Houston Grass Podcast: Essential March Lawn Care Guide
Current Weather and March Lawn Care Conditions
We’re in the last days of March with some dark clouds outside, but it’s been an unusually dry spring. I haven’t seen any measurable rain in March, and while that’s been manageable until now, I’m starting to see cracks in the ground. The drought monitor shows central Texas in bad shape, and even along the Gulf Coast, we’re entering the early stages of drought in many areas.
Fortunately, the forecast shows good chances of rain in the coming days. Though rain can temporarily slow grass sales when customers can’t work in wet yards and our farm can’t harvest in wet fields, the moisture is desperately needed. As we say, the world needs to drink!
March Lawn Care Priority: Irrigation
Irrigation tops my March lawn care list. You should have been watering your grass in some form for at least the last two or three weeks because conditions have become very dry. Weather and rainfall amounts play a gigantic role in lawn care practices, whether for established yards or new grass installations.
Houston Grass Product Updates
Before diving deeper into March lawn care recommendations, here’s what’s happening at Houston Grass:
Grass Varieties Available
- Palmetto St. Augustine: This shade-tolerant variety is typically sold by the pallet, but during spring we try to keep pieces available Thursday through Saturday. We’re working to have Palmetto available most days, but call 281-431-7441 to confirm availability if you need pieces.
- Cobalt: Currently low in stock as we don’t have many acres planted. We’ll increase acreage in coming years based on fantastic customer feedback.
Spring: The Ideal Planting Season for Grass
People constantly ask us the best time to plant grass. The answer is now—March, April, and May represent prime grass planting season. This is our busiest time of year for good reason:
- Moderate temperatures make outdoor work pleasant
- Brown yards are turning green
- New grass requires less water to establish
- Moderate temperatures help grass establish faster without extreme heat stress
Delivery Information
- We deliver south of I-10, generally within 25-30 miles of our location
- For smaller quantities or longer distances, consider renting U-Haul trucks, trailers, or Home Depot trucks
March Lawn Care for New Grass
If you’re installing new grass this March (or any time), proper watering is critical:
First-Day Watering Requirements
- Apply two inches of water immediately on installation day
- Two inches is more than most people realize—with a typical hose and sprinkler, this takes approximately 8-10 hours
- With an irrigation system, this might take 4-5 hours or maybe a bit less
- Hose and sprinkler methods ensure 100% coverage
This heavy initial watering is essential to seal the grass to the ground and give it a boost after being uprooted. Continue daily watering through the first week, then gradually reduce frequency.
March Lawn Care for Established Yards
March-April Fertilization
For established lawns, March and April are ideal fertilizing months. Houston Grass recommends Nitro-Phos products:
- Red bag (Imperial): Pure fertilizer with no herbicide—best choice if you don’t have weeds
- Purple bag: Contains Atrazine weed killer, ideal for St. Augustine grass with weeds
- Teal bag: Contains Trimec herbicide, best for Bermuda or Zoysia grass with weeds
In May, we’ll transition to the silver Super Turf bag (19-4-19) with slow-release nitrogen.
Important March Fertilizer Notes
- All three current options provide the same fertilizer composition
- Use weed-and-feed products only if necessary—herbicides are powerful chemicals that can damage flower beds
- Weed-and-feed products won’t eliminate 100% of weeds but work well for broadleaf varieties
- Never apply weed-and-feed products to grass less than 1 year old—it will stunt root growth
March Watering Guidelines
With temperatures increasing, proper March lawn care includes consistent irrigation:
- Established grass needs 1 inch of water weekly
- With hose and sprinkler: Two 2-hour waterings per week
- With irrigation system: 2-3 waterings per week (typically 15 minutes for stationary pop-up heads, 25-30 minutes for rotor heads)
- For compacted soil: Consider 3 shorter waterings to prevent runoff
- Water in mornings when wind is calm and sun won’t immediately evaporate moisture
- Avoid overwatering, particularly during seasonal transitions, as it can promote brown patch fungus
Watering Timing and Technique
Morning watering is ideal because:
- Wind is typically calmer
- Evaporation is reduced
- Leaves have time to dry during the day
Pro tip for March lawn care: Deeper, less frequent watering encourages deep root growth. Daily shallow watering keeps roots near the surface, creating drought-vulnerable lawns. Think of your grass like a child learning to become independent—occasional deep watering forces roots to “search” for moisture, creating stronger, more resilient turf.
March Mowing Practices
As March progresses and grass growth accelerates:
- Transition from bi-weekly to weekly mowing
- Never remove more than 1/3 of leaf tissue at once
- Different grass varieties have different optimal heights:
- St. Augustine: 3.5 inches during moderate March temperatures (increase to 4 inches in May)
- Bermuda and Zoysia: Can be mowed slightly shorter
Proper mowing height helps retain soil moisture and provides some sun protection.
March Lawn Care: Weed Control
For effective March weed control:
- Use appropriate weed-and-feed products for established lawns (purple bag for St. Augustine, teal bag for Bermuda/Zoysia)
- Remember that many winter weeds (like annual Poa Annua) naturally disappear with May’s heat
- For small weed patches, consider hand-pulling after rain when soil is soft
- Keep weed-and-feed products away from flower beds and tree bases
- The best weed control is a thick, healthy lawn that blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds
March Lawn Care: Pest and Disease Management
Common Spring Pests
- Fire ants: Becoming active now, easily treated with products like Amdro
- Chinch bugs: Not typically a March problem—they appear during hot, dry conditions (July-August)
- Sod webworms: Severity depends on winter temperatures—cold winters reduce populations
March Lawn Diseases
- Brown patch: May appear in low, wet areas with yellowing patches
- For persistent brown patch in shady, wet areas, consider Heritage G (granular fungicide)
- Heritage G is also effective against summer gray leaf spot
Looking Ahead to April and May
In coming months, we’ll discuss:
- Pre-emergent application (Barricade) in May with Super Turf fertilizer
- Increasing mowing height as temperatures rise
- Super Turf slow-release fertilizer (designed to last through summer without requiring additional applications during intense heat)
Grass Installation Services
If you’re considering new grass:
- St. Augustine pieces are available now
- Palmetto pieces and half pallets are available during spring months only
- Professional installation is available through our contractor Omar
- Free installation quotes available for customers in our service area
Remember, March through May is the most forgiving time for planting grass—take advantage of these ideal conditions!
For any questions about March lawn care or our products, please call Houston Grass at 281-431-7441. Thank you for listening!
