Spring in North Texas is the most important season for your lawn and landscape. What you do in March and April sets the tone for the entire year. Here is your complete checklist.
March: The Foundation Month
March is when North Texas lawns start waking up from winter dormancy, and it is the most critical month for setting your landscape up for success. The first task is applying pre-emergent herbicide. This is your best defense against summer weeds like crabgrass and dallisgrass. The timing window is narrow. You want to get it down before soil temperatures consistently reach 55 degrees, which in the DFW area typically happens in mid to late March.
This is also the time to inspect your irrigation system. Turn it on zone by zone and walk the entire property. Look for broken heads, misaligned sprinklers spraying the sidewalk instead of the lawn, and any leaks in the lines. Winter freezes are hard on irrigation systems in North Texas, and catching problems now prevents dead spots in your lawn later.
Clean up any remaining winter debris. Remove fallen branches, rake out dead leaves from flower beds, and cut back any ornamental grasses or perennials that were left standing through winter. This cleanup gives your landscape a clean slate and allows new growth to emerge without competition.
Landscape refresh with fresh mulch and clean borders
April: Planting and Feeding
By April, your warm-season grass should be showing green growth, and it is time to feed it. Apply a balanced fertilizer (something like a 15-5-10 or similar ratio) to give your lawn the nutrients it needs for the growing season ahead. If you are not sure what your soil needs, a soil test from your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office costs about $12 and takes the guesswork out of fertilization.
April is prime planting time in DFW. Warm-season flowers like lantana, salvia, zinnias, and pentas can go in the ground now. For flower beds, refresh the mulch to a depth of two to three inches. Mulch retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and gives beds a clean, finished look. In the DFW heat, mulch is not optional. It is essential.
If your lawn has bare spots or thin areas from winter damage, April is the time to address them. For small areas, overseeding with the same grass variety can work. For larger bare patches, sod plugs or full sod installation is the faster and more reliable option. The key is getting new grass established before the summer heat arrives.
Seasonal plant installation with stone border and fresh mulch
May: Transition to Summer Mode
May is the transition month where your maintenance shifts from establishment to protection. By now, your lawn should be fully green and actively growing. Mowing frequency increases to weekly, and you should be mowing at the right height for your grass type. Bermuda does best at 1.5 to 2 inches. St. Augustine prefers 3 to 3.5 inches. Zoysia falls in between at 2 to 2.5 inches.
Adjust your irrigation schedule for the warming temperatures. Most DFW lawns need about one inch of water per week during spring, increasing to 1.5 inches as summer approaches. Water deeply and infrequently rather than lightly every day. Deep watering encourages deep root growth, which is what gets your lawn through the brutal Texas summer.
May is also when pest pressure starts building. Watch for chinch bugs in St. Augustine lawns (look for irregular brown patches that do not respond to watering), grub damage (spongy turf that pulls up easily), and fire ant mounds. Treating these issues early is far easier and cheaper than dealing with a full infestation in July.
Complete yard transformation with plants, mulch, and edging
When to Call a Professional
Some spring tasks are straightforward enough for a motivated homeowner with a free Saturday. Raking beds, spreading mulch, and adjusting sprinkler heads are all manageable DIY projects. But several spring tasks are better left to professionals.
Irrigation system repairs beyond simple head replacements require knowledge of hydraulics, pipe sizing, and local code requirements. Pre-emergent application requires precise timing and calibrated equipment to ensure even coverage. Sod installation, especially for larger areas, requires proper soil preparation that most homeowners do not have the equipment for. And tree trimming above 15 feet should always be done by a professional with the right equipment and insurance.
At Godoy's Wolves, we offer comprehensive spring cleanup and preparation packages that cover everything on this checklist. One visit from our crew can get your entire property ready for the season, from irrigation inspection to mulch installation to sod repair. It is the fastest way to get your yard in shape without spending every weekend for a month doing it yourself.
Beautiful garden installation with colorful seasonal plants
Schedule Your Spring Cleanup
Godoy's Wolves serves the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Licensed, insured, and ready to work.
