- 1). Probe the lawn for pests. Pests may be on top of the surface or in the soil, and some are so tiny they are not easily visible. Texas insects and pests range from ants and green June bugs to cutworms and white grubs. If you believe the lawn problem is an insect, try to determine the pest damaging the turf grass. Look carefully in the area of damage for Texas critters---use a shovel if necessary. Cut a square of turf and turn it over to check for white grubs or sod webworm burrows near the surface. Patches of brown grass may be chinch bugs. Place an open-ended can near the patch and fill it with water. Return later to see if there are chinch bugs floating in the water.
- 2). Look for diseases in a Texas lawn. Diseases are opportunistic in Texas turf, usually taking advantage of a weakened lawn. St. Augustine Decline is a mosaic virus that shows as spotting on the grass. Many Texas diseases are molds and mildews caused from over-watering or night watering of a lawn. These diseases are preventable by controlling irrigation, but a rainy season may also cause molds and mildews. Brown Patch is a common fungus that attacks Texas lawns, appearing with circles or rings of brown or dying grass. This disease is also the result of over-watering or a rainy season.
- 3). Identify the weeds and determine why you are growing weeds instead of grass. Weeds invade Texas lawns and help homeowners spend a billion dollars a year on lawn care. Diagnosing the underlying problem with weed invasion is the key, since weeds will return without analysis of the cause. A healthy turf will prevent most weed growth, and strengthening the landscape will usually diminish the weed invasion. Analyze the weeds in the lawn and determine what they are, how they develop and how they may be controlled. Divide Texas weeds by grassy weeds, broad leaf weeds and sedges and use a website for identification. Once you identify the invasive weed, use an herbicide made for that weed or type of invader. Correct any deficiencies in the lawn to prevent weed growth.
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