Walk down any lawn care aisle and you'll find dozens of fertilizer bags promising a greener, thicker lawn. But fertilizing at the wrong time — or with the wrong product — can burn your grass, feed weeds instead of turf, or push growth right before a freeze. In New Braunfels and the surrounding Texas Hill Country, timing is everything.

Here's a straightforward fertilization schedule built around the grass types and climate in our area.

Know Your Grass First

Most lawns in New Braunfels are St. Augustine, Bermuda, or a mix of both. These are warm-season grasses, which means they grow actively from late spring through early fall and go dormant in winter. Fertilizing during dormancy is largely wasted — the grass can't use the nutrients, and you risk runoff and weed pressure.

Spring: Wake-Up Feeding (April–May)

Once nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 60°F and your lawn has greened up and started actively growing, it's ready for its first feeding of the year. A balanced fertilizer with a slow-release nitrogen source works well here. Applying too early — before the grass is actively growing — pushes top growth before the roots are ready, which weakens the plant.

This is also the right time to apply a pre-emergent if you're dealing with summer weeds like crabgrass. Pre-emergents and fertilizer are often combined in one product, but timing matters — apply too late and the window closes.

Early Summer: Growth Season Feeding (June)

By June, your lawn is in full swing. A second application of nitrogen-rich fertilizer supports the dense, vigorous growth that helps crowd out weeds naturally. In the New Braunfels heat, slow-release formulas are worth the extra cost — they feed steadily over 6–8 weeks instead of delivering a surge that can stress the grass.

Watch for signs of iron deficiency during this period. St. Augustine in particular can show yellowing between the veins (chlorosis) in alkaline Central Texas soils. A separate iron supplement or iron-containing fertilizer can restore deep green color without pushing excessive growth.

Midsummer: Skip or Go Light (July–August)

This is where many homeowners make a costly mistake. Applying heavy nitrogen during the hottest weeks of summer stresses already heat-burdened grass and increases the risk of brown patch fungus. If your lawn looks healthy, it's often better to hold off or apply only a light maintenance dose. Focus on watering deeply and mowing at the right height instead.

Early Fall: Recovery Feeding (September)

As temperatures begin to drop below 95°F, your lawn enters a recovery phase. A fall fertilizer application — often with a slightly higher potassium content — helps strengthen roots, improve drought tolerance, and prepare the grass for winter dormancy. This is one of the most important feedings of the year for long-term lawn health.

For Bermuda lawns, this is also the last window to fertilize before dormancy. Feeding too late in fall can leave tender new growth vulnerable to an early frost.

Winter: No Feeding Needed (November–March)

Warm-season grasses are dormant during winter in Central Texas. Fertilizing during this period is wasteful at best and harmful at worst. Save your money and let the lawn rest.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

Soil pH affects how well your lawn absorbs nutrients. Many Central Texas soils are alkaline, which can lock out iron and other micronutrients even when fertilizer is applied correctly. A simple soil test can tell you whether your pH needs adjustment before you spend money on fertilizer.

Watering after fertilizing is important. Granular fertilizer needs moisture to break down and reach the root zone. Apply before a rain or water in lightly after application.

More is not better. Over-fertilizing is one of the most common lawn care mistakes. It burns grass, pollutes waterways, and encourages the kind of fast, weak growth that invites disease and pests.

Let Committed Lawn Care Handle It

A proper fertilization program takes the guesswork out of timing, product selection, and application rates. At Committed Lawn Care, we build fertilization into a complete lawn care plan tailored to your specific grass type, soil conditions, and goals.

Ready for a greener lawn without the trial and error? Call or text us at (512) 222-9122 or request a free estimate online.