From Snow to Sunshine – Late January Lawn Care in Houston | Houston Grass Podcast

Preparing for Spring: Houston Late January Lawn Care Guide

Summary

In this episode of the Houston Grass Podcast, Michael Romine discusses the arrival of winter in Houston, noting recent snowfall and freezing temperatures. He explains that while the cold weather isn’t harmful to grass, it may have killed weeds and pests. He outlines the steps for winter lawn care, including avoiding mowing, watering, or applying chemicals until after the last frost, typically in March. Michael also differentiates between pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides and provides tips for preparing irrigation systems for spring. He emphasizes that new grass planted now will remain dormant but will green up with warmer weather. Lastly, Michael mentions potential price increases for grass due to factors like labor wages, fertilizer, and diesel costs, and assures listeners that grass availability should be steady going into spring.

Introduction

Good morning, everyone. I’m Michael Romine, and this is the Houston Grass Podcast. We’re here in the last few days of January, as is typical for us. The last week of the month is when we release a new podcast. Winter has finally arrived. We had about three or four inches of snow last week.

Current Weather Conditions

Today, there’s no sign of snow or ice, but all the landscaping and every blade of grass is brown. Any leaves left on trees are barely hanging on. Winter has officially arrived in the greater Houston area.

January Lawn Care: Assessing Freeze Impact

Temperatures dropped into the teens, but it wasn’t enough to damage the grass. There wasn’t much wind, and we didn’t stay below freezing long enough to cause permanent damage. The cold likely killed many weeds and possibly reduced pests like sod webworms that burrow in the thatch layers.

Brown Landscapes and Maintenance Tips

The downside is that we’ll be looking at brown and unattractive landscapes for the next six to eight weeks. It’s important to leave things alone because the dead material protects grass and bushes from additional freeze damage. If another freeze occurs, cutting back the dead material exposes plants to further cold.

Importance of Patience in January Lawn Care

Statistically, another freeze could happen, so it’s best to leave everything as it is. You shouldn’t be mowing or watering anything right now. We’ve had enough moisture from snow and rain, so irrigation systems should have been turned off weeks or months ago.

Moisture Levels and Irrigation Guidance

This week, the farm received another inch of rain. I removed my rain gauge to prevent it from freezing and cracking, but I estimate we received two to three inches south of Houston. Moisture requirements are met for now.

Lawn Care Products and Timing

No chemicals or fertilizers should be applied right now. Everything is on cruise control. When it warms up a bit, if a few weeds pop up, you can run a mower over them to knock them down. However, there’s nothing you need to do for grass maintenance at this time.

Post-Frost Lawn Care Strategy

Once we’re past the last frost, things will change. According to the Nitro-Phos schedule, late February or early March is when you can start considering maintenance tasks. It’s essential to be sure we’re past the last frost before applying fertilizer; otherwise, it may be wasted if the grass goes dormant again due to another freeze.

Pre-Emergent and Post-Emergent Products

The Barricade pre-emergent should also be applied around late February or March to prevent spring weeds. Pre-emergent products like Barricade create a barrier over the soil to prevent weed seeds from germinating. They don’t affect existing weeds. Post-emergent herbicides are used on weeds that have already appeared.

January Lawn Care: Yard Maintenance Advice

After a freeze, leave your yard alone and avoid scalping it to prevent further damage if another freeze occurs. Prepare your irrigation system for spring by mid-February. Drain and cover it during freezes, and check for leaks once it’s turned back on.

Irrigation System Preparation

You probably won’t need to run irrigation until mid-March or April when the grass begins to grow again and consume moisture. During winter, grass doesn’t grow, and shorter days mean less evaporation.

Scalping Your Yard for Spring

Once we’re past the last frost, it’s time to scalp your yard. Lower your mower deck a notch or two and cut off dead brown material. Bag it or rake it up to remove it from your lawn. Water immediately afterward to reduce stress on the grass. This is also the time to apply fertilizer.

Preparing for Spring Growth

During our slow period in December, January, and February, it’s crucial to be ready by Valentine’s Day because warming can occur by mid-February. I’ve got several pallets of grass on hand, but they’re brown until warmer weather returns.

Planting Grass in January

Some places paint their grass green at this time of year, but we don’t do that. Until nature greens up the grass, it’ll remain brown. However, it’s an excellent time to plant grass because any price increases won’t take effect until March 1st.

Conclusion: Looking Ahead

If you’re using a contractor like Omar for installation, now’s a good time because by March 1st, his schedule fills up quickly. Grass is dormant now, so it requires less water and care until it greens up.

What to Expect in February

Keep in mind that what you’re buying is a root system that will eventually become lush green grass. Our farm looks like everything else right now—brown—but that will change as temperatures rise.

I’ll have more information next month about potential price increases and grass availability for spring. Price increases are largely dictated by diesel, fertilizer costs, and labor wages set by the H2A program.

That’s my update for January lawn care. We’ll return at the end of February, hopefully ready for spring and a return to lush green yards. Thank you for listening, and we’ll talk next month.