Lawn Care Tips

🌿 How to Make Your Houston Lawn Look Its Very Best This Spring

Spring in Houston is the perfect time to revive your lawn after the cooler months. If you want that thick, green, and envy-worthy yard, here’s your step-by-step plan to supercharge your lawn and make it the talk of the neighborhood.

Step 1: Mow Low for the First Cut

As Houston weather begins to warm and your grass starts greening up, it’s time for your first mow of the season. If you have Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, or Bahia, cut your grass a little lower than usual. St. Augustine can be cut low as well—just not quite as short.

The goal is to remove dead grass and open up the lawn surface, but not scalp down to the roots. You should see a little soil peeking through in spots. Make sure to bag your clippings—leaving them behind will make the next steps more difficult.

Step 2: Power Rake (Dethatch)

Once you’ve mowed and bagged, it’s time to get rid of the dead layer that’s suffocating your lawn. Over the winter, old grass and organic matter build up, preventing new growth from breathing. A power rake or dethatcher loosens and pulls up that dead material so fresh air, sunlight, and nutrients can reach your soil.

You can rent a power rake from most equipment rental companies in Houston or Katy—many offer hourly or daily rates. After dethatching, rake up all loose debris and discard it. Your grass will thank you with faster, healthier growth.

Step 3: Core Aeration

Now let’s loosen up the soil beneath the surface. While power raking breaks up the top layer, core aeration relieves compaction deeper down. The machine removes small plugs of soil, allowing water, oxygen, and nutrients to penetrate where your grass roots grow.

Mark all your sprinkler heads with flags before aerating to avoid Damage. You can leave the plugs on the lawn—they’ll naturally break down within a week or two, enriching the soil. For Houston’s dense clay soils, aeration is vital. Do this twice a year—in spring and fall—for the healthiest lawn possible

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Step 4: Top Dressing with Compost

After mowing, dethatching, and aerating, your lawn is primed to absorb nutrients. Now it's time to top dress with a thin layer of quality compost or screened black soil.

Pro Tip: Make sure the compost or soil you order has been filtered for weed seeds—you don’t want to add new problems to your yard. Spread a light layer evenly across the lawn using a pitchfork or shovel, just enough to cover the surface.

This step improves soil structure, adds organic nutrients, and promotes a richer, greener lawn. In Houston’s climate, quality compost often performs better than overusing chemical fertilizers.

Step 5: Overseeding

Now for the fun part—overseeding to fill in bare spots and make your lawn even thicker. Order seed in bulk online to save money, and use a broadcast spreader or spread by hand. The key is seed-to-soil contact, not burial.

After spreading, lightly rake the lawn to help the seed settle. Then water twice daily with a fine mist to keep the soil moist (but not soaked).

🌧 A Few Important Warnings:

1. Avoid heavy rain. If a Houston storm rolls through before the seed germinates, it’ll wash away your hard work.

2. Watch the temperature. Don’t overseed if there’s a chance of frost—the tender sprouts can’t survive it.

3. Skip weed control products. Avoid using pre-emergent herbicides during germination—they’ll prevent your new grass from sprouting.

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Final Thoughts

You now have the full Houston-tested recipe for a thick, healthy, and vibrant lawn. Yes, it takes some effort—but when your yard is glowing green in the summer heat, it’s worth it.

With the right prep, care, and consistency, your lawn will become the pride of your neighborhood, so grab your mower, fire up that power rake, and let’s make 2026 the year your Houston lawn looks its very best!