We Can Quote You Rain or Shine

The rain may keep the harvesters parked at the farm in Bay City, but the Houston Grass office is open and answering the phone. Even on a rainy week, we can:

• Quote you a grass delivery price
• Provide an installation quote
• Set dates for your delivery or installation so you’re first in line when the weather clears

Call Houston Grass at 281-431-7441 to get started.

Why Houston Grass?

Houston Grass sells grass grown on the Romine family farm in Bay City, Texas. Michael Romine was raised growing grass, and his brother manages the farm today. When you buy from Houston Grass, you’re getting fresh-cut turf with quality second to none in the Houston area — and advice from folks who have spent their lives growing it.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What lawn fungus should Houston homeowners watch for after heavy rain? The two most likely problems are gray leaf spot and summer patch. Gray leaf spot is especially common in St. Augustine grass during extended wet, warm weather.

What fungicide treats gray leaf spot and summer patch? Heritage G is a granular fungicide that treats both gray leaf spot and summer patch. Michael Romine recommends having it on hand so you can treat at the first sign of disease.

Should I turn off my sprinkler system after heavy rain in Houston? Yes. After several inches of rain, most Gulf Coast lawns can go at least a week without irrigation. Running sprinklers on a saturated lawn wastes water and encourages fungal disease.

Do I need to worry about chinch bugs right now? Not during a wet spell like this one. Chinch bugs thrive in hot, dry conditions, so the heavy rain has eliminated that threat for the time being. They can return when things dry out, so keep an eye on hot, sunny areas of the lawn later in the summer.

Can I still get a grass quote when Houston Grass is rained out? Absolutely. Harvesting and installation stop in the rain, but Houston Grass can quote delivery prices, provide installation quotes, and schedule dates rain or shine. Call 281-431-7441.

Where does Houston Grass get its grass? All of Houston Grass’s turf comes from the Romine family farm in Bay City, Texas, where Michael Romine grew up growing grass and his brother manages operations today.