Spring Lawn Care Tips  by Jerry Naiser                                                        

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Those pesky worms in your Live Oak trees arrive in mid April. They are known by many names, loopers, inchworms, webworms, bagworms. They can be devastating due to the amount of foliage they can remove from a tree in a short time. And without foliage, photosynthesis can't occur. Live Oaks, like most trees, have the ability to produce several crops of foliage during the season. However, repeated attacks will cause tree fatalities. If your trees are prone to heavy defoliation the best course of action would be our preventative worm program, which we call the Texas Two Step Program. Post-emergent weed control should be applied now, as post-emergents kill weeds that have already germinated. Most trees and shrubs should be fertilized mid March thru May. The deep root method with a bio-stimulant is my recommendation. When To Fertilize Trees. During the late winter and early spring, the root systems of most warm season grasses decline, and as spring progresses, new roots develop. This time of year is a critical time in this process and these roots should not be disturbed. Aeration should wait until the grass is growing. Mulch your beds now (how to mulch). Watch the lawn, and if the growth is sufficient, mow, but never mow the grass short the first few times. Scalping the lawn is never good, and can only lead to a weakened root system, since you're reducing the grasses' ability to make food by reducing foliage and overall photo-synthesis. Also, scalping shows more sunlight to the soil, causing increased germination of weeds. Dead spots in St. Augustine grass is often from grub damage. Grubs feed from the roots, destroying carbohydrate reserves used for spring growth. You should have already pruned your  flowering plants, trees and shrubs, now it is to late. When to prune Live Oaks Trees - Austin Texas. Brown patch often forms in cool, wet temperatures.  Although it's tempting to water, your lawn actually needs very little this time of year. Brown Patch - lawn fungal problems.
Lawn fertilizers applied this time of year should have low nitrogen levels to avoid feeding fungus like brown patch and grey leaf spot. Look for lower nitrogen and higher iron levels (I recommend a 24-5-11 with 6% iron). Avoid any fertilizer ratios higher than 27% nitrogen. Too much water can be devastating to most plants. There is no need to water established trees. If the weather is mild and dry, water newly planted trees thoroughly. Consistent monitoring is the key to healthy plants. Remember, it is easier to keep a healthy plant healthy than it is to try to save a sick one. More on fertilizers.

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