Spring Lawn Care in East Texas
February – May
Spring moves fast in East Texas. Warm-season turf like Bermuda and St. Augustine breaks dormancy once soil temperatures hold near 65°F — usually late February through March around Tyler and Longview — and weeds wake up first. What you do in those few weeks decides how the yard looks all summer.
Spring checklist for East Texas properties
Pre-emergent before soil hits 65°F
Crabgrass and goosehead germinate as soil warms. A pre-emergent application in late February or early March stops them before they sprout — after they're up, you're paying for post-emergent work all summer.
First mow low, then step the height back up
One scalping cut removes dormant thatch and lets sunlight hit the crowns. After that, Bermuda holds best at 1.5–2.5 inches and St. Augustine at 3–4 inches through the growing season.
Flower bed reset and fresh mulch
Cut back winter damage, re-edge the bed lines, and lay 2–3 inches of fresh mulch. Mulch depth is what keeps beds weed-free and holds moisture through the first hot stretch in June.
Fence rows and pasture edges
Spring growth along fence lines and treelines gets away from you quickly in the Piney Woods. Knocking it back in April keeps it from turning into a bush-hog job by July.
Pressure washing after pollen season
Pine pollen and winter grime leave driveways, patios, and siding chalky. A spring wash resets the whole property in a single visit.
Spring questions we get
- When should pre-emergent go down in East Texas?
- Generally late February to mid-March, timed to soil temperature rather than the calendar — once soil holds around 65°F, crabgrass is already germinating.
- When does mowing season start?
- Most East Texas lawns need their first real cut in March, with weekly mowing settling in by April.