Need green grass! What am I doing wrong? (Spring: houses, backyard)

[mom2one]

So, here I am, a transplant from Maryland. Three weekends ago, I got out my trusty Scott's spreader and put down the good ol' Turf Builder with weed control in both the front and backyard of my newly acquired home. Now, having used this stuff in the past, I typically remember seeing some results (greening of grass, dying of weeds) within a week or two. It's been nearly a month and there's not a shred of difference. (It didn't get worse either...just looks like I didn't do a darn thing to it.) It's a tad embarrassing since a few of my neighbors came out to say "hi" and pat me on the back for getting all that exercise. (Apparently, exercise was all I got since the fertilizer didn't do a darn bit of good.) Does Texas grass prefer another type of fertilizer? I followed all the steps (watering beforehad, etc. ) so I'm not faulting Scott's...just wondered if TX lawns like some sort of other treat to get them jumpstarted?

Now, down the street, several houses down, one of neighbors has a lawn that's been perpetually green and lush throughout the winter and looks fantastic. How the heck are they doing that? I've yet to meet them, but am thinking that I may need to stop by and compliment them on their wonderful lawn! (And, hopefully, glean a tip or two as well!)

[jeffari-al-texani]

well...what kind of grass do you have???

[lh_newbie]

If you want green grass in the winter, you have to toss down Winter Rye Grass seed. It's a fine blade annual cool-weather grass that you get to water and mow all winter long (can you tell that doesn't thrill me?). Our warm weather grass is just starting to green up. Make sure you're watering properly (not too often, go for a deep watering instead of watering every day). Since our ground has a lot of clay (meaning water doesn't penetrate fast) - instead of running each zone for 15-20 minutes like I see lots of folks doing... and watching most of their water run off, into the street, then down a drain, I run three cycles on the days I water. Each cycle is only 5 minutes long, separated by an hour. That way, a lot more of my "15 minutes of watering" gets into the soil instead of down the drain.

[TriumphOfTheSprint]

Originally Posted by mom2one

Now, down the street, several houses down, one of neighbors has a lawn that's been perpetually green and lush throughout the winter and looks fantastic. How the heck are they doing that? I've yet to meet them, but am thinking that I may need to stop by and compliment them on their wonderful lawn! (And, hopefully, glean a tip or two as well!)

They probably seeded with winter ryegrass - the typical Texas lawn is either bermudagrass or st. augustine, either of which will go dormant over the winter and are just starting to green up. You might need to follow the weed/feed with a dose of straight fertilizer next month, as the amount of nitrogen put down with your weed/feed is pretty small.

[ETex2]

Mid to late April is when most lawns really start turning green. And many fertilizers have time released granules that take a while to work. But when they do, they will keep your lawn green longer. Or of course you could have other problems holding your lawn back such as thatch, etc..

Be patient.

[Grainraiser]

Your going to have to be patient. I still have some trees in yard that have not leafed out. My prized Japanese Maple is just starting to bud out.

[txgolfer130]

Yep. For winter green grass...Rye. For your spring grass, the soil temp needs to warm up before any dormant grass (bermuda, as St. Augustine will start reviving earlier) will start to "awaken".

Be patient. The time is near, but stay on those weeds. If you don't get most of them now, they'll be hell during Summer.

[Rakin]

I would not use a fertilizer with weed control. It can damage your shrubs & trees. If you need weed control you can use a broad leaf weed spray or some of the other appropriate sprays.

[loves2read]

cool nights impede grass growing--nights have really been too cool until about a week or so ago--and with this cool front the grass will be dormant for while--until it stays warm at night for several days in row...
in this area the pecan tree will be the last to bud out leaves and there is never usually a frost after that--down south it is mesquite usually--

our grass (Bermuda) is starting to get green and some yards i walk past have st augustine that is greening up...
some weeds will die out when heat comes in summer but most--like nettles and dallas grass--are here to stay--you can spray them and they just ignore it--mine did...

it is really better to dig them up if you can--getting grass to grow over the dead weeds is sometimes a losing proposition...

I have had winter rye and hate it--the grass stains so much more readily than other summer grasses and (to me) just makes something for the summer grass to compete with--
it does look nice from distance but lots of times the seed was not spread that heavily and it grows in clumps--it can also bring in weeds with the seeds if you don't get a quality brand...

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I used to love winter rye! My lawn looked so good in the late winter/early Spring season. Some like it, some don't want to bother with it.