Balmorhea lawn care, month by month
| Month | Tasks |
|---|---|
| January | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| February | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
| March | Apply crabgrass pre-emergent |
| April | Seed, sod, or plug new grass · First feeding at full green-up · Aerate / dethatch |
| May | First feeding at full green-up · Aerate / dethatch |
| June | Peak growth — regular mowing, about 1″ of water a week |
| July | Peak growth — regular mowing, about 1″ of water a week |
| August | Peak growth — regular mowing, about 1″ of water a week |
| September | Last nitrogen of the year |
| October | Growth stops — final mow |
| November | Growth stops — final mow |
| December | Dormant (brown is normal) — no nitrogen, light cleanup only |
Reading the Balmorhea lawn year
Balmorhea's lawn year runs on warmth: the lawn wakes after the last frost around Mar 29, hits full stride in midsummer, and goes dormant with the first frost around Nov 9. The two dates to respect most are the pre-emergent deadline in late winter — southern soil warms early — and the last-nitrogen cutoff 6–8 weeks before frost, which protects the lawn from winter injury.
Grasses that fit Balmorhea
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant warm-season grass in Balmorhea?
Seed, sod, or plug Bermuda, Zoysia, and other warm-season grasses in late spring — around Apr 12 – Apr 26 in Balmorhea, once soil has warmed well past the last frost. That gives new grass a full growing season to mature before its first winter dormancy.
When do I put down crabgrass preventer in Balmorhea?
Aim for Mar 8 – Mar 29 — the estimated stretch when Balmorhea soil approaches the ~55°F germination threshold, anchored to the average last frost (Mar 29). It's an estimate: a soil thermometer reading 50–55°F at 2″ depth for several days is the precise trigger, and pre-emergent must go down before crabgrass sprouts, not after.
When should I stop mowing in Balmorhea?
Keep mowing as long as the grass grows — in Balmorhea that's typically until Oct 26 – Nov 16, around the average first fall frost (Nov 9). Warm-season lawns then go brown-dormant for winter, which is normal.
What grass grows best in Balmorhea?
Texas is warm-season country: Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede, bahia, buffalo. See the grass guides linked below for identification and care.