A Seasonal Lawn Care Calendar for North Texas

North Texas lawn care follows soil and air temperature, not a fixed date on the calendar. Timing below can shift by a couple of weeks with an early spring or a wet fall. Crabgrass pre-emergent goes down once soil temperature holds near 55°F for four to five consecutive days, which usually falls in early March for North Texas lawns, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Fire ants forage as soon as soil surface temperatures climb into the 70-90°F range, so the main baiting window runs from May through September.

White grubs are treated preventively in spring and early summer, before the larvae grow past about half an inch; damage typically shows up later, in mid to late summer. Brown patch is a fall, winter, and spring disease in St. Augustine lawns, not a summer one: it develops as grass approaches or comes out of dormancy, when evening temperatures drop below 68°F and rainfall picks up. The last nitrogen application of the year should land four to six weeks before the first frost. Little Elm's own watering schedule changes twice a year too, dropping from twice a week to once a week starting November 1.

Early Spring (March to April): Pre‑Emergent and the First Fertilizer Application

Crabgrass seeds typically begin germinating in early March across North and Central Texas, per the Texas A&M AgriLife Bermudagrass calendar, so pre-emergent herbicide needs to go down before then, not after weeds have already sprouted. The AggieTurf St. Augustinegrass calendar puts the actual trigger at a soil temperature holding near 55°F for four to five consecutive days, a threshold that usually arrives in early March for North Texas lawns.

Pre-emergent weed control timing covers the full spring and fall application windows in more detail.

North Texas lawn care follows soil and air temperature, not a fixed date on the calendar.

Bermudagrass lawns should hold off on nitrogen until fully greened up in spring; St. Augustine follows a similar pattern. Once green-up is complete, lawn fertilization timing and rates covers how much nitrogen to apply and how often.

Not sure which grass is growing in the yard in the first place? Comparing St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia can help identify it before any of these windows apply.

Late Spring and Early Summer (May to June): Fire Ants Wake Up, Grubs Move In

Fire ants become active again once soil surface temperatures climb into the 70-90°F range, and Texas A&M AgriLife's Two-Step Method names May through September as the window for baiting mounds. Applying bait in the evening works well once daytime soil temperatures push past 90°F. Fire ant treatment for Little Elm lawns covers the full Two-Step approach and when to reapply.

Grubs are easiest to treat before they grow past about half an inch, which puts the preventive window in early spring through early summer, per Texas A&M AgriLife's White Grubs in Texas Turfgrass guide. Grub control signs and treatment timing explains how to spot early activity and when a preventive application still makes sense.

Bermuda and St. Augustine lawns both continue fertilizing through the growing season, typically 0.5 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application.

Mid-Summer (July to August): Watching for Grub Damage and Armyworms

White grub damage becomes most visible from mid-summer into early fall, with the larval stage feeding hardest in July. Brown, spongy turf that lifts easily is the sign to look for. Fall armyworms follow a similar window: AgriLife's armyworm guidance notes outbreaks tend to follow August and September rainfall, showing up as chewed, ragged grass blades within a few days.

Late summer's heat and dry stretches aren't the time to fertilize. Nitrogen applied to a stressed, drought-affected lawn in July or August can do more harm than good, so wait for cooler, wetter conditions before the next application. Fire ant baiting from the late spring window continues through September, so a lawn not checked for mounds in a few weeks is worth a look before summer ends.

Fall (September to November): Brown Patch Season and the Last Fertilizer Application

Brown patch shows up in fall, winter, and spring, not in the heat of summer the way many homeowners expect. The fungus develops as St. Augustine grass approaches or comes out of dormancy, and it favors evening temperatures below 68°F combined with increased rainfall; the Texas Plant Disease Handbook notes the disease spreads fastest between 75°F and 85°F. Brown patch identification and treatment covers how to recognize the circular patches and what to do once they appear.

The last nitrogen application of the year for St. Augustine lawns should land four to six weeks before the first historic frost, per the AggieTurf St. Augustine calendar. A fall pre-emergent application for winter annual weeds goes down separately, once soil temperature holds near 70°F for four to five consecutive days, or roughly mid-August through mid-September for a Bermuda lawn with a history of winter grassy weeds.

Little Elm's watering schedule changes here too: the Town of Little Elm drops the limit from twice a week to once a week starting November 1. Little Elm's watering rules has the full day assignments and exemptions.

Winter (December to February): Dormancy and the Watering Switch

Fire ant mounds can still appear in winter, but the ants forage far less once soil temperatures cool, so winter isn't a priority baiting window. Dormant Bermuda and St. Augustine lawns don't need fertilizer in late fall or winter; nitrogen has nowhere useful to go on a lawn that isn't actively growing.

Watering stays limited to once a week from November 1 through March 31, on the day the Town's schedule assigns to each address. The Town of Little Elm's Public Works page also recommends turning off automatic irrigation systems when temperatures drop, since most lawns are dormant and don't need the water.

More Detail on Each Task

Each month's tasks above get their full depth on their own guide covering pre-emergent, fertilization rates, brown patch, grub control, and fire ant treatment. The Little Elm Lawn Guide rounds out the rest of what shapes a North Texas lawn, from clay soil to grass type to the watering schedule above.

This calendar is a starting point, not the full manual for any one task. Homeowners ready to bring in help can compare lawn care companies serving Little Elm to see who serves the area.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should pre‑emergent herbicide go down in North Texas?

North Texas lawn care follows soil temperature rather than a fixed date. Pre-emergent herbicide should go down once soil temperature holds near 55°F for four to five consecutive days, a threshold that typically arrives in early March, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. A second application targets winter annual weeds and goes down near 70°F, generally mid-August through mid-September for a Bermuda lawn with a history of those weeds.

What time of year does brown patch show up in St. Augustine grass?

Brown patch shows up in fall, winter, and spring, not in summer as many homeowners expect. The fungus develops as St. Augustine grass approaches or comes out of dormancy, when evening temperatures drop below 68°F and rainfall increases. The disease spreads fastest when air temperatures sit between 75°F and 85°F, per the Texas Plant Disease Handbook.

When are fire ants most active in North Texas?

Fire ants forage once soil surface temperatures climb into the 70-90°F range, which makes May through September the main window for baiting mounds, according to Texas A&M AgriLife's Two-Step Method. Applying bait works well in the evening once daytime soil temperatures push past 90°F. Mounds can still appear in winter, but ants forage far less once soil temperatures cool.

Does Little Elm's watering schedule change with the seasons?

Yes. From April 1 through October 31, the Town of Little Elm limits sprinkler and irrigation watering to twice a week. From November 1 through March 31, that limit drops to once a week, on the day the Town's schedule assigns to each address. The Town's watering rules guide covers the full day pairings and exemptions.