Bermudagrass Maintenance Calendar for Texas

Maintaining a Bermudagrass lawn in the Lone Star State can be challenging, so we’ve created this Bermudagrass calendar for Texas. We’ll explain the optimal times to aerate, dethatch, and overseed your lawn, among other common tasks.

Bermudagrass is a durable, light green grass that’s great for areas like the Gulf Coast because it can handle salt and drought well. However, it does have some downsides, like producing a lot of thatch and not doing well in the shade. We’ll cover how to keep Bermudagrass healthy all year in Texas with tips for dealing with problems like weeds, pests, and diseases.

Spring Bermudagrass maintenance: March, April, May

Bermudagrass will start to turn green and resume growth when nighttime air temperatures consistently stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit and soil temperatures reach 65 degrees.

It is important to help your warm-season lawn recover from winter dormancy during the spring. This will also prepare your lawn for the upcoming summer growing season when Bermudagrass grows the most.

Plant

If you’re establishing a Bermudagrass lawn, the best time to seed is in spring or summer, between March and August, with spring and early summer planting recommended for better establishment. The soil temperature should range from 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, while air temperatures should be between 70 and 95 degrees.

Note: In south Texas, in particular, the planting window can start even earlier. Check out our guide — “Best Time to Plant Grass Seed in Texas” — for more information on establishing a lawn in the Lone Star State.

Mow

In March, once your Texas lawn has recovered from dormancy, begin mowing your lawn weekly. The grass height for Bermudagrass should be between 1 to 2 inches. Use the one-third rule, never removing more than the top third of your grass to avoid scalping and achieve the best results

Water

Once Bermudagrass comes out of dormancy, it needs approximately 1 inch of water per week from rainfall and/or irrigation. You’ll have to water more frequently for lawns near the Gulf of Mexico, which may have sandy soils. Expect to water lawns with sandy soil with about 0.5 inch of water every 3 days.

For extra preparation, you can conduct an irrigation audit. This can be a DIY task, or you can hire a professional. It ensures that your irrigation system is working efficiently and isn’t wasting water.

Learn more about irrigation audits and how long to water your lawn with sprinklers in our article.

Fertilize

Do not apply fertilizer until your lawn is in its active growth stage. For Bermudagrass, this is typically in summer, but you may be able to begin fertilizing in late May, or even earlier in south Texas. 

Want an easy way to know when it’s time to fertilize? Wait until your grass has greened up and has been mowed at least twice. Also, see our article — “When to Fertilize Your Lawn in Texas” — for specific timing based on your region.

Pro Tip: Conducting a soil test is the best way to determine the amount and type of nutrients your lawn needs. Arm yourself with the best fertilizers by checking out our article on the best lawn fertilizers for Texas.

Dethatch

Dethatching is a crucial lawn maintenance task that involves removing excess thatch from your lawn. Too much thatch can prevent air, water, sunlight, and nutrients from reaching the grass roots, which can smother your lawn. Dethatching is essential for Bermudagrass as it is more prone to thatch than other warm-season grasses.

Dethatching is often done in conjunction with aerating, as it makes aerating easier. These tasks are best performed during Bermudagrass’s active growing season, starting in spring. This timing ensures that your lawn has enough time to recover from these intensive treatments.

Take a look at our guide — “When to Dethatch Your Lawn in Texas” — for more details on dethatching in Texas.

Aerate

Aerating Bermudagrass lawns annually can help reduce soil compaction, which in turn improves your lawn’s ability to absorb water and nutrients. This process strengthens the roots and promotes denser growth. As a general rule, aim to aerate your lawn once a year after dethatching. Bermudagrass lawns can be aerated from April to October.

Learn further details on when to aerate your lawn in Texas to encourage your lawn to grow strong and healthy.

Overseed

Overseeding is an excellent way to keep your lawn looking lush. It simply involves spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. This technique is particularly useful for filling in patchy areas. 

However, warm-season grasses do not require frequent overseeding. For example, Bermudagrass is known for its strong recovery from damage, so overseeding is only needed if your lawn has a severe injury. Overseeding after spring green-up is a good rule of thumb, but it can be done later in the growing season as well. Learn how to overseed a lawn in our article.

Pro Tip: Overseeding after aerating is very effective, as aeration improves seed-to-soil contact. To learn more about overseeding and to recognize signs that your lawn needs it, check out our guide: “Should You Overseed Your Lawn?”

Control weeds

Aim to apply pre-emergent herbicides to Bermudagrass anytime from late February to mid-March, or when soil temperatures reach 50-55 F consistently. These herbicides prevent summer weeds such as crabgrass and goosegrass. 

If weeds have already sprouted, post-emergent herbicides also work best in spring, when weeds are small and air temperatures are cooler.

To learn more about the types of weeds to watch out for in Texas, check out our guide: “Most Common Texas Weeds.”

Control diseases

Monitor your Texas lawn for spring dead spot, a fungal lawn disease that commonly appears in Bermudagrass lawns and can cause significant damage. This lawn disease appears as circular patches of discolored grass, anywhere from a few inches to several feet in diameter. Spring dead spot can recur year after year and will increase in size.

Proper lawn maintenance, such as fertilizing, dethatching, and aerating, can help prevent spring dead spot. If the patches of damaged grass are particularly severe, additional aeration to encourage Bermudagrass growth may be beneficial.

Learn More: Check out our article on how to treat lawn fungus for details and guidance.

Monitor pests

In spring, watch for fire ants in Texas lawns, notably the invasive red imported variety, which displaces the native tropical fire ants. To learn to control fire ants, consult our article: “How to Get Rid of Fire Ants in Your Yard.”

Summer Bermudagrass maintenance: June, July, August

During the summer months, your Bermudagrass lawn is at its peak, growing actively and working hard to become denser and form deeper roots.

Because your lawn is actively growing, you’ll be working harder and might need to mow more frequently. Monitoring for signs of drought stress is also critical during hot Texas summers. Proper lawn maintenance is key to keeping your lawn healthy and optimizing summer growth.

Plant

Establishing a Bermudagrass lawn in the summer can also be effective. By this time, the risk of frost has passed, and both air and soil temperatures are warm enough for optimal growth. Summer marks the active growing season for Bermudagrass, meaning seeds should germinate quickly. 

While you can plant Bermudagrass as late as August, it’s generally better to plant earlier, from early spring through June.

Mow

Continue to mow weekly at a height of 1 to 2 inches. Maintaining a shorter height will mean mowing more frequently. However, leaving your Bermudagrass a little taller is usually best to encourage deeper root growth.

Water

Once Bermudagrass comes out of dormancy, it needs about 1 inch of water per week. In Texas, cities commonly enforce water restrictions during summer. Check with your local government or HOA for regulations in your area. 

While Bermudagrass is highly drought tolerant, monitoring your lawn for signs of drought stress is still essential, especially in hot Texas summers. Check out our article — “Signs of a Drought-Stressed Lawn” — for more information and signs of drought stress.

Fertilize

Summer is the best time to fertilize your Bermudagrass lawn in Texas. During this time, Bermudagrass is actively growing, meaning its roots are working hard to absorb all the nutrients it needs, so a fertilizer treatment at this time is more effective. 

Conducting a soil test to know exactly what your lawn needs is always best. However, generally, Bermudagrass can receive 0.5 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Begin fertilizer applications in June, with between one to four applications during the growing season. Apply every four to eight weeks for best results.

For a how-to guide, check out our article: “How to Fertilize Your Lawn.” 

Dethatch

Summer is the best time to dethatch and aerate your lawn. During this time, Bermudagrass is actively growing and is better able to recover from intense lawn treatments.

Dethatching removes excess thatch, which makes it difficult for your lawn to receive the water and nutrients it needs. The tools for dethatching your lawn include the following:

• Thatch rake
• Electric dethatcher
• Power rake
• Vertical mower, also known as a verticutter
• Tow-behind dethatcher

Learn more about how to dethatch your lawn in our article.

Aerate

Bermudagrass can also be aerated in summer. To improve the effectiveness of aeration, you should always dethatch before you aerate. Aeration helps your lawn stay healthy by growing deeper roots and giving your lawn better access to air, sunlight, water, and other nutrients. 

There are two common types of aeration: spike aeration and core aeration. Core aeration is the gold standard and most commonly used for home lawns. Read how to aerate your lawn for further details on this process.

Overseed

Overseeding Bermudagrass during the peak summer growing season is an effective strategy. This period is also an ideal time for dethatching and aerating your lawn, so combining these tasks with overseeding can help your lawn thrive. 

Control weeds

Summer is also an OK time to apply post-emergent herbicides to eliminate summer weeds such as crabgrass, goosegrass, and dallisgrass. Remember that proper lawn maintenance is the best way to prevent weeds. Mow and water regularly, and don’t overapply fertilizer, as excess fertilizer can also stimulate weed growth.

Control diseases

Bermudagrass decline is a type of root rot that specifically affects Bermudagrass. This disease is one of several types of root decline that can occur in warm-season grasses and is more commonly known as take-all root rot. It is caused by a fungus in the soil and can lead to discoloration, thinning, and lesions, resulting in dead patches in the lawn. 

Bermudagrass decline typically appears as the lawn wakes up in spring or early summer.

Control pests

Chinch bugs primarily target St. Augustinegrass, but certain species, including common and southern chinch bugs, also threaten Bermudagrass in Texas. These lawn pests cause yellow patches and symptoms resembling drought stress. You might be able to spot them by checking the base of your grass blades for small black-and-white bugs.

Fall Bermudagrass maintenance: September, October, November

During the fall, you are tasked with maintaining the health of your Bermudagrass lawn and preparing for winter. You shouldn’t be as busy in the fall since your grass is not growing as actively, and you’ve already done annual tasks such as aerating and dethatching. While your lawn may go dormant in November, this typically doesn’t occur until December in Texas.

Mow

Follow spring guidelines. Mow weekly and maintain grass height between 1 to 2 inches. If your lawn becomes dormant by November, mow only when necessary or to control weed growth and flowering.

Water

Continue watering your lawn with 1 inch of water per week. Don’t overwater, as this can lead to weed growth and lawn diseases.

Dethatch and Aerate

If you haven’t already, you can still dethatch and aerate your lawn through October, though in more northern cities, earlier is better.

Fertilize

It’s best to fertilize Bermudagrass during the growing season, from June to August, but a fall application in early September is acceptable. Make sure to complete the final fertilization at least six weeks before the first frost arrives. In Texas, the timing for the first frost can vary, occurring anywhere from late October to late December.

Overseed

To maintain a green lawn in Texas during the winter, consider overseeding Bermuda with a cool-season grass. Perennial ryegrass is an excellent choice because it germinates quickly and will die off in the spring, allowing your warm-season Bermudagrass to thrive. Additionally, perennial ryegrass is tolerant of cold weather.

Winter overseeding is best done in the fall to allow grass time to germinate. In Texas, the timing can vary. For a green winter lawn, overseed when the soil temperature reaches 72 degrees. In most of Texas, this is in October, but in some areas further south, it may occur in early November.

Control weeds

Apply pre-emergent herbicides for winter weeds such as henbit, bluegrass, and chickweed.

Control diseases

Leaf spot and melting out are fungal lawn diseases that commonly damage Bermudagrass in late summer or early fall. Both diseases can be caused by over-applying fertilizers in spring, mowing too short, long periods of wetness, or excessive thatch.

Learn how to get rid of leaf spot and melting out to keep your Bermudagrass lawn healthy throughout the fall season.

Control pests

Keep an eye out for damage from white grubs and fall armyworms in Texas at this time of year. Both of these pests can be eliminated using chemical insecticides or beneficial nematodes. 

Grubs: White grubs are small, white, c-shaped pests that are the larvae of certain beetles. They damage your lawn by munching on grass roots. To learn more, check out: “How to Get Rid of Grubs in Your Lawn.”

Armyworms: Fall armyworms are the caterpillar form of certain moths, and they love eating grass. They are extremely common in the United States, including Texas. Their bodies are brown with dark stripes, and their heads have a white inverted Y shape. Give these pests their marching orders with our article on how to get rid of armyworms.

Winter Bermudagrass maintenance: December, January, February

Bermudagrass is dormant in winter, so you get a break from regular and more taxing lawn care tasks. However, monitoring your lawn for weeds, diseases, and pests is important.

Avoid Mowing

Bermudagrass should go dormant in Texas by December. Since it is not actively growing, it’s best not to put undue stress on your lawn at this time, so mow only to keep weeds from flowering.

Water

Once temps drop to 40 F in your area, it’s time to winterize your sprinkler system. Your Bermudagrass lawn has stopped growing (entered dormancy), so there’s no need to water.

Control weeds

Apply post-emergent herbicides to control winter weeds.

Control diseases

Bermudagrass decline or take-all root rot can cause damage to Bermudagrass during fall and winter when the soil is moist and temperatures are cooler. Monitor and treat as needed; however, symptoms may not appear until late spring or early summer.

Control pests

In winter, insect activity drops, but wildlife like opossums, raccoons, and rodents may seek shelter in sheds or under decks. Armadillos may appear less in winter because they spend more time in their burrows. However, the burrows they create can be up to 25 feet long, extend under your home, and damage property. 

To deter wildlife, remove food and water sources from your yard and consider professional help for removal, especially if the animal is displaying aggressive or unusual behavior.

Additional lawn care resources for Texas

Learn more about lawn care in Texas with these guides:

• Best Grass Types for Austin
• Best Grass Types for San Antonio
• Best Grass Types for Houston
• The Best Types of Grass for Texas Lawns
• St. Augustinegrass Maintenance Calendar for Texas
• Zoysiagrass Maintenance Calendar for Texas

FAQ about Bermudagrass

What are the downsides of Bermudagrass?

Bermudagrass has poor tolerance for insects and lawn diseases. Additionally, it spreads aggressively and can invade flower gardens.

Will Bermudagrass choke out weeds?

Bermudagrass can resist weeds more easily than other grass types due to its spreading ability.

Does dog pee hurt Bermudagrass?

Bermudagrass is not very resistant to dog urine. However, due to its durability and quick recovery, it can still be a suitable grass type for homeowners with pets.

Hire a pro

To maintain a healthy Bermudagrass lawn year-round in Texas, provide specific care tailored to this type of grass and the warm, humid climate. Regular maintenance, such as mowing and watering, and annual maintenance tasks, such as dethatching and aerating, can keep your lawn looking great.

While your Bermudagrass lawn can stay healthy and strong with DIY lawn care, hiring a Texas lawn care professional to guarantee it looks great doesn’t hurt. A lawn care pro can help you relax and enjoy a beautiful Bermudagrass yard all growing season long.

Main Photo Credit: tammykayphoto | Adobe Stock | License