![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Crematogaster_ashmeadi_casent0103762_profile_1.jpg\")
Texas is one of the most bug-diverse locations in the U.S. and home to almost 30,000 species of insects. Thanks to “Big D’s’ subtropical climate, 40 inches of annual rain, and average daily temperatures around 78 degrees Fahrenheit, the Metroplex is a bug’s paradise. We compiled a list of the 11 worst bugs in Dallas, […]
\n","content":"\nTexas is one of the most bug-diverse locations in the U.S. and home to almost 30,000 species of insects. Thanks to “Big D’s’ subtropical climate, 40 inches of annual rain, and average daily temperatures around 78 degrees Fahrenheit, the Metroplex is a bug’s paradise. We compiled a list of the 11 worst bugs in Dallas, including tips on how to get rid of them.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\nInsects are vital to the well-being of our ecosystems. Unfortunately, that does not mean we want them in our homes or infesting our garden plants. While many insects are beneficial or neutral, some species are destructive and should be controlled.
\n\n\n\nHere are some reasons why pest control is important:
\n\n\n\nThere are two ways to control pests in your lawn and around your home: chemical treatments and organic methods. Organic methods are the safest treatment options, but these methods aren’t always the best and many are ineffective. Be sure to identify the type of pest you are dealing with before selecting your removal method.
\n\n\n\nIt is always advisable to hire a professional pest control company to perform quarterly treatments inside and outside of your home. These methods are the safest and most effective for your family and pets.
\n\n\n\nExperts agree home pest control is necessary, and many Dallas-Fort Worth critters can be prevented. Organic pest control has come a long way and is safer than chemical treatment options for your pets and children. However, it is also typically less effective.
\n\n\n\nCheck out some available organic pest control options:
\n\n\n\nChemical pest control treatments are more effective than organic techniques. They control rodents and insects, stopping the spread of dangerous bacteria and diseases.
\n\n\n\nSome popular chemical treatments include:
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: April Nobile / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0
\n\n\n\nUnfortunately, acrobat ants stray far from the circus into your Dallas yard. These reddish-brown and black ants grow to ⅛ inch and have distinctive, heart-shaped abdomens. They emit an odor when threatened and raise their abdomen over their head in a feat of acrobatics. Omnivorous colonies of a few thousand members eat honeydew from aphids, dead or living insects, and mealybugs.
\n\n\n\nAcrobat ants rarely nest in the open or enter homes. They love moisture and live under rocks, logs, trees, and wood piles. The most obvious sign of an infestation is an ant trail. These foragers travel up to 100 feet from their nest in search of resources.
\n\n\n\nThe easiest way to prevent these moisture-loving pests is to eliminate sources of standing water, keep your yard clear of fallen branches and logs, and store firewood at least 5 inches from the ground.
\n\n\n\nIf you are unlucky and find these predatory ants around your home, opt for a foam insecticide sprayed directly on the nest indoors or a non-repellent pesticide outdoors.
\n\n\n\nInsect type: Crematogaster
\n\n\n\nHabitat: Moist areas under rocks, logs, trees, or wood piles
\n\n\n\nDanger: Low; emit an odor when threatened, occasionally bites when disturbed
\n\n\n\nRemoval: Repellent and non-repellent pesticides
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/adult-bed-bug-cimex-lectularius-ee47a5-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Picryl
\n\n\n\nFew bugs make your skin crawl by mere mention like bed bugs. These indoor vampiric pests are small and brownish-red with flat, oval-shaped bodies and six legs. They grow to ¼ inch and feed on blood, preferably human blood.
\n\n\n\nThese pests are hitchhikers and have no environmental preferences aside from the presence of humans. Bed bugs enter your home through clothes, belongings, and luggage. They are nocturnal and most active from April to November, hiding in mattresses, box springs, baseboards, and outlets.
\n\n\n\nPrevent bed bugs by keeping your luggage and personal belongings off the ground while traveling. Do not purchase used furniture or mattresses and wash used clothing immediately.
\n\n\n\nIf you suspect bed bugs have infested your home, contact a local exterminator. Professional removal is the best way to eradicate a bed bug infestation, and many experts rely on organic heat treatments.
\n\n\n\nInsect type: Cimicidae
\n\n\n\nHabitat: Anywhere where humans live
\n\n\n\nDanger: Low; but can cause red rashes that can lead to secondary infections in some people
\n\n\n\nRemoval: Professional pest control services, including heat treatments
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/800px-Camponotus_sideview_2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Richard Bartz / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
\n\n\n\nThere are 14 species of carpenter ants in Texas, and the largest species is the black carpenter ant. Thankfully, these pests prefer wooded outdoor areas, including old stumps, decaying logs, and firewood. Carpenter ants are brown-red with black abdomens and reach up to 1⁄2 inch long.
\n\n\n\nThese ants can cause structural damage to homes, though it is rare. You may find them between wood shingles, siding, or fascia boards. Identify carpenter ant tunnels and nests by looking for sawdust near openings. Like acrobat ants, these omnivores forage for decaying fruits, honeydew from aphids, and live or dead insects.
\n\n\n\nPrevent carpenter ants by eliminating moisture problems and sealing cracks or openings near your foundation. Remove dead branches and trim trees away from structures.
\n\n\n\nCarpenter ants have chewing mouthparts and stingers. They can bite but do not sting. Remove them from your home by using a propellant foam insecticide. Similarly, use a pyrethroid insecticide outdoors to eliminate the nest and trails.
\n\n\n\nInsect type: Camponotus
\n\n\n\nHabitat: Dead or decaying wood, stumps, logs, or weakened building materials
\n\n\n\nDanger: Moderate; bites when disturbed, causes structural damage to wood
\n\n\n\nRemoval: Repellent and non-repellent pesticides
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Hairy_Chinch_Bug_-_Blissus_leucopteru_50594763067-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Christina Butler / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nChinch bugs are 3/16 inch long with black bodies and white wings. They feed on the sap of grasses, commonly occurring in bunch grasses and Dallas turfgrasses, including bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass.
\n\n\n\nWatch for round, localized yellow or brown spots in your yard, typically from July to August.
\n\n\n\nUnfortunately, chinch bugs are drawn to heat, sun, and warm-season grasses. Your best defense against these nuisance pests is proper lawn maintenance, including watering, mowing, and fertilizing.
\n\n\n\nDIY collect chinch bugs using a coffee can with both ends removed to create a hollow pipe. Insert the can into the soil inside the affected area. Fill the can with water and leave it for a few days. Chinch bugs will float to the top of the can for removal. Additionally, use a granular insecticide for lawn pests.
\n\n\n\nInsect type: Blissus leucopterus
\n\n\n\nHabitat: Bunch grasses and turfgrasses, including bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass
\n\n\n\nDanger: Low; medically harmless but capable of injuring plants and turfgrass
\n\n\n\nRemoval: Granular lawn pesticide or coffee can method
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/800px-Periplaneta_americana_-_D8-10-2861Crop.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Eran Finkle / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nYou can find cockroaches all over the world, and Dallas is no exception. Home to the American cockroach, German cockroach, and oriental cockroach, these pests have a thick shell of armor covering their oval bodies, six legs, and two long antennae. Both the American and German cockroach species have fully developed wings for flying.
\n\n\n\nCockroaches love moisture, including drains, flower beds, and mulch. They seek shelter indoors during bad weather, hiding in laundry rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. These nuisance pests spread disease, contaminate food, emit odors, worsen allergies, and even trigger asthma attacks.
\n\n\n\nPrevent cockroaches around your home and yard by creating a barrier between your home and mulched beds, locking your outdoor trash can lids, sealing foundation gaps, and eliminating standing water. Keep living areas clean and vacuumed and use dehumidifiers to reduce humidity levels.
\n\n\n\nGlue traps, bait stations, and repellent pesticides are the best indoor removal methods while you can use non-repellent pesticides outdoors around your lawn.
\n\n\n\nInsect type: Periplaneta
\n\n\n\nHabitat: Moist areas; drains, flower beds, mulch, laundry rooms, basements, kitchens, and bathrooms
\n\n\n\nDanger: High; carry diseases, contaminate food, emit odors, and trigger allergies and asthma attacks
\n\n\n\nRemoval: Glue traps, bait stations, and repellent and non-repellent pesticides
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/14878801786_985ed3d160_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Animal Diversity Web / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nFire ants are as menacing as they sound. These reddish-brown insects are only ⅜ inch long with powerful jaws that deliver painful bites and stringers full of venom. Fire ants are aggressive and a year-round problem in the DFW area. Like carpenter and acrobat ants, they are omnivorous, eating fruit, meat, insects, earthworms, compost, outdoor pet food, and trash.
\n\n\n\nFire ants thrive in sunny areas and open spaces. Thankfully, their nests are easy to spot on your lawn as these insects create distinct granular mounds up to 4 feet in size.
\n\n\n\nPrevent fire ants by covering trash cans and treating at the first signs of infestation. It is important to maintain a proper watering schedule, ensuring you do not overwater your lawn.
\n\n\n\nThere is no best control method for fire ants. You can use non-repellent pesticides or granular treatments.
\n\n\n\nInsect type: Solenopsis
\n\n\n\nHabitat: Sunny, open areas
\n\n\n\nDanger: High; deliver painful bites but rarely sting
\n\n\n\nRemoval: Non-repellent pesticides and granular treatments
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/800px-Flea.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Erturac / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nFleas are extremely common in Dallas, usually living on your furry animal friend. These tiny, wingless insects are dark brown and the size of a speck of dirt. There are more than 300 species of fleas, and each flea can produce around 500 offspring in its lifetime.
\n\n\n\nFleas enter your yard on the coats of wild animals and quickly jump from pet to human before making their way into your home. They also can find their way into your home through used furniture and clothing, but thankfully, fleas are mainly outdoor pests. These insects love tall grass, debris piles, and bushes.
\n\n\n\nPrevent fleas by grooming your pets, using year-round veterinary flea control, and keeping your lawn maintained. Trim bushes and shrubs and keep bird feeders away from your property.
\n\n\n\nThe best removal method for fleas is propellant insecticide. Alternatively, topical and oral prescriptions, flea shampoo, and pet-safe sprays are available for pet infestations.
\n\n\n\nInsect type: Siphonaptera
\n\n\n\nHabitat: Moist, shady areas
\n\n\n\nDanger: High; bites transmit diseases such as murine typhus, tularemia, and tungiasis
\n\n\n\nRemoval: Propellant pesticides
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mosquito_Culicidae_Cradley_Herefordshire_UK.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Gailhampshire / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nMosquitoes love Dallas’ subtropical climate. These biting insects have oval-shaped bodies, long legs, and wings. They are brownish black and females feed on human and animal blood, but the mosquito’s primary food source is plant nectar.
\n\n\n\nMosquitoes cause itchy red bumps and spread diseases like Zika virus, encephalitis, and West Nile virus.
\n\n\n\nPrevent these pests by eliminating standing water and food sources. They thrive in moist areas with a lot of flowering vegetation, including ponds, wooded areas, and near swimming pools. Limit flowering plants near your home and maintain proper yard drainage to eliminate standing water.
\n\n\n\nPerform routine yard maintenance, cutting back overgrown vegetation. Professional pest control plans often offer add-on outdoor mosquito control. Additionally, use non-repellent insecticides to help maintain a mosquito-free yard.
\n\n\n\nInsect type: Culicidae
\n\n\n\nHabitat: Moist, high-vegetation areas such as forests, ponds, and tall grasses
\n\n\n\nDanger: High; female bites transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, encephalitis, and Zika virus
\n\n\n\nRemoval: Non-repellent pesticides
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/fauna-invertebrate-close-up-spider-arachnid-india-443985-pxhere.com_.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxhere
\n\n\n\nSpiders catch a bad rap for being scary. These beneficial arachnids are vital to the ecosystem. They have eight legs and two distinct body regions. The most common species found in the Metroplex are black widows, brown recluses, and wolf spiders.
\n\n\n\nMost spider species are not a direct threat to humans. However, the brown recluse and black widow spiders are venomous. Their bites can cause serious reactions in some people.
\n\n\n\nIf you notice webs and have a spider infestation in your yard, it is a signal you have a larger underlying infestation. Spiders move into an area where large populations of insects live and love secluded areas to hide, like garden sheds, tall grasses, covered porches, basements, garages, and crawl spaces.
\n\n\n\nPrevent spiders by eliminating hiding places, maintaining your lawn, and reducing the number of smaller pests in your yard.
\n\n\n\nKnock out an indoor infestation with a repellent pesticide or use a non-repellent pesticide outdoors.
\n\n\n\nInsect type: Araneae
\n\n\n\nHabitat: Adaptable; seek shelters and areas to hide
\n\n\n\nDanger: Moderate; venomous spiders can cause allergic reactions in some people
\n\n\n\nRemoval: Repellent and non-repellent pesticides
\n\n\n\n![\"5-6](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/3049109271_68829f87c4_c-1-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jean and Fred Hort / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nTermites are beneficial insects in nature. However, once these wood-chomping social insects wander indoors or near homes, they pose a serious problem. Termites live in large colonies. They are cream, yellow, or brown with elongated bodies and enormous jaws.
\n\n\n\nTermites can cause severe structural damage if left untreated, and unfortunately, most homeowners’ insurance does not cover termite damage. These insects love moist areas such as leaking pipes, basements, foundations, and beneath decks.
\n\n\n\nThe best termite prevention and control is to hire a pest control expert. A routine termite inspection and prevention plan offers peace of mind. If your termite infestation is isolated and contained to the outdoors, you can opt for a DIY solution using a termiticide, a pesticide designed specifically for termites.
\n\n\n\nInsect type: Isoptera
\n\n\n\nHabitat: Dark, moist areas with minimal air exposure
\n\n\n\nDanger: Moderate; cause structural damage
\n\n\n\nRemoval: Professional pest control and termiticide
\n\n\n\n![\"An](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/6980305991_3209cd81a6_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Sid Mosdell / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nWasps help control insect populations and help pollination. The most common wasp in the Dallas Fort Worth area is paper wasps, recognizable for their pinched waists and long legs. They are black or brown with bright yellow markings and gray wings.
\n\n\n\nPaper wasps are aggressive if their nests are threatened. They are venomous, and some people develop allergic reactions to their stings. These insects are adaptable, forming nests in shrubs, trees, windows, door frames, and overhangs.
\n\n\n\nPrevent wasps by properly sealing garbage cans and eliminating food sources around your entrances.
\n\n\n\nUse a repellent insecticide to treat infestations. When you are certain all residents are dead, scrape and remove the nest left behind.
\n\n\n\nInsect type: Vespidae
\n\n\n\nHabitat: Adaptable; form nests in shrubs, trees, door and window frames, and overhangs
\n\n\n\nDanger: High; deliver painful and venomous stings that can cause allergic reactions in some people
\n\n\n\nRemoval: Repellent pesticide
\n\n\n\nThe mild year-round weather is one of the most attractive things about Texas. Unfortunately, bugs love the subtropical climate as much as humans. Experts recommend quarterly pest control treatments for preventative maintenance.
No, bed bugs are extremely hard to exterminate completely once they have made their way into your home. Treatment requires specialized equipment and training. Your best hope of complete eradication starts by calling a professional in your area for a free quote.
Typically, pest control companies offer separate rodent services. Some companies offer a specialized rodent control and prevention program.
Pests are creepy, crawly nuisances that will inevitably pop up in your home or yard. The best defense against an invasion is routine lawn maintenance and a pest control prevention plan. There are many low-maintenance landscaping options available for Dallas, and be sure to check out our list of the best native plants that will thrive in your Texas landscape.
\n\n\n\nIf you need some help to control a pest invasion, contact a Dallas exterminator today to keep your family and lawn healthy year-round.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Wasp sitting on green leaf / Pexels
\n","title":"11 Worst Bugs in Dallas, TX (and How to Get Rid of Them)","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":2,"src":"/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/1789c/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/107df/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.jpg 320w,\n/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/293e9/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.jpg 500w,\n/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/f2cbb/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.jpg 800w,\n/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/1789c/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.jpg 960w,\n/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/c26c2/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/1dd6e/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/67b76/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.webp 320w,\n/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/8df11/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.webp 500w,\n/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/98a65/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.webp 800w,\n/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/1dd6e/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.webp 960w,\n/static/ad54f3c9a1577868f6cfd5d17b28d2a5/3cc96/pexels-skyler-ewing-4784891.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"11 Worst Bugs in Dallas, TX (and How to Get Rid of Them) | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Bugs are common in Dallas thanks to the subtropical climate. Get rid of them with a few simple tips."}}},{"node":{"id":"18973f4d-a6fe-5953-a87b-24b14dc8b996","slug":"best-native-plants-atlanta","path":"/lawn-care/ga/atlanta/best-native-plants-atlanta/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"After discovering her passion for writing through her beauty blog, Melanie left her engineering job in California, became a freelance writer, and never once looked back. She loves nature and enjoys going on road trips with her husband and their two sons.","name":"Melanie Joseph","id":"f86bf815-f27c-5928-b67e-d3481c2d1e0a","path":"/author/melanie-joseph/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/da91467d5e58d9fc8f1f730b09830569?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"f552cb4e-e448-57f4-a5a4-d001c98833f6","name":"Atlanta","count":8,"path":"/category/lawn-care/ga/atlanta/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"June 18th, 2019","excerpt":"With Atlanta’s moderate climate and ample rainfall, it’s home to a variety of beautiful native plants that can add color and texture to your garden. As you design your landscape, note that plants native to Atlanta offer several advantages over non-native species. If you’re ready to create a more sustainable and diverse outdoor space that […]
\n","content":"\nWith Atlanta’s moderate climate and ample rainfall, it’s home to a variety of beautiful native plants that can add color and texture to your garden. As you design your landscape, note that plants native to Atlanta offer several advantages over non-native species.
\n\n\n\nIf you’re ready to create a more sustainable and diverse outdoor space that celebrates the natural beauty of Atlanta, here are 12 native plants to get you started.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/american-beautyberry.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Donald Lee Pardue / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nNative to the woodlands of the southeastern United States, American beautyberry is commonly found growing along forest perimeters and in the areas adjacent to the woods – spanning from Texas and Oklahoma all the way to Florida and up to Maryland.
\n\n\n\nThis deciduous shrub is a member of the mint family and boasts bright purple berries that cluster along its stems from August to November. Its green leaves turn yellow in the fall, creating a striking contrast with the berries.
\n\n\n\nAtlanta homeowners love American beautyberry not just for its ornamental value but also for its practical uses. And if you’re an avid bird watcher, its berries are a favorite among local bird species. Since it’s relatively easy to grow and requires minimal care, this native plant is an excellent understory shrub for any Atlanta garden. For mass plantings, red chokeberry, oakleaf hydrangea, and great laurel are excellent companion plants.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 6b-11
\n\n\n\nMature size: 3-8 feet tall, 4-8 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun and partial shade – needs at least four hours of exposure to direct sunlight per day
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Grows best in rich, organic loam soil but can tolerate a range of soil conditions
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low – around 1 inch per week (during dry spells, it needs slow, deep watering)
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic, but may cause mild stomach cramps if taken in large amounts
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Bigleaf-Magnolia.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Soil-Science.info / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nBigleaf Magnolias are beautiful hardwood trees with huge leaves and large, fragrant flowers. They’re particularly abundant in the Appalachian Mountains, but you can find them planted in a variety of settings throughout Atlanta, including public parks, gardens, and natural areas. Even the historic Oakland Cemetery has a number of bigleaf magnolias planted.
\n\n\n\nWith its impressive size and striking appearance, the “queenliest of all the deciduous magnolias” is an excellent addition to woodland gardens or partially shaded areas. Its fragrant, creamy white flowers, which can be up to 12 inches in diameter, bloom in spring. During its bloom time, this shade tree attracts various pollinators, including bees and butterflies.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 5-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 30-60 feet tall, 20-30 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous – semi-evergreen in the deep South
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Grows best in loose, well-drained, and moist neutral to acidic soils
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderate – but can be drought-tolerant
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Bottlebrush-Buckeye.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wendy Cutler / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nCommonly found in western Georgia, bottlebrush buckeyes are so named for their showy, white flower clusters, which resemble the shape of a bottlebrush. The distinctive flowers typically bloom in late spring or early summer, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.
\n\n\n\nIn the fall, the shrub’s green leaves turn a lovely shade of yellow-green, providing additional visual interest. Low-maintenance yet impressive, the bottlebrush buckeye prefers well-drained, mostly wet soil and can tolerate partial shade. This border plant is excellent for lining driveways and property lines.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 6-12 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Can tolerate partial shade but does best in full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained, moist soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low – infrequent but deep watering
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Very poisonous to both humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"colorful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Butterfly-Milkweed.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Eric Hunt / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nButterfly milkweed is popular for attracting pollinators, especially butterflies, to gardens and landscapes. In fact, it’s an important host plant for monarch butterflies, providing crucial habitat for their eggs and larvae. You’ll see butterfly milkweed planted in various outdoor spaces throughout Atlanta, such as gardens, nature centers, and parks like Piedmont Park.
\n\n\n\nSince this perennial herb can tolerate drought conditions and prefers full sun and well-drained soil, it’s perfect for planting in hot, dry areas. It typically blooms in the summer, producing clusters of bright orange flowers.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 4-10
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-2 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained, sandy soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: All its parts are toxic and can even be fatal if consumed in large amounts
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Carolina-Silverbell.jpg\")
Photo Credit: The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nNative to the southeastern United States, the Carolina silverbell is valued for its showy, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in the spring – which is typically before its leaves reappear. The drooping clusters of white or light pink flowers add aesthetic appeal while attracting bees and butterflies to your garden.
\n\n\n\nIf you want to see how these ornamental trees look in person before you plant them in your backyard, you can go to Lullwater Conservation Garden, which has a collection of native plants.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 20-40 feet tall, 15-35 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained, moist soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: The seeds can be toxic and fatal to both humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"white](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Coastal-Pepperbush.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Katja Schulz / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nAnother perennial shrub native to Atlanta, Coastal Pepperbush, can be found in stream banks, swamps, and hillside bogs. Its bloom time is typically mid to late summer, producing fragrant white or pink flowers that are a favorite of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. The plant’s leaves are deep green and can turn a lovely shade of yellow in the fall.
\n\n\n\nThis native shrub can tolerate salt spray and is also a good choice for naturalizing – it can be used in rain gardens or as a groundcover to prevent erosion. With its fragrant flowers and adaptability to coastal environments, the Coastal Pepperbush is an excellent addition to any southeastern garden.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 3-8 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist to wet, acidic soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Coral-Honeysuckle.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Zeynel Cebeci / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nCoral honeysuckle is a beautiful vine that is native to the Southeast, including Georgia. It typically blooms in the spring, producing bright coral-red flowers that are a favorite of hummingbirds, bumblebees, and other pollinators. This perennial vine is also the larval host plant for both the snowberry clearwing moth and spring azure butterfly.
\n\n\n\nYou can plant this vine to attract wildlife to your garden, as its berries are a food source for birds like the Eastern bluebird and American goldfinch. With its showy flowers and importance to wildlife, coral honeysuckle is an excellent addition to any southeastern garden focused on conservation and sustainability.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Vine
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 4-10
\n\n\n\nMature size: 3-20 feet long
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Semi-evergreen to evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Grows in most soil types but prefers rich, well-drained soils
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Its red berries are toxic to humans but favored by birds
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Crossvine.jpg\")
Photo Credit: gailhampshire / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nA beautiful flowering vine, crossvine can climb up fences and trees – reaching up to 50 feet in length. The natural habitat for this fast-growing vine includes forests, lowlands, uplands, and clearings, but it can be an excellent choice for adding color and visual appeal to your Atlanta garden. This vine is also deer-resistant and can be used to cover unsightly fences or walls.
\n\n\n\nThe cross-shaped pattern inside its trumpet-shaped, red-orange flowers is where this perennial vine got its common name. Its bloom time is usually in the spring but can be as early as late winter. Plus, its glossy green leaves can provide an attractive backdrop to the flowers. Allowing this vine to spread out horizontally on a sun-drenched incline would make for excellent groundcover.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Vine
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 6-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 36-50 feet long
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous to mostly evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to part shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Dry to moist, well-drained, acidic soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Highly toxic to both humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Flowering-Dogwood.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Derek Ramsey / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nA common tree species in Atlanta, flowering dogwoods are planted throughout the city in parks and gardens, and along streets and sidewalks. The best places to see flowering dogwoods include Piedmont Park and Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail.
\n\n\n\nThe flowering dogwood is so named for its showy, four-petaled flowers, which are white or pink and bloom in early spring before the tree’s leaves appear. The lovely flowers also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden. In the fall, the tree’s leaves turn a vibrant red before falling off, providing additional visual interest.
\n\n\n\nThis deciduous tree is also an important food source for birds like the Eastern bluebird and northern cardinal, as its bright red berries provide nourishment in the fall and winter.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 20-65 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Part shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Dry to moist, well-drained, acidic soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: The fruit is poisonous to humans
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mountain-Azalea.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nNative to the southeastern United States, mountain azaleas can be found growing in some parks and gardens throughout the Atlanta area. It typically blooms in mid to late spring and provides any garden with a striking display of pink and white flowers. And during fall, its light green leaves turn a lovely yellow color.
\n\n\n\nWhether used as a specimen or planted in masses, the mountain azalea prefers moist, well-drained soil and partial shade, making it fantastic for planting in woodland gardens or other shaded areas. This perennial shrub is also an important source of nectar for pollinators like bees and butterflies, as well as a host plant for the caterpillars of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 8 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Dry to moist, well-drained, acidic soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Highly toxic to both humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mountain-Silverbell.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nMountain silverbell got its common name from its bell-shaped, white or pinkish flowers. It usually blooms in early spring before the tree’s leaves appear. In the fall, the tree’s leaves turn a vibrant yellow, providing additional visual interest.
\n\n\n\nThis deciduous tree is relatively average in height compared to other larger, more common species, but it can grow up to a height of around 60 feet. It’s also an important food source for wildlife, as its fruit provides nourishment for birds like the Northern Bobwhite and wild turkey.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 60 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained, moist, organic loam soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to both humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Red-Maple.jpg\")
Red Maple Tree
Photo Credit: David Wagner / PublicDomainPictures / CC0 1.0
Native to eastern North America, red maples can be found from Canada to Florida and west to Texas. In Atlanta, you’ll find these perennial trees in parks and gardens like Grant Park and Atlanta Botanical Garden, as well as many residential neighborhoods throughout the city.
\n\n\n\nThe red maple is so named for its red flowers, twigs, and leaves, which exude striking appeal throughout the year. The tree’s leaves are bright green in the spring and summer and turn a brilliant red or orange in the fall, making it an excellent choice for a shade tree that adds vibrant colors to your yard.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 40-60 feet tall, 25-45 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist to dry, slightly acidic soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic, especially the wilted and dried leaves
\n\n\n\nAs the capital and largest city in the state of Georgia, Atlanta boasts a diverse range of ecosystems, from the rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains to the coastal plains of the Georgia Piedmont. This means that Atlanta is home to many native plants, including mountain azalea, American beautyberry, and flowering dogwoods.
\n\n\n\nHowever, not all native plants will thrive in every part of the city, as each area has its unique soil composition, rainfall patterns, and sun exposure.
\n\n\n\nWhen selecting native plants for your Atlanta landscape, consider each plant’s specific needs and the conditions of your yard. For example, plants that prefer acidic soil, such as mountain azaleas, may not do well in areas with alkaline soil. Similarly, plants that require full sun exposure, such as butterfly milkweed, may not thrive in shady areas.
\n\n\n\nBy choosing native plants well-suited to your microclimate, you can create a beautiful and sustainable landscape that supports local wildlife and helps preserve Atlanta’s natural beauty.
\n\n\n\nAtlanta is generally considered to be in USDA hardiness zone 7b, with an average annual minimum temperature range of 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. However, some parts of the city may fall into neighboring hardiness zones, depending on their specific microclimate and elevation. It’s crucial to keep your hardiness zone in mind when selecting plants for your landscape, as it can help you choose plants that are well-suited to the local climate and will thrive in your yard.
\n\n\n\nIn general, a plant is considered native to a certain area if it has evolved and existed in that region for a long time. These plants have adapted to the local climate, soil, and other environmental conditions, making them well-suited to thrive in their native habitat.
The best time to plant native shrubs and flowering plants in Atlanta is typically in the fall or early spring. During these times, the temperatures are mild and rainfall is more abundant.
In the fall, planting should be done before the first frost, which typically occurs in late November or early December in Atlanta. Doing so gives the plants enough time to establish themselves before the winter cold.
In the spring, planting should be done after the last frost, which typically occurs in mid-to-late March in Atlanta. This way, the plants can take advantage of the longer days, warmer temperatures, and spring showers, which promote growth and establishment.
Native plants are essential for maintaining healthy and sustainable ecosystems. These plants have evolved over time to thrive in their specific environments, providing important ecological functions and supporting local wildlife.
Support biodiversity: One of the primary benefits of native plants is their ability to support biodiversity. Native plants provide food and habitat for various animals, including insects, birds, and mammals. For example, native flowering plants provide nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies, while native trees and shrubs provide shelter and nesting sites for birds and small mammals.
Support the soil: Native plants also help maintain soil health and prevent erosion. These plants have adapted to local soil conditions and help to build healthy soil structures, which in turn can reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.
Support the ecosystem: Native plants also require less water and fertilizer than non-native plants, making them more sustainable and cost-effective choices for landscaping. Plus, they can help create healthy and diverse ecosystems that are more resilient to invasive species.
When it comes to watering native plants, timing and frequency are key. Generally, it’s important to water deeply and infrequently rather than applying small amounts of water frequently. This helps to encourage deep root growth, which in turn promotes plant health and resilience.
Native plants should be watered when the top inch of the soil already feels dry to the touch. This may vary depending on local weather conditions, soil type, and the plant’s specific needs. During hot, dry weather, native plants may require more frequent watering to maintain proper moisture levels. But don’t overdo it to avoid issues like root rot.
It’s better to apply water directly to the base of the plant rather than spraying the leaves or flowers. This helps to prevent fungal growth and other plant diseases.
In addition to proper watering, it’s also important to mulch around the base of native plants. Doing so can help retain moisture in the soil and reduce water evaporation while also suppressing weed growth and promoting soil health.
If you’re looking to incorporate more native plants into your Atlanta landscape, there are several local nurseries and plant resources to check out. However, it’s important to remember to source your plants ethically and never transplant them from the wild.
\n\n\n\nA great resource for finding information on trees, wildflowers, and other native plant species, the Georgia Native Plant Society also recommends the following local nurseries in the Atlanta area:
\n\n\n\nWhen selecting native plants for your landscape, consider the specific environmental conditions of your site, such as soil type, sun exposure, grass type, and drainage. But filling your yard with native plants is just one step in creating a sustainable and low-maintenance landscape. You also must consider other landscaping ideas that complement your native plants, such as mulching, composting, and using rain barrels to capture and reuse rainwater.
Transform your lawn into a beautiful and thriving garden with the help of a professional landscaper. Connect with a local landscaping pro today.
Main Image Credit: Pixnio
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\n","content":"\nDue to our mild winters and warm summers, it can seem that we are spoilt rotten with pollinators here in New Orleans, LA. However, pollinators in the United States are in danger, and it is imperative that we take care of them. According to the Xerxes society (1), the Western United States population of Monarch butterflies has experienced at 99.4% decline since the 1980s and more than 80% here in the Eastern side of the U.S.? That is extremely dire news!
\n\n\n\nHere is an easy guide to what pollinators are, why they are essential, and how to garden and support our local pollinators.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/1519325104116.jpeg\")
Pollinators are animals and insects that fertilize plants by carrying pollen from one plant to another. Pollinators can be bees, birds, wasps, moths, and even flies, lizards, and humans.
\n\n\n\nPollinators fertilize flowers by bringing the pollen from the male part of the flower to the female part of the flower. Without fertilization, the flowers cannot reproduce. Meaning, without pollinators, many plants would not be able to reproduce or produce fruit. That can affect our food supply since all fruits and vegetables come from fertilized flowers of their respective plants.
\n\n\n\nPollinators fertilize plants, and plants, in turn, provide food and nectar for pollinators. Plants that provide food to pollinators are nectar plants. Certain plants also host the offspring of pollinators, specifically butterflies. These are host plants.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i2.wp.com/www.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/milkweed.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1\")
Pollinators need to eat, and they feed themselves from the nectar of flowers. Certain pollinators lean towards specific plants more than others. For example, hummingbirds prefer red colored flowers (2) and flowers that they can insert their beaks in. Below is a chart of some pollinators’ favorite types of flowers that grow in New Orleans and their names.
\n\n\n\nUnderstanding the life cycle of a butterfly helps us understand why host plants are important. The lifecycle of the butterfly starts with an egg laid on the host plant. Once the egg hatches, a baby caterpillar is born and feeds on the host plant as it grows older. Only this specific type of plant can provide food for the caterpillar, so it is crucial that butterflies have these plants available to them to lay their eggs. Once the baby caterpillar grows large enough, it finds a safe place to form a chrysalis (cocoon) and suspends itself in this chrysalis for a period of time. From the chrysalis, a butterfly emerges, and the butterfly is at its adult stage. At the adult butterfly stage, butterflies need nectar from flowers to feed themselves and breed. The adult butterfly finds a host plant upon which to lay its eggs and the life cycle starts all over again!
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Hostplantdiagram.jpg\")
One last thing to remember when gardening for butterflies: Do NOT apply pesticides to your pollinator plants. A pesticide is not specific to “good” insects like pollinators or “bad” insects. You may end up harming the good insects that our ecosystem needs.
\n\n\n\nMost commonly: Aphids on milkweed is OK! Remove them by hand or by blasting with a spray of water.
\n\n\n\nOur pollinators are crucial for our plants, and they need some love. Allow some space for some pollinator-friendly plants in your yard and enjoy the friendly habitat you’ve created for our pollinator friends!
\n\n\n\nTop Photo: content.yardmap.org
\n\n\n\nAre you still curious about lawn care in New Orleans? Please visit our New Orleans lawn care page for more information about everything lawn & garden.
\n","title":"The Definitive Guide to Planting for Pollinators in New Orleans","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":2.4,"src":"/static/8f4c4736f3d828c9f435e33b88335379/1789c/hummingbird-and-butterfly.jpg","srcSet":"/static/8f4c4736f3d828c9f435e33b88335379/107df/hummingbird-and-butterfly.jpg 320w,\n/static/8f4c4736f3d828c9f435e33b88335379/293e9/hummingbird-and-butterfly.jpg 500w,\n/static/8f4c4736f3d828c9f435e33b88335379/f2cbb/hummingbird-and-butterfly.jpg 800w,\n/static/8f4c4736f3d828c9f435e33b88335379/1789c/hummingbird-and-butterfly.jpg 960w","srcWebp":"/static/8f4c4736f3d828c9f435e33b88335379/1dd6e/hummingbird-and-butterfly.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/8f4c4736f3d828c9f435e33b88335379/67b76/hummingbird-and-butterfly.webp 320w,\n/static/8f4c4736f3d828c9f435e33b88335379/8df11/hummingbird-and-butterfly.webp 500w,\n/static/8f4c4736f3d828c9f435e33b88335379/98a65/hummingbird-and-butterfly.webp 800w,\n/static/8f4c4736f3d828c9f435e33b88335379/1dd6e/hummingbird-and-butterfly.webp 960w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"The Definitive Guide to Planting for Pollinators in New Orleans | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":""}}},{"node":{"id":"3be857f9-2184-5df9-a047-d3e9978d2031","slug":"summer-lawn-care-guide-austin","path":"/lawn-care/tx/austin/summer-lawn-care-guide-austin/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Nicki DeStasi is a writer, author, and teacher who grew up in western Massachusetts and currently resides in the Austin area. She enjoys flower and vegetable gardening, reading, cooking, listening to true-crime podcasts, and spending time with her husband, two children, dog, and cat.","name":"Nicki DeStasi","id":"ffbf62e2-d627-5a5f-a041-4eaa9ac66924","path":"/author/nicki-destasi/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9846092d7afb2db8d0a4daa2454074f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c823f674-c750-5882-9059-d8c27fbe7e1d","name":"Austin","count":19,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tx/austin/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"0f9826dc-fc31-550e-9967-1b3bf51f2bdb","name":"Texas","count":72,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tx/"}],"date":"June 3rd, 2019","excerpt":"Austin temperatures climb as spring turns into summer and rainfall becomes scarce. Add inconsistent soil and constant city construction, and maintaining a healthy lawn isn’t easy. It takes hard work and vigilance. However, if you follow our guide to summer lawn care in Austin, you can rest easy knowing you’re giving your lawn a fighting […]
\n","content":"\nAustin temperatures climb as spring turns into summer and rainfall becomes scarce. Add inconsistent soil and constant city construction, and maintaining a healthy lawn isn’t easy. It takes hard work and vigilance. However, if you follow our guide to summer lawn care in Austin, you can rest easy knowing you’re giving your lawn a fighting chance.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWith an average temperature of 96 degrees Fahrenheit and only three days of rain in July and August, it’s safe to say Austin’s summers are hot and dry. Both heat and low rain stress your lawn, making it vulnerable. Proper summer lawn maintenance–like watering, mowing, dealing with pest or disease problems, and more–is vital to a healthy, vibrant, backyard party-worthy lawn.
\n\n\n\nThe best lawn care maintenance plan starts with understanding your soil and choosing the best type for your lawn. From there, fertilize when needed, aerate, dethatch, and maintain your grass with good watering and mowing practices. Fall all this up by protecting your lawn from ugly, Austin lawn problems, like pests, diseases, and weeds.
\n\n\n\nWith the high temperatures and low rainfall, warm-season grass types thrive in Austin lawns. However, warm-season grasses go dormant in the fall and winter, so mixing in cool-season grass cultivars allows Austinites to have a gorgeous, green lawn year-round. Here are some of the best grass types for Austin lawns.
\n\n\n\n![\"green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Bermudagrass-3.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson / Flickr / CC0 1.0
\n\n\n\nWarm-season grasses thrive in regions with hot summers and mild winters. Winter temperatures stress warm-season grasses, and when temperatures drop, these cultivars go dormant and turn brown.
\n\n\n\nLight-green and fine-textured bermudagrass is a popular choice. This fast-growing grass is used in home lawns, sports fields, and parks.
\n\n\n\nPros
\n\n\n\nCons
\n\n\n\nSt. Augustinegrass grows quickly, creating a thick, coarsely textured, dark green lawn. Its nickname is “carpet grass” thanks to its dense appearance.
\n\n\n\nPros
\n\n\n\nCons
\n\n\n\nBuffalograss is soft, fine-textured, and gray-green or blue-green. Although slow-growing, it won’t invade flower beds like many fast-growing grass types.
\n\n\n\nPros
\n\n\n\nCons
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass is light to medium emerald green with medium to fine leaf texture. It grows quickly and stays green longer than most warm-season grass types.
\n\n\n\nPros
\n\n\n\nCons
\n\n\n\nLike bermudagrass, seashore paspalum is light to medium green with a fine leaf texture. It has a dense root system and grows quickly.
\n\n\n\nPros
\n\n\n\nCons
\n\n\n\nWhile cool-season grasses grow in the North, preferring cold winters and mild summers, they also thrive in the mild Southern winters. Heat is the major hurdle for cool-season grasses, so they need more energy to stay green when temperatures rise. Eventually, they’ll go dormant in the summer.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lolium_perenne_L._Perennial_Ryegrass_-_cultivated_3.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Arthur Chapman / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-2.0
\n\n\n\nPerennial ryegrass is a fine-textured, medium-green grass. Along with lawns and golf courses, it’s popular for construction areas. It is often used to prevent erosion because of its fast germination rate.
\n\n\n\nPros
\n\n\n\nCons
\n\n\n\nA hybrid between Kentucky bluegrass and Texas native grass, Texas bluegrass remains green in the summer. Its dark green color lasts longer than most cool-season grasses. This turfgrass is fine-textured and densely growing.
\n\n\n\nPros
\n\n\n\nCons
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/pxfuel.com-7-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel
\n\n\n\nEveryone knows Austin likes to “keep it weird,” but you may not know that three ecoregions converge in the city. The Edwards Plateau, the Blackland Prairies, and the Post Oak Savannah Floodplains have different soil types.
\n\n\n\nThe Edwards Plateau covers most of West Austin, with 1st Street being the approximate dividing line. It has the following properties:
\n\n\n\nThe Blackland Prairie covers Northeast Austin near I-290 and Southeast Austin in the Onion Creek area. You can expect to find the following properties:
\n\n\n\nThe Post Oak Savannah Floodplain covers East Austin, downtown through Del Valle. Expect to find:
\n\n\n\nSoil type is only one factor affecting soil quality. Other factors include:
\n\n\n\nTo ensure your soil is in tip-top shape, get your soil tested every one to three years. Once you receive your results, you’ll better understand what your lawn needs, including fertilization.
\n\n\n\nMost lawns will need some fertilization, but too much is harmful. Here are a few fertilizing tips to help you feed your lawn and minimize damage:
\n\n\n\nThe average grass cultivar needs about 0.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn, but each grass type has different needs.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_33362501875_0d0e78d669_o.jpg\")
Photo Credit: UBC Micrometeorology / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nYour watering practices have a significant effect on your lawn’s health. While your grass and native plants are adapted to Austin’s USDA hardiness Zone, 8, they still face high temperatures, drought, and water restrictions.
\n\n\n\nHere are some helpful tips to get the most out of your watering practices:
\n\n\n\nTake a look at the recommended watering amounts for popular grass types in Austin:
\n\n\n\n| Warm-Season Grass Type | Weekly Watering Needs in Inches |
| Bermudagrass | 1.25 |
| Buffalograss | 1 |
| St. Augustinegrass | 1 |
| Zoysiagrass | 1 |
![\"orange](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Lawn-Mowing-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Prasannanossam3 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nTo make a significant impact on the health of your lawn, mow like a pro. It is important to know what time to mow, how often to mow, and how high you should mow.
\n\n\n\nHere are some pro mowing tips to keep your lawn looking its best:
\n\n\n\nUnderstanding when to mow is also critical to keeping your lawn green.
\n\n\n\nMowing frequency changes with the seasons. Here’s an optimal mowing schedule for each season:
\n\n\n\n| Season | Mowing Frequency |
| Spring | Once per week |
| Summer | 1-2 times per week |
| Fall | Once every 7-10 days |
| Winter | Rarely, as needed |
The largest factor affecting your mowing frequency is your lawn’s turfgrass cultivar. Here are the recommended summer mowing heights and frequencies for popular Austin grass types.
\n\n\n\n![\"tool](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3409167404_35aeb9659b_o-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: allispossible.org.uk / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nBecause Austin sits on the convergence of three different ecoregions, there are three distinctly different soil types. Two of the three soils are compacted, requiring regular aeration and turfgrass dethatching.
\n\n\n\nAeration involves poking small holes in the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients into the lawn. Doing this allows the roots to grow deeply, creating a stronger, more robust lawn.
\n\n\n\nAeration relieves soil compaction. Compacted soils prevent proper absorption of air, water, and nutrients within the soil. Excess organic debris, like leaves and thatch, starve the roots of essential nutrients.
\n\n\n\nThatch is a mixture of dead and living roots, and build-up occurs when turf produces waste faster than the environment can break it down. A little thatch is good as it helps insulate the soil and maintains moisture levels. However, thatch over ½ inch hinders water and nutrient absorption, starving your grass.
\n\n\n\nUnfortunately, many Austin lawns are prone to thatch build-up, because:
\n\n\n\nSome creeping grass types that are prone to thatch include:
\n\n\n\nIf you need to dethatch, you have a few options. Liquid dethatching increases enzymes and thatch-eating organisms. If thatch build-up is just forming, try a dethatching rake. But if you moderate build-up or more, use a power-driven dethatcher, like a vertical mower.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Red_Ants_1214176165.jpg\")
Photo Credit: William Cho / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nBugs are the worst, and since Austin is in the South, we get our fair share of them. Some Austin bugs are nuisances, some carry diseases, and some will destroy your carefully crafted lawn and garden.
\n\n\n\nHere are some annoying, sometimes harmful pests you’ll encounter in your Austin backyard:
\n\n\n\nWhile these common pests are a nuisance and sometimes dangerous to your family and pets, they don’t affect your lawn. However, some lawn pests lay devastation, and you’ll need to intervene quickly.
\n\n\n\nWhile most ants cause damage to your lawn by boring through the dirt, fire ants are awful, creating mounds and messing up your soil and turf. If you step on a mound, you’re in trouble. This invasive species latches on with its barbed mandibles and stabs you repeatedly with its venomous stinger, leaving itchy pus-filled bites that take days to heal.
\n\n\n\nKeep an eye out for dirt mounds in your lawn. If you spot one, apply fire ant bait, following the manufacturer’s directions. Unfortunately, some colonies abandon mounds and create new ones a few yards away. Consider hiring a professional to eliminate the pesky invaders.
\n\n\n\nGrubs are small, fat, white, c-shaped, caterpillar-like insects you often find while gardening or digging. They’re actually beetle larvae, and they feed on your grass’ roots, causing brown spots and dead turf. If you’re unsure if your turfgrass problem is caused by grubs or a disease, tug on the grass blades. If they come out easily, you may have a grub infestation.
\n\n\n\nTo get rid of grubs, use a grub-specific pesticide. Follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully, or you could harm your lawn. Additionally, apply nematodes or milky spores if you want a natural method. Dethatching and aeration help by giving the grubs less to eat.
\n\n\n\nChinch bugs are tiny black insects with white wings. While they may be small, they cause colossal problems. They suck the sap from the base and stolons of grass blades and inject a toxic substance that prevents the plant from transporting water. Soon, patches of your lawn will turn yellow, then brown, before dying. The damage will spread until you handle the infestation.
\n\n\n\nBecause the damage often resembles drought stress or disease, you may not realize the problem immediately. Good lawn maintenance–dethatching, aeration, and not overwatering– help control chinch bugs. Applying preventative pesticides in the spring and targeted insecticides in the summer and fall will eliminate the pests.
\n\n\n\nArmyworms are not actually worms. They’re dark brown caterpillars with white, orange, or yellow stripes, and they can wreck your lawn in a few days by gobbling up grass blades. Armyworms are only two inches long but travel in large groups. They typically go unnoticed until the damage is severe.
\n\n\n\nThe best way to prevent armyworms is applying preventative, commercial-grade pesticides and maintaining your lawn. Armyworms prefer a dense, over-thatched, moist lawn, so a well-maintained lawn eliminates their preferred habitat.
\n\n\n\nSome grasses are more susceptible to pests than others. Here’s what you can expect from common Austin grasses:
\n\n\n\nIrrigate and mow your lawn twenty-four hours before insecticide applications. Use a broad-spectrum, non-repellent insecticide containing carbaryl or pyrethroid to treat affected areas. Apply preventative treatments in May before the heat of summer sets in and then another in June.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Brown_Patch-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0
\n\n\n\nLawn diseases are not fun to deal with, and if you’re an Austin homeowner, you may know this from personal experience. They’ll turn a stunning lawn into a brown, patchy mess.
\n\n\n\nLawns catch a disease when a trio of factors occur:
\n\n\n\nLet’s look at each of these a little closer:
\n\n\n\nMost diseases need daytime temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures above 55 degrees. They also need moisture from dew, irrigation, or rainfall to infect the blades. Lastly, stressed grass is easier to infect and a strong, healthy lawn is more resistant to attack.
\n\n\n\nUnfortunately, we can’t control the weather, but we can take steps to reduce stress and encourage growth. Here are some key tips to encourage a strong lawn:
\n\n\n\nBecause most lawn diseases are fungal, use a fungicide to eliminate problems. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions. Too much fungicide will burn your grass, and too little won’t be effective.
\n\n\n\nIf you’d rather treat the fungus naturally, there are several solutions:
\n\n\n\n![\"Common](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_stellaria_media_common_chickweed_ჟუნჟრუკი.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Lazaregagnidze / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nLike diseases, weeds love an unhealthy lawn. If you see weeds, some underlying problems include low-nitrogen, imbalanced pH, and thinning turf. Weeds suck up vital nutrients, water, and sunlight from your turfgrass while simultaneously creating an ideal environment for pests and diseases. To control weeds, maintain a healthy lawn with routine maintenance.
\n\n\n\nThere are two ways to control weeds in your lawn: chemical treatments and hand pulling. Pulling weeds by hand is the safest removal method, but it isn’t always the best. Be sure to identify the type of weed you are dealing with before selecting your removal method.
\n\n\n\nFollow these summer weeding tips:
\n\n\n\nBefore you blink, weeds take over and ruin your gorgeous green grass. Here are five common Austin weeds:
\n\n\n\nCheck out our guide covering the 12 worst weeds in Austin to learn more.
\n\n\n\nSome grass types are more resistant to weeds than others. Check out the most common Austin grass types:
\n\n\n\nLawn maintenance can be overwhelming, but there are some steps you can take to create a low-maintenance Austin lawn that will save time and money.
• Xeriscape: low-maintenance landscaping emphasizing water conservation
• Rock Garden: little to no maintenance hardscaping
• Native plants: adapted to Austin’s climate, requiring little care
• Hardscapes: reduce green vegetation with functional hardscapes like a fire pit, patio, or pergola
• Automatic Irrigation: set-it-and-forget-it smart irrigation saves times and money and conserves water
• Mulch: reduces weeds
Organic mulch needs to be replaced yearly. Inorganic mulch, like gravel or rubber, needs to be replaced every 5-10 years.
In Austin, plant grass seed in March or April. Spring planting helps avoid late-season frost and gives the seed time to germinate before the summer heat sets in.
Summer is the perfect time for lounging on Lady Bird Lake, tubing the Comal River, backyard barbecuing, and pool partying. It’s also the time for rapid plant growth and lawn maintenance. Instead of sweating in the Austin heat, let Wikilawn match you with a local lawn care professional who will take care of your lawn so you can get back to enjoying your summer.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Texas, Austin / dszc / Canva Pro / License
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\n","content":"\nDallas averages 234 sunny days every year. Its subtropical climate and notoriously hot summers come with their own rulebook for lawn care. Nutrient-less and hard clay soils plague the Metroplex, making lawn preparations important if your plants are going to survive the North Texas sun. Follow this guide to summer lawn care in Dallas to give your lawn a fighting chance against the summer heat.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDallas is rainier than most Texas cities, averaging 40 inches annually. However, temps soar to 95 degrees Fahrenheit for most of the summer. These high temperatures and sunny days place a lot of stress on your Texas landscape.
\n\n\n\nMay is the wettest month of the year, and spring months are ideal for your plants and grass to establish healthy roots to help them survive the tough summer.
\n\n\n\nSummer is the most demanding and damaging time for your lawn. The excessive heat, potential drought conditions, and Dallas water restrictions can lead to a brown and stressed lawn, making proper lawn maintenance from June to September vital.
\n\n\n\n![\"a](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Watering-Lawn.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxhere
\n\n\n\nHow you water and how often you water are equally important to your Texas landscape. Your Dallas native plants and turfgrass are adapted to withstand Dallas’ USDA hardiness zone 8, including heat and potential drought.
\n\n\n\nFollow Dallas’ ordinances and these watering tips to keep your landscape in the best shape throughout the summer:
\n\n\n\nIt’s important to note that an irrigation system with directed sprinkler heads removes the guesswork from determining how much water your lawn needs. You can program your system to apply the right amount of water for your grass type, saving you time and money while increasing the health of your lawn.
\n\n\n\nBermudagrass thrives in the dense clay North Texas soils. This popular turfgrass stands up to frequent foot traffic and loves full sun. Bermudagrass requires one to 1.25 inches of water per week.
\n\n\n\nWater your bermudagrass twice per week early in the morning before 9 a.m. Aim for 15 minutes of watering per zone for automatic pop-up head sprinklers and 35-minute sessions for rotary heads.
\n\n\n\nSt. Augustinegrass appears to be the exact opposite of aggressive bermudagrass, but these warm-season grasses thrive in Dallas. St. Augustinegrass does not tolerate foot traffic and prefers partial sun or shade. The fast-growing grass requires only 1 inch of water per week, making it an economical choice for your lawn.
\n\n\n\nWater St. Augustinegrass twice per week before 9 a.m. Water each zone for 15 minutes for pop-up head sprinklers, and 30 minutes for rotary heads.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass handles anything you throw at it: drought, traffic, shade, and even low temperatures. The dark green turfgrass requires little fertilization, and its dense blades block out weeds. Like St. Augustinegrass, it only requires 1 inch of water per week.
\n\n\n\nWater your Zoysiagrass lawn twice per week before 9 a.m. Aim for 15-minute sessions if you are using pop-up head sprinklers, and 30-minute sessions for rotary heads.
\n\n\n\nNative buffalograss grows well in the nutrientless clay soils, requiring little fertilization. However, the low-fuss grass does not stand up to heavy foot traffic or weeds. Like Zoysia and St. Augustine, this cultivar requires 1 inch of water per week.
\n\n\n\nWater your buffalograss before 9 a.m., twice per week. Aim for 15-minute sessions if you are using pop-up head sprinklers, and 30-minute sessions for rotary heads.
\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass does not handle traffic or herbicides. However, it is incredibly low-maintenance with low mowing and watering requirements. This smooth, flat-bladed turfgrass requires one to 1.25 inches of water per week to remain green.
\n\n\n\nWater centipedegrass twice per week before 9 a.m. If you are using pop-up head sprinklers, aim for 15-minute sessions. However, if you are using rotary heads, be sure to extend your sessions to 35 minutes.
\n\n\n\nWe all want to be in the pool or inside in the air conditioning, and it is really tempting to mow our lawns short to make less work for ourselves. However, cutting your grass short leaves it vulnerable to weeds, scorching, and dormancy.
\n\n\n\nYour grass should never change from green to brown after mowing. Brown grass signals a stressed lawn, meaning you have removed too much at one time. Be sure to raise your mower height after your lawn has recovered before your next mow.
\n\n\n\nTaller grass blades develop deeper roots and provide shade, cooling the soil underneath and minimizing evaporation, which makes your morning watering sessions more efficient. Your lawn will be lusher and stay greener, increasing your home’s curb appeal.
\n\n\n\nFollow these summer mowing tips for your warm-season grass:
\n\n\n\nThe recommended mowing height for bermudagrass is 1-2 inches using a traditional mower. During active growing seasons in the spring and early summer, plan to mow your lawn weekly, never cutting more than ⅓ of your grass’ total length.
\n\n\n\nSt. Augustinegrass prefers higher heights in the summer to help water retention. You should mow your St. Augustine lawn every seven to 10 days, aiming for a mowing height of 2.5 inches.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass actively grows in the summer, requiring regular mowing every five to seven days. Like bermudagrass, never cut more than ⅓ of your grass’ total length and aim to keep your lawn between one to two inches high.
\n\n\n\nBuffalograss prefers higher heights like St. Augustinegrass. You should aim for a height between two to three inches, requiring a mowing session every seven to ten days.
\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass is another turfgrass, preferring taller heights. Mow weekly with a traditional lawn mower, keeping your grass between 1.5 to two inches high.
\n\n\n\n![\"man](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Person-spreading-fertilizer.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixnio
\n\n\n\nFertilizer promotes healthy growth, but be careful, too much of a good thing can harm your landscape. Unseasonably hot and dry Texas summers can lead to dormant grass. It is tempting to over-fertilize your lawn. Unfortunately, this will have the opposite effect and harm your turfgrass by burning it.
\n\n\n\nHere are some summer fertilizing tips for your Dallas lawn:
\n\n\n\nBermudagrass thrives with regular fertilizer applications. During the summer, this turfgrass requires 0.5 to one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet every month. You should aim to apply 2 to 6 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually to keep your lawn healthy.
\n\n\n\nSt. Augustinegrass has higher fertilization requirements, like bermudagrass. Apply 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn annually, or 0.5 to one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet monthly during the summer growing season.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass has the similar requirements to bermudagrass. During the summer growing season, apply 0.5 to one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn monthly for a total of 1 to 3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually.
\n\n\n\nBuffalograss has incredibly low fertilization requirements. In fact, some homeowners skip applications completely. Typically, buffalograss up to 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn annually. Aim to apply 0.5 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet during two months of the active summer growing season.
\n\n\n\nLow-maintenance centipede grass requires little fertilization. Aim for 1 pound of nitrogen-based fertilizer per 1,000 square feet applied twice, once in June and again in September.
\n\n\n\nTexas is one of the few places in the U.S. with clay soil. Unlike the loose, sandy soils of the Southeast, impacted and dense clay soils require biannual lawn aeration. Liquid aeration helps your lawn handle the intense heat and dry conditions of summer by opening pathways for air, sunshine, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil, resulting in deeper, more drought-resistant roots.
\n\n\n\nWarm-season grasses like bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, and St. Augustinegrass, require liquid aeration applications in late spring before summer and early fall.
\n\n\n\n![\"an](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Person-spraying-pesticide.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixnio
\n\n\n\nPlenty of pests hide from the heat of the Texas sun, seeking shaded areas under decks and logs. Unfortunately, white grubs, chinch bugs, and fire ants are notoriously sun-loving Dallas pests that can wreak havoc on your warm-season turfgrass.
\n\n\n\nKeep these pest control tips in mind this summer:
\n\n\n\nBermudagrass is the most popular turfgrass choice for Texas lawns. Unfortunately, it has a low resistance to unfriendly visitors. It is prone to white grubs, hunting billbugs, mole crickets, army worms, and sod webworms.
\n\n\n\nRegular lawn maintenance and irrigation help combat pest infestations. Additionally, spray a non-repellent broad-spectrum insecticide over infected areas to combat pests.
\n\n\n\nSt. Augustinegrass is fast-growing and shade-loving. It also attracts many pests, including chinch bugs, cutworms, mole crickets, grass loopers, army worms, web worms, and grubs.
\n\n\n\nCombat pests ruining your lush lawn by using a non-repellent broad-spectrum insecticide. Be sure to look for one containing carbaryl, trichlorfon, or pyrethroid if you are dealing with chinch bugs or grubs.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass stands up to most pests thanks to its thick leaf blades and dense structure. Occasionally, mites, grubs, mole crickets, hunting billbugs, army worms, chinch bugs, or sod webworms will move in and set up residence in your lawn.
\n\n\n\nAlways wait until your grass has greened in the spring or early summer to apply insecticides. Use spot treatments of broad-spectrum pesticides as needed to combat insect infestations.
\n\n\n\nNative buffalograss resists most pests. However, mealybugs, buffalograss webworms, mites, short-tailed crickets, and chinch bugs can cause the occasional headache.
\n\n\n\nSpot treat affected areas with broad-spectrum repellent-free pesticide.
\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass is low-maintenance and prefers to be left alone. It is moderately prone to pests, including ground pearl insects, grubs, mole crickets, sod webworms, and lawn caterpillars.
\n\n\n\nIrrigate and mow your lawn 24 hours before insecticide applications. Treat affected areas with a broad-spectrum non-repellent insecticide containing carbaryl or pyrethroid. Aim to apply preventative treatments in May before the heat of summer sets in and follow-up with another application in June.
\n\n\n\nTurfgrass diseases and weeds love a weak lawn and signify an underlying problem with your lawn’s health. They love low-nitrogen soils, imbalanced pH, and thinning turf. Weeds steal vital nutrients, water, and sunlight from your turfgrass and plants while simultaneously spreading pests and diseases.
\n\n\n\nMaintain a healthy lawn with routine maintenance, watering, and fertilization schedules, and weeds and diseases won’t stand a chance. There are two ways to control weeds in your lawn: chemical treatments and hand pulling. Pulling weeds by hand is the safest removal method, but it isn’t always the best method. Be sure to identify the type of weed you are dealing with before selecting your removal method.
\n\n\n\nFollow these summer weeding tips to maintain a healthy lawn:
\n\n\n\nOne of the star attributes that makes bermudagrass so popular in North Texas is its disease-resistance. If you are unlucky enough to experience a disease infestation with your bermudagrass, chances are good it is spring dead spot, dollar spot, leaf spot, large patch, or sheath spot.
\n\n\n\nCombat bermudagrass weeds and diseases using a pre-emergent herbicide in the spring when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you notice brown patches with regular and smooth outlines caused by fungal diseases, treat your entire lawn with a fungicide designed for bermudagrass.
\n\n\n\nFor all its strengths, St. Augustinegrass falls short in the disease-resistance category. It is moderately to highly prone to diseases such as gray leaf spot, large patch, and take-all root rot.
\n\n\n\nCombat fungal diseases in your St. Augustine lawn with an indoor-outdoor fungicide and disinfectant designed for plants.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass is incredibly resistant to most diseases. However, large patch, root decline, spring dead spot, rust, curvularia, and leaf spot can occur.
\n\n\n\nLike St. Augustinegrass, fungal diseases are the most common. Treat your lawn with a preventative fungicide program. Apply fungicide in the spring to decrease your chances of developing diseases like large patch. If you notice dead spots in your lawn and have ruled out insect activity, treat the affected area with an indoor-outdoor fungicide and disinfectant for plants.
\n\n\n\nThanks to its adaptability, buffalograss has high disease-resistance. Treat the most common problem, bipolaris leaf spot, with preventative fungicide at the first sign of brown patches.
\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass is moderately disease-tolerant. It is prone to centipedegrass decline and iron chlorosis. Combat these lawn diseases with proper lawn maintenance and apply 2 ounces of iron sulfate per 1,000 square feet if you notice yellowing.
\n\n\n\nSucculents thrive in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Typically, water your succulent plants once per week when it has not rained.
Organic mulch provides moisture retention and nutrients for your plants. Experts recommend laying new mulch on top of your existing mulch annually in the spring after the last frost.
Dallas adopted lawn and landscape irrigation ordinances in 2012 to defer the costs of expanding the city’s water supply infrastructure. Drip irrigation, hand watering, and soaker hoses are allowed at any time and on any day.
However, Dallas homeowners can only water with hose-end sprinklers or automatic sprinkler systems twice per week from April 1 to Oct. 31. No watering may take place between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Fridays.
Summer is the perfect time for lazy days. The days are sunny and long, and backyard barbecues and pool parties are in full swing. Reclaim your weekends and sanity by installing low-maintenance landscaping and following our summer lawn care tips.
\n\n\n\nInstead of breaking a sweat in the heat, consider letting Wikilawn hook you up with a local landscaping company that can handle all of your lawn care needs so you can get back to your Longhorns or Aggies.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Pxhere
\n","title":"A Guide to Summer Lawn Care in Dallas","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5056461731493098,"src":"/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/1789c/Lawn.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/107df/Lawn.jpg 320w,\n/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/293e9/Lawn.jpg 500w,\n/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/f2cbb/Lawn.jpg 800w,\n/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/1789c/Lawn.jpg 960w,\n/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/c26c2/Lawn.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/1dd6e/Lawn.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/67b76/Lawn.webp 320w,\n/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/8df11/Lawn.webp 500w,\n/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/98a65/Lawn.webp 800w,\n/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/1dd6e/Lawn.webp 960w,\n/static/ca471e4c16d278ed4e886780f05cc01f/3cc96/Lawn.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"A Guide to Summer Lawn Care in Dallas | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Prep your lawn for the summer heat with this guide to summer lawn care in Dallas, TX."}}},{"node":{"id":"ece6526a-2ceb-5fdd-a7ce-fc25948bd066","slug":"best-push-lawn-mowers","path":"/lawn-care/best-push-lawn-mowers/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Jackie Greene is a blogger, gardener, and nutrition enthusiast. She enjoys creating organic meals for family and friends using the fresh ingredients she produces from her backyard homestead.","name":"Jackie Greene","id":"fb5923e1-833b-5d9b-808e-ded0e62c0bc4","path":"/author/jackiegreene/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2c1121209a3ebfbe0a7e941d102b2971?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"May 28th, 2019","excerpt":"If you care about the state of your lawn, you’ve never had more options to find the right tool for the job. However, “cheaping out” and buying a clunker can hurt your wallet and leave your lawn looking worse than it was before. When it comes to push lawn mowers, there are several mower varieties […]
\n","content":"\nIf you care about the state of your lawn, you’ve never had more options to find the right tool for the job. However, “cheaping out” and buying a clunker can hurt your wallet and leave your lawn looking worse than it was before.
\n\n\n\nWhen it comes to push lawn mowers, there are several mower varieties to choose from, each with their respective benefits and disadvantages. For this article, we got our hands-on countless push lawn mower models to help you find the best product to keep your lawn looking crisp and clean. Read on to learn about our top picks and how you can avoid picking up a dud.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/great-states-push-mower.jpg\")
This classic manual push mower from Great States has five rotating blades of various lengths between 14 and 18 inches to help you keep your lawn looking pristine while also saving money and the environment. For narrow lawns and hard-to-reach corners, the 14” cutting width of this mower is ideal, affording it easy maneuverability and lightweight frame.
\n\n\n\nA T-style handle with a padded grip makes this push mower a great choice for those who are tired of pushing uncomfortable, non-ergonomic mowers.
\n\n\n\nPlus, low-sitting 8.5” composite wheels make this lawn mower able to cut between 1 and 1-¾” grass height for a low, clean cut. This alloy steel build comes at a low cost to provide maximum value with little upkeep.
\n\n\n\nPros:
✓ Precise 1″ cutting height
✓ Five blades for smooth rotations
✓ Ergonomic handle for comfortable pushing
✓ Low 8.5″ composite wheels for a crisp cut
Cons:
✗ May require two passes for a perfect cut
![\"BLACK+DECKER](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/rsz_mm2000.jpg\")
This corded electric lawn mower from the renowned BLACK+DECKER punches through thick overgrowth with a powerful 13-amp motor. The 20-inch cutting deck is especially wide for a corded electric model, letting you mow your whole lawn with fewer passes.
\n\n\n\nPlus, the EdgeMax deck design lets you cut grass right up against curbing, fencing, and other obstacles. With the MM2000, you won’t need a separate edger for the borders of your lawn.
\n\n\n\nSeven adjustable cutting height options make this mower perfect for different areas of your lawn and different grass types. Using a lever, you can easily adjust the deck between 1.5 and 4 inches.
\n\n\n\nPros:
✓ Seven cutting height settings
✓ Wide 20″ cutting path
✓ 3-in-1 mulching, bagging, and side discharge
✓ EdgeMax deck design for close-to-edge cutting
✓ Folds for compact storage
Cons:
✗ On the heavier side of electric mowers at 46.2 pounds
✗ Must stay plugged in during use
![\"PowerSmart](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/rsz_powersmart.jpg\")
This gas lawn mower features a powerful 170cc OHV 4-stroke engine that easily propels the mower through the thickest, tallest grass. The durable steel cutting deck is 21 inches wide, so you can clear large areas quickly.
\n\n\n\nAnother great feature is the 2-in-1 mulching and discharging capability that lets you return helpful nutrients to your lawn as you mow it. With five different cutting height settings between 1.18 and 3.05 inches, the PowerSmart D8621CR will work for multiple grass types.
\n\n\n\nPros:
✓ Powerful 170cc engine
✓ Durable steel 21″ cutting path
✓ 3-year manufacturer’s warranty
✓ Five cutting height settings
✓ 2-in-1 side discharge and mulching
Cons:
✗ Weighs more than 50 pounds
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/worx-mower-blower.jpg\")
If you need a reliable all-in-one solution for your lawn care needs, you can’t go wrong with investing in the powerful dual-battery 20V WORX WG958. This electric lawn mower also comes with an electric leaf blower to ensure your lawn is looking its best all year long. With patented Intellicut technology, this mower provides premium torque to cut through the toughest terrain.
\n\n\n\nWith cutting paths ranging from 14 to 20 inches, this small yet powerful push lawn mower will save you time by cutting a wide path through your lawn. Plus, there’s a built-in removable discharge bag so you can dump your shavings without having to worry about having your lawn littered with clippings and ugly shavings.
\n\n\n\nPros:
✓ Dual 20V 4.0Ah lithium ion batteries for long run time
✓ Cordless leaf blower included
✓ Compatible with WORX Power Share batteries
✓ Intellicut technology preserves battery during standby time
✓ 2-in-1 rear discharge for easy cleaning and maintenance
✓ Adjustable cutting height
Cons:
✗ 33.5-pound design slightly heavy for an electric mower
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sun-joe-mower.jpg\")
For a truly unique mowing experience, consider choosing the Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO, which packs a small but mighty 13A electric motor. Contained within an aerodynamic green frame, this mower contains a 10.6-gallon discharge bag and chute so your lawn can receive the vital nutrients it needs for the clippings and shavings.
\n\n\n\nThe pro version of this mower comes with a fast rear discharge chute and a fully adjustable cutting height mechanism. Stainless steel blades ensure precise cuts, and in our experience, we never had to double back and redo a cut thanks to a wide 14-inch mowing path. In one charge, this electric mower can easily service a lawn up to 200 sq. ft. in size.
\n\n\n\nPros:
✓ Power of gas machine with convenience of electric
✓ 3,500 RPM steel blade
✓ Large 10.6 gallon catch bag for easy cleanup
✓ Lightweight 29-pound construction
✓ ETL-approved with 2-year limited warranty
Cons:
✗ Broken washers require a full wheel replacement kit
We always go the extra mile to ensure our readers get the most out of the products they buy. That’s why we always test the products we review multiple times. This way, our readers can purchase with confidence knowing they got the best value out of their lawn care product.
\n\n\n\nUltimately, there are many factors that go into finding a reliable push lawn mower. However, our expert analysis considers every relevant factor, including durability, manufacturer’s warranty, blade construction, battery time, storage capacity, and mowing path width.
\n\n\n\nOur holistic review approach covers all aspects of the product so our readers can make a choice that satisfies their lawn’s unique needs.
\n\n\n\nThis guide will cover all angles of push mowers to help readers find the best lawn care solution for their unique needs.
\n\n\n\nThere are three main types of push lawn mowers. Below, we’ll touch on all three varieties and their respective benefits and capabilities.
\n\n\n\nNothing beats the power and torque from a gas-powered push lawn mower. Although they offer maximum performance, buyers should beware that these power mowers are often the most expensive. Not only do they come with the highest price tag, but they are costly to maintain and replace, and gas isn’t cheap these days either.
\n\n\n\nSpeedy and efficient electric lawn mowers are becoming the new norm thanks to cost and environmental concerns. These power mowers plug in overnight and usually provide enough output to cover large lawns without having to recharge. However, over time their ability to hold a charge gradually degrades.
\n\n\n\nPush mowers without motors provide the best long-term bang for your buck thanks to their low upkeep costs. They don’t require gas, electricity, or oil, but they might wear out your arms if you purchase a heavier unit and have a large lawn (100 sq. feet or above).
\n\n\n\nTo find the best push lawn mower, you need to consider four main factors beyond the price tag. Below, we’ve listed what these are and why they’re important.
\n\n\n\nNo matter what type of mower you buy, you should look for a lightweight unit. Ideally, a push mower under 45 lbs. will ensure that you can mow large lawns without your arms and shoulders getting fatigued. Lighter units also allow for easier storage.
\n\n\n\nMake sure that your mower can round corners with ease and get into tight crevices and spaces without having to resort to an external trimmer.
\n\n\n\nPay close attention to the cutting height of the mower. If the cutting height is above 2 inches, you may find that your lawn looks untouched even after a fresh mow. Ideally, find a push mower with adjustable cutting height.
\n\n\n\nMotorized push mowers need to run for at least an hour or two, especially for large lawn maintenance. If you’re considering a gas or electric mower, ensure that it has a long run time of multiple hours on a single tank of gas or battery charge.
\n\n\n\nThe hard truth is that you can’t simply glance at the price tag of a mower to find out which one’s the best for you. Instead, you need to take a deep dive into the model’s specifications to see if it has what it takes to satisfy your lawn’s needs. In this article, we’ve listed our top five picks that will handle most lawn care jobs with ease.
\n\n\n\nStill have questions about lawn care? Visit our lawn care page for more information.
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