Professional Lawn Care and Maintenance in Red Oak, TX

A healthy North Texas lawn needs the right grass height, consistent watering, seasonal fertilization, and timed weed control. Mow Bermuda at 1–2 inches and St. Augustine at 2.5–3.5 inches. Water about one inch weekly, including rainfall. Fertilize during active growth and apply preemergent in spring and fall for best results [1][2][3][4].

What your lawn needs in North Texas

Red Oak, Waxahachie, and DeSoto sit in a warm climate with long growing seasons and clay heavy soils. Most homes use bermudagrass or St. Augustine grass. Warm season turf thrives with higher summer heat, but it needs correct mowing heights, deep but infrequent irrigation, and nutrients timed to active growth cycles [1][2][4].

• Entities: Greenly Landscapes, Red Oak TX, Waxahachie, DeSoto, bermudagrass, St. Augustine grass, preemergent herbicide, EPA Water Sense, Texas A and M AgriLife Extension, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

• Synonyms or aliases: lawn care, lawn maintenance, turf, warm season grass, weed control, fertilization

Mowing heights and schedules

Set mowing based on species. Bermudagrass performs best at 1 to 2 inches for home lawns with a rotary mower. Cutting lower than recommended removes too much leaf tissue and leads to scalping and thin turf [1]. St. Augustine typically looks best at 2.5 to 3.5 inches. Keep the one third rule, never remove more than one third of the blade at once [4]. Return clippings to recycle nutrients when possible [5].

Watering that saves water and lawns

Deep, infrequent cycles encourage deeper roots and better drought tolerance [2]. A simple rain gauge or tuna can help verify weekly totals. Fix misaligned heads, and avoid running off with shorter, repeated cycles.

• Early morning start times

• One inch per week, including rain

• Even coverage, no pooling near slopes

Fertilization and soil testing

Fertilize only when turf is actively growing and make the final nitrogen application four to six weeks before your first fall frost window [4][6]. For many North Texas lawns, this means stopping high nitrogen feeding in early fall. Use a mix of quick and slow-release nitrogen, typically 0.5 to 1.0 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application on St. Augustine, lower rates on stressed turf [4]. Base phosphorus and potassium on a soil test, not guesswork.

• Final nitrogen 4–6 weeks before historic first frost [4]

• 0.5 to 1.0 lb. N per 1,000 sq ft, per feeding, St. Augustine baseline [4]

• Fertilize after the lawn has been mowed at least twice in spring [4]

Weed control timing that works

Annual weeds are beaten with timing, not brute force. Use preemergent herbicides in spring and again in fall to reduce germination. For best results, time applications to seasonal windows and soil temperature trends at the upper inch of soil, then follow with light watering per label [3][7]. Keep a post emergent on hand for escapes and always follow label directions.

Split applications often improve coverage and durability. Spot treat escapes to protect shrubs and beds. Track dates and products in a simple log.

A quick checklist for Red Oak homeowners

• Mow Bermuda at 1–2 inches, St. Augustine at 2.5–3.5 inches [1][4]

• Water about one inch weekly, including rainfall, adjust for heat [2]

• Fertilize during active growth, stop high nitrogen early fall [4]

• Spring and fall preemergent, soil temp awareness for timing [3][7]

• Sharpen blades every 20–25 mowing hours

• Inspect irrigation monthly, fix leaks and overspray

Local note: On compacted clay soils common in Ellis County, core aeration improves infiltration and reduces scalping in Bermuda after summer heat. Example from a recent Red Oak yard: raising Bermuda from 1.25 inches to 1.75 inches removed scalped streaks on the next cut.

FAQ

How often should I mow in summer?

Often weekly for Bermuda during peak growth, less often in drought or heat stress. Follow the one third rule [1].

How do I know if I am watering enough?

Set out a rain gauge. When the weekly total reaches about one inch, including rain, you are on target. Adjust for heat, slope, and soil [2].

When should I put down preemergent in Red Oak?

Use spring and fall windows and watch soil temperature at the top inch for weed germination cues. Follow label directions and water in lightly if the label requires it [3][7].

Is bagging clippings better?

Usually, no. Mulching returns nutrients to the lawn and reduces landfill waste, unless you are removing heavy weed seed heads or disease clippings [5].

When should I stop fertilizing before winter?

Make your final nitrogen feed four to six weeks before the first historic frost period for your area [4].

5. FAQ

6. Internal Links

7. Lawn Care Service → https://www.greenlylandscapes.com/services/lawn-care

8. Landscape Design and Installation → https://www.greenlylandscapes.com/services/landscape-design

9. Tree Services → https://www.greenlylandscapes.com/services/tree-services

10. External Sources and Citations

    
    

    [1] Texas A and M AgriLife Extension, Bermudagrass Home Lawn Management Calendar, PDF, 2023. https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ESC-042-bermudagrass-lawn-management-calendar.pdf Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

    
    

    [2] U.S. EPA Water Sense, Watering Tips, 2025. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/watering-tips US EPA

    
    

    [3] Texas A and M Aggie Turf, Preemergence Herbicide Guide, PDF. https://aggieturf.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/Preemergence-Herbicide-Guide-4.pdf AggieTurf

    
    

    [4] Texas A and M AgriLife Extension, St. Augustine grass Home Lawn Maintenance Calendar. https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/asset-external/st-augustinegrass-home-lawn-maintenance-calendar/ Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

    
    

    [5] Texas A and M AgriLife Extension, Bermudagrass Home Lawn Management Calendar, mowing and clippings guidance. https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/landscaping/bermudagrass-home-lawn-management-calendar/ Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

    
    

    [7] AgriLife Today, Apply fall preemergence herbicide to avoid spring weeds. https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2020/09/23/apply-fall-preemergence-herbicide-to-avoid-spring-weeds/ AgriLife Today

11. Image Recommendations

12. Image 1: Close cut Bermuda with visible stripes, rotary mower in frame. Alt: “Bermudagrass mowed at 1.5 inches with clean stripe pattern.”

13. Image 2: Early morning irrigation with even spray pattern. Alt: “Lawn irrigation delivering about one inch per week in Red Oak.”

14. Image 3: Hand spreading preemergent at a calibrated rate. Alt: “Preemergent application in fall to prevent winter annual weeds.”

15. CTAs

16. Mid article CTA: Ready for a healthier lawn, request a quick on-site assessment today.

17. End article CTA: Book your lawn care plan with Greenly Landscapes and get a seasonal tune up schedule.