is my lawn dead or dormant

Is My Lawn Dead? Will Austin Lawns Recover After a Hot, Dry Summer?

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

If you’re looking at a brown lawn right now and wondering whether it’s going to survive, you’re definitely not alone.

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This has been a very difficult summer for lawns throughout the Austin area. Between extreme heat, very little rainfall, and watering restrictions, even healthy lawns with properly functioning irrigation systems have struggled.

The good news is that brown grass doesn’t necessarily mean dead grass.

In many cases, what you’re seeing is a lawn that has gone dormant or become extremely stressed as it tries to survive until growing conditions improve.

Your Lawn Doesn't Have to Be Green to Be Alive

One of the biggest misconceptions I see with homeowners is the idea that a healthy lawn should stay green all summer.

Under normal conditions, we certainly want to maintain good color. But there comes a point when temperatures, lack of rainfall, and limited irrigation make that extremely difficult.

When warm-season grasses such as Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine experience prolonged heat and drought stress, they can begin losing color and shutting down growth.

That doesn’t automatically mean the turf is dead.

If your irrigation system has continued supplying the lawn with at least some water throughout the summer, there is a good chance that much of the turf is still alive even though the top growth looks brown.

Think of it as survival mode.

Why Austin Lawns Have Struggled So Much

Austin summers are always difficult on turf, but extended periods of high temperatures without meaningful rainfall put tremendous stress on a lawn.

Watering restrictions make the situation even more challenging.

When homeowners can only irrigate on limited days, the goal changes. Instead of trying to maintain a perfectly green lawn, sometimes we’re simply trying to provide enough moisture to keep the turf and root system alive.

That’s an important distinction.

Trying to force a lawn to stay bright green during extreme drought conditions isn’t always realistic. A brown or partially dormant lawn that survives the summer can be much better than trying to push excessive growth during unfavorable conditions.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

When Will My Lawn Turn Green Again?

This is where homeowners need to have some patience.

If we get cooler temperatures and adequate moisture this fall, some lawns may begin showing improvement. Areas that were stressed rather than fully dormant may start producing new green growth.

However, I wouldn’t expect every lawn to completely recover this fall.

Our warm-season grasses are approaching the time of year when growth naturally begins slowing down. That means the lawn may not have enough growing season left to completely repair itself before winter dormancy.

For many heavily stressed lawns, the real recovery will happen next spring.

Once soil temperatures warm, the turf comes out of winter dormancy and active growth begins again. That’s when we’ll get a much better idea of which areas survived and which areas, if any, experienced actual turf loss.

Don't Give Up on Brown Areas Too Early

One thing I would not recommend is assuming every brown area needs to be replaced.

Give the lawn an opportunity to recover.

I’ve seen plenty of lawns look terrible after a difficult summer and then surprise homeowners once favorable growing conditions return.

There certainly can be areas where turf has actually died. Irrigation problems, extremely shallow soil, prolonged drought, excessive shade, insects, disease, or other problems can contribute to permanent turf loss.

But you usually don’t want to make that determination based on color alone.

What Should You Do With Your Lawn Right Now?

The biggest priority is to continue providing enough water to keep the turf and root system alive.

Make sure your irrigation system is actually working correctly. A sprinkler system can run without necessarily watering the lawn evenly. Broken heads, clogged nozzles, poor coverage, incorrect runtimes, and pressure problems can all create dry areas.

You also don’t want to suddenly start pushing a heavily stressed lawn with excessive fertilizer in an attempt to make it green again.

Fertilizer cannot replace water.

Century Outdoor Services fertilization and weed control program is designed to provide the lawn with nutrients and protection throughout the year, but even the best lawn care program cannot overcome improper irrigation, extreme drought, poor soil conditions, or other environmental stresses.

Spring Will Tell Us a Lot

If your lawn looks rough right now, don’t panic.

Continue watering appropriately within local restrictions and make sure your irrigation system is doing its job. Cooler fall temperatures may help some lawns recover, but don’t be discouraged if yours doesn’t completely green back up before winter.

For many Austin lawns, spring will be the real test.

Once temperatures warm and the turf begins actively growing again, surviving Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine can start filling in damaged areas and rebuilding density.

After the summer we’ve had, a brown lawn doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve lost your grass.

Sometimes, it simply means your lawn did what it needed to do to survive.

Not Sure If Your Lawn Is Dormant or Dead?

If you’re concerned about how your lawn handled the summer, Century Outdoor Services can help. Our fertilization and weed control program is designed specifically for Central Texas lawns, with treatments adjusted throughout the year based on the season and what your turf needs.

Ready to get your lawn back on track? Contact Century Outdoor Services today for a lawn care estimate.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

No, Century does not require contracts for residential services. We set up a Service Agreement for your property based on the services accepted. This agreement requests at least a 24-hour notice of cancellation of service.

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How to Keep Your Lawn Weed-Free in Austin, TX

Century technician treating a beautiful Austin lawn

How to Keep Your Lawn Weed-Free in Austin, Texas

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

Keeping a lawn weed-free in Austin isn’t just about spraying weeds after they appear. In fact, some of the most important steps happen before you ever see a weed.

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At Century Outdoor Services, we take a preventative approach to weed control. A healthy, dense lawn combined with properly timed pre-emergent applications, good mowing practices, and proper irrigation gives homeowners the best opportunity to reduce weeds throughout the year.

Austin’s climate makes weed control challenging. We have long growing seasons, hot summers, periods of drought, watering restrictions, and relatively mild winters. All of these conditions can influence when weeds germinate and how well your lawn competes against them.

Here are the most important things Austin homeowners can do to keep weeds under control.

1. Apply Pre-Emergent Before Weeds Germinate

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is waiting until weeds are visible before thinking about weed control.

Pre-emergent herbicides are designed to prevent certain weeds before they become established. Timing is critical because the application needs to be in place before the targeted weeds germinate.

In the Austin area, we generally have two major weed-germination periods to prepare for.

Fall Pre-Emergent for Winter Weeds

An early fall pre-emergent application helps prevent many of the weeds that germinate as temperatures begin cooling and then become noticeable during the winter and early spring.

If you wait until winter weeds are already growing throughout the lawn, you have missed the best opportunity for prevention. At that point, post-emergent weed control may be needed.

Spring Pre-Emergent for Summer Weeds

Pre-emergent applications are also important before summer annual weeds begin germinating.

As soil temperatures increase during the spring, summer weeds begin to emerge. Getting the pre-emergent barrier established ahead of germination can dramatically reduce the number of weeds you have to fight later.

This is why our fertilization and weed control program includes strategically timed pre-emergent applications rather than relying solely on spraying weeds after they appear.

2. Understand That Pre-Emergent Doesn't Prevent Every Weed

Pre-emergent is one of our most important weed-control tools, but it isn’t a force field around your lawn.

Some weeds aren’t effectively controlled by pre-emergent products, and weeds can still appear in thin turf, damaged areas, bare soil, or places where the pre-emergent barrier has been disrupted.

That’s where post-emergent weed control comes into the program.

When weeds do appear, they can be selectively treated when appropriate for the weed, turf type, temperature, and time of year. Some weeds are relatively easy to control, while others can require multiple treatments.

The goal isn’t simply to spray more herbicide. The goal is to combine prevention, treatment, and good lawn management.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

3. Grow a Thick Lawn That Can Compete With Weeds

One of the best forms of long-term weed control is healthy, dense turfgrass.

Whether you have Bermuda, Zoysia, or St. Augustine grass, weeds are much more likely to establish themselves when the lawn becomes thin.

Thin turf allows more sunlight to reach the soil surface and creates open areas where weed seeds can germinate.

This is why weed control and lawn health go hand in hand.

A good fertilization and weed control program can provide the nutrients and treatments the lawn needs, but it cannot overcome poor mowing, inadequate irrigation, severe shade, or poor soil conditions.

4. Mow Your Lawn Consistently

Mowing is one of the most overlooked parts of weed prevention.

During the growing season, we generally recommend mowing weekly. Regular mowing encourages a denser turf canopy and helps the lawn compete with weeds.

Allowing the grass to become extremely tall and then cutting a large portion of it off can stress the lawn. Repeated stress can cause turf to thin, which creates opportunities for weeds.

Mowing height also matters and should be appropriate for your turfgrass variety.

For example, we typically recommend keeping Bermuda grass around 1–2 inches when possible. St. Augustine and Zoysia have different mowing requirements depending on the variety and growing conditions.

The objective is simple: keep the lawn thick and healthy enough to occupy the space where weeds would otherwise grow.

5. Water Deeply and Properly

Proper irrigation is another major part of weed prevention in Austin.

During our hot Central Texas summers, lawns can become stressed quickly if they aren’t receiving enough water. Areas with poor irrigation coverage often become thin first, and those thin areas can eventually become ideal places for weeds to establish.

We generally prefer deep watering that moves moisture through the root zone rather than frequent, shallow watering.

Your soil also matters. A lawn with several inches of healthy soil can store considerably more moisture than turf growing over extremely shallow soil or rock.

Check your irrigation system regularly for broken heads, clogged nozzles, poor coverage, and areas that aren’t receiving enough water.

A fertilization and weed control program can’t compensate for an irrigation system that isn’t providing the lawn with the water it needs.

6. Fix the Reason Weeds Keep Coming Back

If the same part of your lawn constantly fills with weeds, don’t just focus on killing the weeds. Ask why the grass isn’t growing there.

Common problems we see around Austin include:

Too much shade
Poor irrigation coverage
Shallow or poor-quality soil
Compacted soil
Incorrect mowing
Heat or drought stress
Turf damage from insects or disease

Weeds often take advantage of an existing lawn problem. Correcting that underlying problem can be just as important as treating the weeds themselves.

The Best Weed Control Strategy for Austin Lawns

If your goal is a weed-free lawn, don’t wait until weeds have taken over.

The best approach is a year-round strategy that combines properly timed pre-emergent applications, post-emergent weed control when needed, proper fertilization, weekly mowing, good irrigation, and healthy soil.

At Century Outdoor Services, our lawn care program is built specifically around Central Texas conditions and the needs of Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine lawns.

After years of working with lawns in the Austin area, one thing is clear: the healthiest lawns usually have the fewest weed problems.

Prevention gets you ahead of the weeds. Good cultural practices help you stay ahead of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I apply pre-emergent in Austin?

Before the germination of weeds. You typically want to apply it in January or February for summer weeds and September or October for the winter weeds.

How often should pre-emergent be applied?

Two times per year.

Why do I still have weeds after pre-emergent?

Missed the timing of the pre-emerge, type of weed, weather, poor cultrual practices will all contribute to ongoing weed issues.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

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georgetown tx lawn care guide

Georgetown, TX Lawn Care Guide: How to Grow a Healthy Lawn in Central Texas

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

If you own a home in Georgetown, TX, you already know that keeping a lawn healthy in Central Texas can be challenging. Our combination of intense summer heat, periods of drought, watering restrictions, soil conditions, weeds, insects, and lawn diseases can put a tremendous amount of stress on turf throughout the year.

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At Century Outdoor Services, we provide lawn fertilization and weed control throughout Georgetown, including the large Sun City Texas community. We work primarily with Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine lawns throughout Central Texas, and one thing I continually tell homeowners is that there isn’t a single treatment that creates a great lawn.

Fertilization and weed control are important, but they are only part of the equation. Irrigation, mowing, sunlight, soil depth, drainage, and the type of turf growing on the property all have a major impact on how a lawn performs.

As the owner and Director of Agronomy at Century Outdoor Services, my goal with this guide is to explain what Georgetown homeowners should know about caring for their lawns throughout the year, including some of the lawn care challenges we see in Sun City Georgetown.

What Makes Lawn Care in Georgetown, TX Different?

Georgetown lawns face many of the same challenges we see throughout Central Texas, but conditions can vary considerably from one property to another.

Two lawns in the same Georgetown neighborhood can receive the exact same fertilization and weed control treatments and produce very different results. In many cases, the difference isn’t the fertilizer. It’s the growing environment.

A healthy lawn depends on several factors working together:

Adequate sunlight
Proper irrigation coverage and watering practices
Enough healthy soil for good root development
Proper mowing height and frequency
Correct fertilization
Preventative and post-emergent weed control
Monitoring for insects and lawn diseases

If one of these areas is significantly lacking, a professional fertilization and weed control program cannot always overcome it.

This is especially important during a Georgetown summer. When temperatures rise and rainfall becomes inconsistent, lawns with shallow roots, poor irrigation coverage, compacted or shallow soil, or improper mowing practices will usually show stress before healthier lawns.

That’s why our approach at Century isn’t simply about making an application every few weeks. We want homeowners to understand why their lawn is performing the way it is and what can realistically be done to improve it.

Lawn Care in Sun City Georgetown, TX

Sun City is an important part of the Georgetown area we service, and lawn care there deserves some additional attention.

One of the first things Sun City homeowners should understand is that the community has specific landscape guidelines. Approved lawn grasses include hybrid Bermuda, hybrid Zoysia, and hybrid buffalo grass, so choosing and maintaining the appropriate turf is especially important.

For our fertilization and weed control services, we commonly focus on helping Bermuda and Zoysia lawns develop a thicker, healthier turf canopy while reducing weed pressure throughout the year.

Sun City Lawns Still Need the Basics

Regardless of the grass variety, the fundamentals don’t change.

A fertilization program cannot compensate for an irrigation system that is missing part of the lawn. Weed control cannot correct a turf area that receives too much shade. Fertilizer also cannot create deep roots if there is very little usable soil beneath the grass.

This is why we encourage Sun City homeowners to look at the entire growing environment when they’re trying to determine why an area of their lawn is struggling.

Sunlight, irrigation, soil, mowing, and our fertilization and weed control program all need to work together.

Irrigation Is Especially Important

Water management is one of the biggest factors affecting lawns throughout Georgetown.

The goal shouldn’t necessarily be to water the lawn more often. The goal is to water deeply enough to encourage roots to grow farther into the soil while following the watering restrictions that apply to your property.

When possible, we want irrigation to soak beyond the immediate surface rather than providing frequent, shallow watering. Depending on the soil and slope of the property, this may require breaking the irrigation runtime into multiple cycles on the same watering day to reduce runoff.

Homeowners should also periodically run their irrigation system while they are outside watching it. Look for clogged nozzles, broken heads, heads that aren’t rotating correctly, areas blocked by plants, and sections of turf that simply aren’t receiving the same amount of water as the rest of the lawn.

Those irrigation problems often become much easier to identify once summer temperatures arrive and stressed areas begin turning off-color.

Sun City homeowners also have access to the community’s Water Matters resources for assistance with irrigation controller programming.

Don’t Assume Every Brown Area Needs More Fertilizer

This is one of the most important points I can make as an agronomist.

If an area of your Sun City lawn repeatedly turns brown every summer, adding more fertilizer may not solve the problem.

The issue could be poor irrigation coverage, shallow soil, excessive heat, compacted soil, shade, disease, insects, or a combination of several factors.

Before trying to force additional growth with fertilizer, we want to understand why the turf is struggling in the first place.

That approach is an important part of how we care for lawns throughout Georgetown and Sun City.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Irrigation Has to Be Correct

Water is another major factor.

Central Texas summers can be extremely stressful on turfgrass. Heat, drought, watering restrictions and shallow soils can all contribute to dry areas in the lawn.

The goal isn’t necessarily to water more often. In most situations, we want to water deeply enough to move moisture through the root zone.

If you’re only applying a small amount of water that wets the surface, you’re encouraging a shallow root system. A deeper, healthier root system gives the lawn a better chance of handling our Austin summers.

You also need to make sure your irrigation system is actually providing even coverage.

We commonly see:

Clogged or damaged sprinkler heads
Heads that aren’t adjusted correctly
Areas receiving significantly less water than others
Run times that are too short
Water running off instead of soaking into the soil
Irrigation schedules that haven’t been adjusted for the season

If an area of your lawn isn’t receiving enough water, adding more fertilizer isn’t going to fix it. In fact, actively growing turf needs adequate moisture to properly utilize the nutrients we’re applying.

What Is the Best Grass for Georgetown, TX?

One of the first things to understand about lawn care in Georgetown is that not every type of grass performs the same way. Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine are the three warm-season turfgrasses we commonly work with in the Central Texas area, but each has different requirements when it comes to sunlight, mowing, irrigation, and overall maintenance.

Choosing the right turf for the conditions on your property can make a tremendous difference. You can have a great fertilization and weed control program, but if the grass isn’t suited for the amount of sunlight or growing conditions in that area, treatments alone aren’t going to solve the problem.

Bermuda Grass in Georgetown

Bermuda grass is one of my favorite turf types for a sunny Central Texas lawn. When it receives enough sunlight, proper irrigation, and regular mowing, Bermuda can develop a very thick and dense turf canopy.

One of Bermuda’s biggest advantages is its ability to recover. It spreads aggressively during the growing season, which allows healthy Bermuda to fill in thin or damaged areas much better than some other turf types.

The biggest limitation is shade.

Bermuda needs plenty of direct sunlight to perform well. If trees mature and begin shading an area that was once sunny, the Bermuda can gradually become thinner. Once that happens, weeds may begin taking advantage of the open areas.

This is important because homeowners sometimes assume the lawn needs more fertilizer when the real problem is that the Bermuda simply isn’t receiving enough sunlight.

For mowing, I generally recommend keeping residential Bermuda around 1 to 2 inches and mowing weekly during the active growing season. Consistent mowing at the proper height encourages a denser canopy and helps the lawn compete against weeds.

Zoysia Grass in Georgetown

Zoysia has become increasingly popular throughout the Georgetown and Austin areas, and it can be an excellent option for residential lawns.

For home lawns, I prefer the wider-bladed varieties such as Palisades Zoysia. It creates a dense, attractive lawn and generally handles some shade better than Bermuda.

That doesn’t mean Zoysia is a shade grass.

Zoysia still needs adequate sunlight to remain healthy. When it is planted in areas with too much shade, it can thin just like other warm-season turfgrasses.

One characteristic homeowners should understand about Zoysia is that it tends to recover more slowly from damage than Bermuda. Maintaining good turf density through proper mowing, irrigation, fertilization, and pest management is therefore important.

When Zoysia is growing in the right environment and maintained correctly, it can be one of the best-looking turf options we have in Central Texas.

St. Augustine Grass in Georgetown

St. Augustine is another common Central Texas turfgrass and can tolerate more shade than Bermuda. Its wide blades create a completely different appearance from Bermuda and make it a popular choice for properties with mature trees.

However, St. Augustine comes with its own challenges.

It can be more susceptible to certain insect and disease problems, and proper irrigation becomes especially important during our hot Central Texas summers. Excessive watering can also create problems, particularly when warm temperatures and prolonged moisture create conditions favorable for lawn disease.

St. Augustine also shouldn’t be treated exactly like Bermuda. Mowing it too short can place unnecessary stress on the turf. In most situations, I prefer St. Augustine to be maintained higher than Bermuda.

Sun City homeowners should also be aware that St. Augustine is not currently an approved lawn grass under Sun City Texas landscape guidelines. Homeowners considering turf replacement should always verify the community’s current requirements before selecting a grass variety.

Sunlight Can Be More Important Than Fertilizer

One of the most common lawn problems I see throughout Central Texas is a homeowner trying to grow grass where there simply isn’t enough sunlight.

This often happens gradually.

When a home is first built, the trees may be small and the lawn receives plenty of sun. Ten or fifteen years later, those trees are considerably larger and the amount of sunlight reaching the turf has changed.

The grass begins thinning, so the homeowner fertilizes it more, waters it more, or continues replacing sod in the same area.

But none of those things create sunlight.

If the turf isn’t receiving enough light for that particular grass variety, fertilization and weed control cannot fix the underlying problem.

This is why we sometimes have to tell homeowners that a struggling area isn’t really a lawn treatment problem. Tree pruning may improve sunlight in some situations, another turf variety may be better suited for the area, or the homeowner may eventually need to consider converting a heavily shaded area away from turf altogether.

Understanding the limitations of the site can save a homeowner a lot of money and frustration.

Soil Depth and Root Health Matter

The grass you see above ground is only part of the lawn. What is happening underneath it can be even more important.

I generally like to see at least 6 inches of good soil for a lawn, and deeper is even better. If you have 10, 12, or more inches of quality soil, the turf has a much larger area available for root development and moisture storage.

A lawn growing over shallow soil has much less room for roots.

This becomes especially noticeable during a Georgetown summer. A lawn with a deeper, healthier root system has access to a larger reservoir of moisture than turf growing in only a few inches of soil.

That’s one reason two neighboring lawns can receive similar amounts of irrigation but react completely differently to summer heat.

Why Deep Roots Are So Important

Our goal is to encourage the turf to develop roots deeper into the soil profile rather than keeping most of the root system near the surface.

This is where deep irrigation becomes important.

When irrigation is applied correctly, we want the water to move through the root zone rather than only wetting the top inch or two of soil. Deeper watering encourages the turf to utilize more of the available soil profile.

On properties where water begins running off before enough has soaked into the soil, the irrigation may need to be divided into multiple shorter cycles on the same watering day. This gives the water time to soak into the soil between cycles.

The deeper the healthy soil profile and root system, the better equipped the lawn will generally be to handle periods of heat and drought stress.

Fertilizer Cannot Create Soil

This is another important limitation of any fertilization program.

If sod was originally installed over a very shallow layer of soil, fertilizer cannot add another six inches of soil underneath the lawn.

We can provide the nutrients the turf needs. We can control many of the weeds, insects, and diseases affecting it. We can help improve the growing environment with services such as liquid aeration.

But there are physical limitations to what lawn treatments can accomplish.

That’s why at Century Outdoor Services, we want to identify the cause of a lawn problem rather than simply applying more products.

Sometimes the answer is fertilizer. Sometimes it’s weed control. Other times, the lawn needs better irrigation, more sunlight, improved mowing practices, or a healthier growing environment.

The best Georgetown lawns are the result of all of these pieces working together.

Proper Irrigation for Georgetown Lawns

If there is one thing that can make or break a lawn during a Central Texas summer, it is irrigation.

Even the best fertilization and weed control program cannot compensate for a lawn that isn’t receiving enough water. At the same time, watering too frequently or keeping the lawn constantly wet can create a completely different set of problems.

Our goal is to encourage deep, healthy roots by watering deeply enough to move moisture through the root zone.

How Often Should You Water Your Lawn in Georgetown, TX?

There isn’t one irrigation runtime that works for every Georgetown lawn.

The amount of water your lawn needs depends on several factors, including the turf type, soil depth, slope, sunlight, irrigation system, temperature, rainfall, and current watering restrictions.

Rather than focusing only on the number of minutes programmed into the controller, homeowners should pay attention to how deeply the water is actually moving into the soil.

If your irrigation system runs for 10 minutes but only wets the top inch of soil, you may be encouraging a shallow root system. On the other hand, simply running a sprinkler zone for a long period of time isn’t necessarily the answer. Water may begin running down the street before it has a chance to soak deeply into the soil.

This is where cycle-and-soak irrigation can help.

Instead of running a zone continuously, you can divide the total watering time into multiple shorter cycles on the same watering day. Allowing time between cycles gives the water an opportunity to soak into the soil before the next cycle begins.

Always follow the current City of Georgetown watering restrictions and schedule that apply to your property.

Check Your Irrigation System—Don’t Just Assume It’s Working

One of the most common things we see is a homeowner who knows their irrigation system is running but hasn’t actually watched it operate.

A controller turning on doesn’t mean every part of the lawn is receiving the correct amount of water.

At least periodically, turn the system on and walk the property while each zone is operating.

Look for:

Broken or leaking sprinkler heads
Clogged nozzles
Heads that aren’t rotating properly
Sprinklers blocked by plants or turf
Water spraying onto sidewalks or driveways
Areas receiving significantly less water than surrounding turf
Excessive runoff
Zones that aren’t operating at all

These problems often become very noticeable during the summer.

You may see a brown or off-color area appear in almost exactly the same location every year. Before assuming the lawn has an insect, disease, or fertilizer problem, check the irrigation coverage.

Sometimes the problem is as simple as a sprinkler head that isn’t reaching that part of the lawn.

Why Does My Georgetown Lawn Turn Brown During the Summer?

Brown areas appearing during hot, dry weather are not automatically caused by a lack of fertilizer.

In many cases, the first thing I look at is water and soil.

A localized dry spot can develop because of poor sprinkler coverage, shallow soil, compacted or difficult-to-wet soil, excessive heat near concrete or stone, slope, or a combination of several conditions.

This is also why brown areas can sometimes become more noticeable after a summer rain.

The healthier parts of the lawn respond quickly to the moisture and begin growing and turning greener. Areas with poor soil, weak roots, irrigation problems, or previous drought stress may respond more slowly, making the difference between healthy and stressed turf much easier to see.

Of course, insects and diseases can also cause turf discoloration. That’s why diagnosing the cause before treating the lawn is important.

Not every brown spot needs more fertilizer, more water, or an insecticide.

It needs the correct diagnosis.

Proper Mowing for Georgetown Lawns

Mowing is one of the most overlooked parts of lawn care.

During the active growing season, I recommend mowing your lawn weekly. Depending on the turf type and growth rate, some lawns may need to be mowed even more frequently during periods of rapid growth.

Regular mowing encourages a denser turf canopy, improves the appearance of the lawn, and can help the grass compete more effectively against weeds.

Allowing the grass to become excessively tall and then cutting a large amount off at once can place unnecessary stress on the turf.

How Short Should You Mow Bermuda Grass?

For residential Bermuda grass, I generally recommend a mowing height of approximately 1 to 2 inches.

Bermuda responds very well to frequent mowing. When it is maintained at an appropriate height and mowed consistently, it develops a tighter, denser canopy.

That’s one reason I don’t recommend letting Bermuda grow tall simply because you want the lawn to look thicker. In many cases, the opposite happens.

A properly maintained Bermuda lawn should be encouraged to grow dense horizontally, not simply tall vertically.

What About Zoysia and St. Augustine?

Zoysia mowing height can vary depending on the particular variety, but the same basic principle applies: mow consistently and avoid removing too much of the leaf blade at one time.

St. Augustine should generally be maintained higher than Bermuda. Cutting St. Augustine too short can reduce the amount of leaf surface available for photosynthesis and place additional stress on the turf.

Regardless of turf type, keep your mower blades sharp.

A dull mower blade tears the grass instead of producing a clean cut. If the tips of the grass look shredded or brown shortly after mowing, a dull blade may be part of the problem.

Mowing and Fertilization Have to Work Together

When we fertilize a lawn, we’re providing nutrients that encourage healthy turf growth.

That growth still has to be managed.

One issue we occasionally see is a lawn receiving regular fertilization while only being mowed every two or three weeks during the growing season. The homeowner may then remove a significant amount of the grass blade each time they mow.

That’s not the environment we’re trying to create.

Fertilization encourages growth, and proper mowing manages that growth.

The two practices work together.

The same is true for irrigation. We can provide nutrients, weed control, insect treatments, and disease management, but we don’t control the homeowner’s sprinkler system or mowing schedule.

That’s why I consider irrigation and mowing two of the homeowner’s most important responsibilities in a professional lawn care program.

When proper irrigation, weekly mowing, adequate sunlight, healthy soil, and a consistent fertilization and weed control program all work together, we have a much better opportunity to develop the thick, healthy lawn homeowners are looking for.

Fertilization and Weed Control for Georgetown Lawns

A healthy Georgetown lawn needs different things at different times of the year.

One of the mistakes homeowners can make is assuming lawn fertilization is simply a matter of applying the same fertilizer every few months. That’s not how we approach turf management at Century Outdoor Services.

Soil temperatures, turf growth, weather conditions, weed pressure, insects, and disease activity all change throughout the year. Our treatments need to change with them.

That’s why our lawn fertilization and weed control program consists of 9 rounds throughout the year, with visits approximately every six weeks. Each round is designed around what Central Texas lawns typically need during that part of the season.

Our goal isn’t simply to make an application. It’s to provide the right treatment at the right time.

When Should You Fertilize a Lawn in Georgetown, TX?

The best fertilization schedule for a Georgetown lawn should follow the turf’s growth cycle rather than simply following the calendar.

Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine are warm-season grasses. As soil temperatures warm in the spring, these grasses begin coming out of winter dormancy and eventually enter their active growing season.

This is when fertilization becomes increasingly important.

During the growing season, we use fertilizer to provide nutrients that support healthy growth, turf density, color, and root development. The exact treatment can change throughout the season based on what the lawn needs and the conditions we’re experiencing.

As we move toward winter and warm-season turf begins entering dormancy, our approach changes.

We don’t believe in applying fertilizer simply because a service visit is scheduled.

If the turf isn’t actively growing and doesn’t need fertilizer, there is no reason to force unnecessary growth. During our winter rounds, the focus shifts more toward weed control and monitoring the lawn for potential problems.

That’s an important part of what I mean when I talk about a seasonally adjusted lawn care program.

Why Pre-Emergent Weed Control Is Important in Georgetown

One of the best ways to control weeds is to prevent as many of them as possible from becoming established in the first place.

That’s where pre-emergent weed control comes in.

A pre-emergent creates a chemical barrier in the soil that targets susceptible weeds as they begin the germination and establishment process. Timing is extremely important because the treatment needs to be in place before the targeted weeds become established.

At Century, pre-emergent applications are an important part of our year-round program.

We use them strategically during the year to help reduce both warm-season and cool-season weed pressure.

This is particularly important in the fall.

While your Bermuda or Zoysia lawn may be preparing to enter dormancy, winter weeds are preparing for their growing season. A properly timed fall pre-emergent application can significantly reduce the number of winter weeds that become established in the lawn.

Why Do I Still Have Weeds After a Pre-Emergent Application?

This is a question we hear frequently.

Pre-emergent does not mean that you will never see another weed.

No pre-emergent product controls every weed species, and there are several reasons weeds can still appear after an application.

Some weeds may have already germinated before the pre-emergent was applied. Others may not be controlled by the particular active ingredient being used. Soil disturbance can also affect the pre-emergent barrier, and environmental conditions can influence performance.

There are also difficult weeds that require a completely different management strategy.

Dallisgrass and nutsedge, for example, aren’t problems that we expect a standard pre-emergent program to completely eliminate.

This is why a complete weed-control strategy uses both pre-emergent and post-emergent treatments.

Pre-emergent helps reduce future weed populations. Post-emergent products target susceptible weeds that are already growing.

How Long Does It Take Weed Control to Work?

Another common misconception is that a weed should be dead a day or two after it has been treated.

Depending on the weed, product, temperature, and growing conditions, post-emergent weed control can take approximately two to four weeks to produce its full results.

Some weeds begin showing symptoms relatively quickly. Others decline much more slowly.

During certain times of the year, our product choices can also be limited by temperature.

In the middle of a Georgetown summer, for example, we have to be careful with certain herbicides because products that work very well under cooler conditions can potentially injure desirable turf when temperatures are extremely high.

Our first responsibility is protecting the lawn.

Sometimes that means using a different product, changing the application method, or waiting for conditions that allow us to treat a difficult weed more safely.

Some Georgetown Weeds Are More Difficult Than Others

Not every weed can be treated the same way.

Dallisgrass is one of the weeds I consider particularly difficult in Central Texas lawns. There are limited selective herbicide options available for controlling it without damaging desirable turf, and treatment may require patience and repeated applications.

Nutsedge is another weed that homeowners often struggle with. It can grow quickly and doesn’t respond to the same herbicides used for many common broadleaf weeds.

Then we have aggressive summer annual weeds such as spurge, which can appear and spread rapidly during hot weather.

This is another reason I don’t like the idea of a one-product-fits-all approach to weed control.

We need to identify the weed first and then determine the appropriate treatment.

Why a Year-Round Lawn Program Matters in Georgetown

Homeowners sometimes wait until weeds become severe before thinking about lawn care.

At that point, we’re already playing catch-up.

I prefer a preventative approach.

A consistent program allows us to apply pre-emergent before major weed seasons, provide fertilizer when the turf is actively growing, treat existing weeds as conditions allow, and continually monitor the lawn for insects and diseases.

It also allows us to see the property throughout different seasons.

A lawn can look completely different in April than it does in August or December.

By visiting approximately every six weeks, we’re able to adjust treatments based on the season rather than seeing the lawn only when something has already gone wrong.

What Century’s 9-Round Program Includes

Our 9-round fertilization and weed control program is designed specifically around the needs of Central Texas lawns.

Depending on the season and conditions, our visits can include:

Seasonally appropriate fertilizer
Pre-emergent weed control
Post-emergent weed treatments
Grub prevention
Armyworm prevention and control
Chinch bug monitoring and treatment
Lawn disease monitoring and treatment
Other lawn insect treatments when needed

Fire ant control is available separately.

We also back our program with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and free callbacks. If a covered lawn issue needs additional attention between scheduled visits, we want our clients to contact us rather than waiting another six weeks for their next service.

A Healthy Lawn Is the Best Long-Term Weed Defense

Herbicides are an important tool, but one of the best defenses against weeds is still thick, healthy turf.

Weeds take advantage of opportunities.

When turf becomes thin because of shade, drought stress, poor irrigation, improper mowing, insects, disease, or other problems, sunlight reaches the soil and creates opportunities for weeds to become established.

A dense turf canopy occupies that space and makes it more difficult for many weeds to compete.

That’s why our goal isn’t simply to kill weeds.

Our goal is to help create an environment where the desirable turf can become as healthy and dense as the property allows.

For Georgetown and Sun City homeowners, that means combining professional fertilization and weed control with proper irrigation, regular mowing, adequate sunlight, and good soil conditions.

When all of those pieces work together, we have a much better opportunity to produce a healthy Central Texas lawn.

Building a Healthier Lawn

There is no single product or treatment that creates a great lawn.

After working with Central Texas lawns for years, I’ve found that the best results come when fertilization, weed control, irrigation, mowing, sunlight, and soil conditions all work together.

At Century Outdoor Services, our job is to provide the professional side of that equation. Our 9-round fertilization and weed control program is designed around Central Texas growing conditions and changes throughout the year based on what the turf needs.

But the homeowner plays an important role as well.

Proper irrigation, consistent mowing, and paying attention to changes in the lawn can make a tremendous difference in how the turf responds to our treatments.

This is true throughout Georgetown, including Sun City Texas. Every property is a little different, which is why we believe it’s important to look beyond simply applying fertilizer or spraying weeds. We want to understand what is happening with the lawn and help our clients set realistic expectations for what their property can achieve.

If you’re looking for professional lawn care in Georgetown, TX, Century Outdoor Services provides year-round fertilization and weed control for Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine lawns throughout the Georgetown area.

We’re locally owned and operated, and our program is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee and free callbacks.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

Why Fertilization Alone Won’t Fix Your Lawn

Why Fertilization and Weed Control Alone Won’t Fix Your Lawn in Austin, TX

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

One of the conversations we have fairly often with homeowners is, “I’ve been on a fertilization and weed control program, but my lawn doesn’t look any better.”

When we hear that, the first thing we want to determine is whether the problem is actually something that fertilizer or weed control can fix.

Get an Estimate

At Century Outdoor Services, our fertilization and weed control program is designed to provide the nutrients your lawn needs while preventing and controlling weeds throughout the year. We can also address many common lawn insects and diseases.

But there is something important every homeowner needs to understand:

A fertilization and weed control program cannot overcome improper mowing, poor irrigation, shallow soil, drainage problems, or too much shade.

You can have an excellent fertilization program, but if the basic growing conditions aren’t there, the turf is going to struggle.

Think of Fertilization as One Piece of a Healthy Lawn

A healthy Central Texas lawn depends on several things working together:

Proper fertilization and weed control
Correct irrigation
Proper mowing height and frequency
Adequate soil depth and healthy soil
Sufficient sunlight
Proper drainage

If one or more of these are significantly wrong, fertilizer isn’t going to magically correct the problem.

We sometimes take on a new property where the homeowner is frustrated with how the lawn looks and expects a fertilization program to solve everything. When we evaluate the property, however, we may find that the lawn is being mowed every two or three weeks, the irrigation isn’t providing enough water, there are only a few inches of soil over rock, or the turf is growing underneath heavy tree cover.

Those are growing-condition problems, not fertilizer problems.

Weekly Mowing Is One of the Most Important Things You Can Do

Mowing is one of the most overlooked parts of lawn health.

During the active growing season, I recommend mowing your lawn weekly. For Bermuda grass in particular, we generally recommend maintaining it around 1 to 2 inches when possible.

Frequent mowing encourages a denser turf canopy. That density helps the lawn look better and can also make it more difficult for weeds to establish.

When a lawn is allowed to grow too tall and then a large portion of the leaf blade is removed at once, it creates unnecessary stress on the turf.

A fertilization application may encourage growth, but we can’t control how that growth is managed between our visits. If the lawn isn’t being mowed properly, you may never see the full benefit of the fertilization program.

This is why mowing isn’t simply about keeping the yard looking neat. Mowing is part of your lawn’s overall agronomic program.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Irrigation Has to Be Correct

Water is another major factor.

Central Texas summers can be extremely stressful on turfgrass. Heat, drought, watering restrictions and shallow soils can all contribute to dry areas in the lawn.

The goal isn’t necessarily to water more often. In most situations, we want to water deeply enough to move moisture through the root zone.

You also need to make sure your irrigation system is actually providing even coverage.

We commonly see:

Clogged or damaged sprinkler heads
Heads that aren’t adjusted correctly
Areas receiving significantly less water than others
Run times that are too short
Water running off instead of soaking into the soil
Irrigation schedules that haven’t been adjusted for the season

You Need Enough Soil to Grow a Healthy Lawn

This is a particularly important issue in the Austin area.

Many properties throughout Central Texas have shallow soil over limestone and rock. Sometimes a lawn that appears to have a fertilizer or irrigation problem is actually dealing with inadequate soil depth.

I like to see at least 6 inches of good soil, and more is even better.

Soil provides the environment where the root system develops. It also holds moisture and nutrients.

If one part of the yard has 8 or 10 inches of soil while another area only has 2 or 3 inches before hitting rock, those two areas can perform very differently even though they receive the exact same fertilizer and irrigation.

The shallow area is usually going to dry out faster and struggle more during periods of heat and drought.

You can’t fertilize your way out of a lack of soil.

Healthy Soil Matters Too

Soil depth isn’t the only consideration. The condition of the soil matters.

Compacted soil, poor drainage, low organic matter and other soil problems can limit root development and reduce the lawn’s ability to use water and nutrients effectively.

This is one reason we look at lawn health from an agronomic perspective instead of simply asking, “What fertilizer should we put down?”

Fertilizer provides nutrients. It doesn’t create six inches of soil, correct severe compaction or fix poor drainage.

When the root zone is healthy, however, the fertilizer we apply has a much better opportunity to produce the results we’re looking for.

Fertilizer Cannot Fix a Shade Problem

Homeowners will sometimes notice that the grass underneath a tree is thinning and assume that it needs more fertilizer.

Usually, that’s not the solution.

All turfgrass needs sunlight to perform well. Different grasses have different shade tolerances, but none of our common Central Texas turfgrasses will thrive indefinitely without adequate sunlight.

Bermuda grass generally requires the most sunlight. St. Augustine and certain varieties of Zoysia can tolerate more shade, but even they have limits.

As trees mature and their canopies become larger, an area that grew beautiful turf five years ago may no longer receive enough sunlight today.

Applying additional fertilizer isn’t going to replace sunlight.

In these situations, we may recommend evaluating tree canopies, changing turf varieties when appropriate or considering whether turfgrass is even the right plant for that particular area.

Why Some Lawns Respond Better Than Others

We can treat two lawns next door to each other with the same products and the results can still be completely different.

Why?

One homeowner may:

Mow every week at the proper height
Maintain and adjust the irrigation system
Water deeply
Have adequate soil depth
Receive plenty of sunlight

The other lawn may be mowed every two or three weeks, have poor irrigation coverage, shallow soil and several hours less sunlight.

The fertilization program didn’t suddenly stop working on the second property. The turf simply doesn’t have the growing conditions necessary to take full advantage of it.

This is an important distinction.

Lawn Care Is a Partnership

At Century Outdoor Services, we take responsibility for the things we can control. That includes selecting the appropriate products, applying them correctly, adjusting our program seasonally and identifying problems when we see them.

But there are things that happen between our visits that we can’t control.

That’s where the homeowner comes in.

We provide the fertilization, weed control and professional lawn treatments. The homeowner provides proper mowing, irrigation and the basic growing environment.

When both sides are working together, that’s when we have the best opportunity to produce a thick, healthy lawn.

Before Blaming the Fertilizer, Look at the Entire Lawn

If your lawn isn’t improving the way you expected, don’t automatically assume that it needs more fertilizer.

Ask a few questions:

Am I mowing every week during the growing season?

Am I mowing at the correct height for my turf type?

Is my irrigation system actually providing even coverage?

Am I watering deeply enough to reach the root zone?

Do I have enough soil underneath the turf?

Is the lawn receiving enough sunlight?

Are there drainage or compaction issues?

Once those fundamentals are correct, a professional fertilization and weed control program has a much better opportunity to do what it is designed to do.

The Bottom Line

A great lawn doesn’t come out of a fertilizer tank.

It comes from combining proper fertilization, weed control, irrigation, mowing, healthy soil and adequate sunlight.

Our job at Century Outdoor Services is to give your lawn the professional treatments and nutrients it needs. But even the best fertilization program cannot compensate for a lawn that isn’t being watered properly, isn’t being mowed regularly, doesn’t have enough soil or isn’t receiving enough sunlight.

If you’re investing in professional lawn care, make sure you’re also giving your turf the environment it needs to succeed.

When the fundamentals are right, everything we apply has a much better chance to work.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

Bermuda Grass Mowing Height & Frequency | Austin, TX

How Often and How Short Should You Mow Bermuda Grass in Austin, TX?

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

If you have a Bermuda grass lawn in Austin, Texas, one of the most important things you can do for its health and appearance is also one of the simplest: mow it at the right height and mow it consistently.

At Century Outdoor Services, we can provide the fertilization, weed control, insect control, and disease treatments your lawn needs, but proper mowing is something that has to happen between our visits. In my experience, mowing height and frequency can make a huge difference in how dense and healthy a Bermuda lawn becomes.

For most residential Bermuda lawns in the Austin area, I recommend maintaining a mowing height between 1 and 2 inches and mowing once per week during the active growing season.

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What Is the Best Mowing Height for Bermuda Grass?

For a typical residential Bermuda lawn, I recommend keeping the grass at 2 inches or lower, with an ideal range of about 1 to 2 inches.

Bermuda is naturally a low-growing turfgrass. Unlike St. Augustine, which performs well at a taller mowing height, Bermuda responds very well to being maintained shorter.

One of the biggest benefits is turf density.

When Bermuda is consistently mowed at the proper height, it encourages the grass to grow laterally rather than becoming tall and stemmy. That lateral growth helps create the thick, dense canopy most homeowners want from their lawn.

A dense Bermuda lawn doesn’t just look better. It can also help the lawn compete against weeds by reducing the open areas where weed seeds have an opportunity to germinate and establish.

Why I Don't Recommend Letting Bermuda Grow Tall

A common mistake I see with Bermuda lawns around Austin is mowing them too high or waiting too long between mowings.

If Bermuda is allowed to grow tall, more of the green leaf tissue moves toward the top of the plant while the lower portion becomes increasingly stemmy and brown.

Then, when the lawn is finally mowed shorter, you may suddenly see a lot of brown turf.

In many cases, the mower didn’t actually kill or damage the lawn. You simply removed most of the green growth and exposed the brown stems underneath.

This is why consistency is so important with Bermuda grass.

Instead of allowing it to grow tall and periodically cutting it back down, establish a mowing height and maintain it throughout the growing season.

How Often Should You Mow Bermuda Grass in Austin?

During the active growing season, I recommend mowing Bermuda at least once per week.

In Austin, Bermuda grows aggressively once temperatures warm up, especially when the lawn is receiving adequate irrigation and fertilizer.

Weekly mowing keeps you from removing too much of the grass blade at one time.

A good guideline is the one-third rule: try not to remove more than one-third of the grass blade during a single mowing.

For example, if you’re maintaining your Bermuda lawn around 2 inches, don’t let it get extremely tall before mowing it back down to 2 inches.

The faster your Bermuda is growing, the more important mowing frequency becomes.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Can You Mow Bermuda More Than Once a Week?

Absolutely.

If you’re trying to maintain Bermuda closer to 1 inch, you may need to mow more frequently than once per week during periods of rapid growth.

The lower you maintain Bermuda, the more frequently it generally needs to be mowed.

For most Austin homeowners using a standard rotary mower, however, I think the 1- to 2-inch range provides a good balance between appearance, turf health, and realistic maintenance.

You don’t need to maintain your backyard like a golf course to have great-looking Bermuda grass.

What About Mowing Bermuda During the Winter?

Bermuda is a warm-season grass, so its growth slows dramatically as temperatures cool and eventually stops when the turf goes dormant.

That means your mowing schedule should change with the seasons.

During the growing season, you may be mowing every week. During winter in Austin, you may only need to mow about once a month, and sometimes even less depending on weather conditions and growth.

Winter mowing is often more about keeping the lawn neat and managing any growth or weeds that extend above the dormant Bermuda canopy.

There’s no reason to continue mowing every week when the turf isn’t actively growing.

Keep Your Mower Blade Sharp

Mowing height and frequency aren’t the only things that matter.

Keep your mower blade sharp.

A dull mower blade tears the grass instead of making a clean cut. If you’ve ever noticed that the tips of your Bermuda look shredded or turn tan shortly after mowing, a dull blade may be part of the problem.

A clean cut reduces unnecessary stress and gives the lawn a much cleaner appearance after mowing.

The Bottom Line for Austin Bermuda Lawns

If you want a thick, healthy Bermuda lawn, don’t overlook mowing.

For most Bermuda lawns in Austin, I recommend:

Maintain Bermuda between 1 and 2 inches
Keep it at 2 inches or lower for a denser canopy
Mow weekly during the growing season
Mow more frequently if maintaining the lawn closer to 1 inch
Follow the one-third rule and avoid removing too much at once
Keep mower blades sharp
Reduce mowing significantly during winter dormancy

Fertilization and weed control are important pieces of a healthy Bermuda lawn, but they work best when they’re combined with good cultural practices.

At Century Outdoor Services, we see the best results when proper fertilization, weed control, irrigation, and mowing all work together. A consistent mowing schedule is one of the easiest things an Austin homeowner can do to help create a thicker, healthier Bermuda lawn.

If you want to learn more about caring for your Bermuda lawn, see our info on How to Grow and Maintain a Healthy Lawn.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

How Long to Water Your Lawn in Austin, TX | Summer Guide

How Long Should You Water Your Lawn in Austin, TX? A Summer Irrigation Guide

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

If there is one thing that can make or break a lawn during an Austin summer, it is irrigation.

Every summer, we see lawns struggling with heat stress, localized dry spots, thinning turf, and areas that simply cannot seem to stay green. Sometimes there is an insect or disease problem involved, but very often the biggest issue comes down to how the lawn is being watered.

Get an Estimate

One of the most common questions we get at Century Outdoor Services is:

“How long should I run my sprinklers?”

I wish there were a simple answer like 20 minutes per zone, but there isn’t.

Your irrigation runtime depends on the type of sprinkler heads you have, your soil depth, slope, sun exposure, turf type, irrigation design, and even the individual zone. Two homes next door to each other can require completely different irrigation settings.

Instead of focusing only on the number of minutes, I want homeowners to understand the real goal: water deeply enough to encourage a deep, healthy root system without allowing the water to run off.

That becomes especially important during our 100-degree Central Texas summers.

Why We Recommend Deep, Infrequent Watering

You have probably heard someone say you should water your lawn deeply and infrequently.

But what does that actually mean?

When you irrigate your lawn, you want the moisture to penetrate below the shallow portion of the root system. When moisture is available deeper in the soil, turf roots have a reason to grow deeper to reach it.

Over time, that can help develop a deeper and stronger root system.

That matters tremendously during an Austin summer.

The upper portion of the soil is exposed to extreme temperatures, sunlight, and evaporation. Moisture near the surface can disappear relatively quickly when temperatures approach or exceed 100 degrees.

Moisture deeper in the soil is better protected.

A lawn with a deeper root system therefore has access to moisture for longer and can generally tolerate periods of heat and drought stress better than turf with extremely shallow roots.

Shallow Watering Can Create Shallow Roots

One mistake I see is watering frequently but not running the irrigation system long enough to move much water into the soil.

For example, imagine a sprinkler zone is running for 10 minutes but, based on the sprinkler heads and conditions in that area, it really needs considerably more water.

That short irrigation cycle may only wet the very top portion of the soil.

If the majority of the available moisture is always near the surface, the turf has very little incentive to develop deeper roots.

You can end up training the roots to remain shallow.

Then Austin summer temperatures arrive.

That shallow layer of moisture heats up and dries out quickly. Once it is gone, the turf can begin showing signs of summer heat stress surprisingly fast.

This is why simply watering more frequently isn’t necessarily the solution.

In many cases, we need to improve how deeply the water is penetrating the soi

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Soil Depth Is a Major Factor in Austin Lawns

This is an especially important issue in the Austin area because of our soil conditions.

Ideally, I like to see a lawn have at least six inches of good soil underneath it. If you have 12 inches or more of quality soil, even better.

Unfortunately, that isn’t what every Central Texas property has.

We regularly encounter lawns with only a few inches of soil before hitting rock or limestone.

Imagine having two inches of soil with rock immediately underneath it.

You can run your irrigation system, but you can’t magically make the roots grow six inches deep when there are only two inches of usable soil.

The rock underneath the lawn can also absorb heat during the summer. That can contribute to the soil above it drying out even faster.

This is one reason two areas of the same lawn can respond completely differently even though they are receiving similar irrigation.

One section may have plenty of soil while another has very shallow soil over rock.

From the surface, you may never know the difference.

Can You Improve Shallow Soil?

Depending on the property, there are a few ways homeowners can improve shallow soil conditions.

One option is topdressing, which gradually adds material to the lawn over time.

For severe situations, correcting the problem may require a much larger renovation. That could involve removing turf, addressing rock or poor soil underneath it, adding the proper amount of quality soil, and then installing new sod.

Obviously, that’s a much bigger project.

The important thing is to recognize the limitation.

If an area of your lawn consistently struggles every summer despite receiving adequate irrigation, don’t automatically assume it needs more fertilizer.

Soil depth, irrigation coverage, and root-zone conditions should be investigated.

How Long Should You Run Your Sprinklers in Austin?

This is where homeowners usually want me to give them a number.

Should it be 10 minutes?

20 minutes?

45 minutes?

An hour?

The correct answer is: it depends on the zone.

I would be very cautious about anyone giving you one universal irrigation runtime without looking at your system.

Different irrigation heads apply water at very different rates.

For example, a conventional spray zone may require one runtime, while a rotor zone could need 30–45 minutes or more depending on its precipitation rate.

An MP Rotator-style zone may need to run even longer.

Drip irrigation is another completely different situation. Depending on the design and emitters, a drip zone could run for 30 minutes, an hour, two hours, or another appropriate amount of time.

That doesn’t mean one type is better than another.

It means minutes alone don’t tell you how much water is being applied.

Every Irrigation Zone Should Be Evaluated Individually

Even if every zone used identical sprinkler heads, I still wouldn’t automatically give every zone the same runtime.

Think about the differences around your property.

One zone may receive full afternoon sun.

Another may be partially shaded.

One could have deep soil.

Another could have shallow soil over limestone.

The front yard may be relatively flat while the backyard is on a steep slope.

You may also have different plant material or turf types in different areas.

All of these factors affect irrigation requirements.

Your irrigation controller should be thought of as a tool for managing individual areas of the property, not simply something that turns every sprinkler on for 20 minutes.

What Is Cycle-and-Soak Watering?

Slopes create another common irrigation problem in Central Texas.

Let’s say a particular zone needs approximately 30 minutes of runtime to apply the amount of water you are trying to put down.

If you run it for 30 minutes continuously on a steep slope, the soil may not absorb the water quickly enough.

Instead of soaking into the root zone, water starts running down the street or sidewalk.

That water isn’t helping your lawn.

This is where cycle-and-soak irrigation can be extremely useful.

Instead of running that zone for 30 continuous minutes, you might divide the total runtime into multiple shorter cycles with time between them.

The first cycle wets the soil.

You give that water time to soak in.

Then another cycle applies additional water.

This process continues until the desired amount has been applied.

The exact number and length of cycles will depend on the property, but the principle is simple:

Apply water slowly enough that the soil can absorb it instead of allowing it to run off.

This can be particularly helpful for Austin-area properties with slopes, compacted soils, and shallow soil conditions.

Don't Use the Same Irrigation Settings All Year

Another mistake I see is setting an irrigation controller once and never adjusting it again.

Your lawn does not need the same amount of water in January that it needs in August.

I recommend reviewing your irrigation settings seasonally.

During the summer, your lawn is dealing with high temperatures, intense sunlight, and significantly greater moisture loss.

During spring and fall, irrigation requirements typically decrease.

Winter is different again.

Your controller should reflect those changing conditions rather than operating on one schedule throughout the entire year.

Should You Water a Dormant Lawn in Winter?

Yes—when conditions are dry.

Dormant grass isn’t dead.

The crown and other living portions of the turf plant still need some moisture.

If we go through an extended dry period during the winter, I generally recommend getting some water into the soil approximately every couple of weeks when we haven’t received meaningful rainfall, while accounting for local restrictions and weather conditions.

Maintaining some soil moisture can also help the turf going into a significant cold event.

Over the years, I’ve seen a noticeable difference in spring green-up and overall turf condition between lawns that received reasonable winter moisture and lawns that were allowed to become extremely dry for long periods.

That does not mean you should keep the lawn soaking wet.

It means we shouldn’t completely forget about irrigation just because the grass has gone dormant.

Can You Overwater an Austin Lawn?

Absolutely.

More water is not always better.

In fact, overwatering can create serious turf problems.

Constantly saturated soil can reduce oxygen around the root system and create conditions that favor certain lawn diseases. Excessive watering can also encourage shallow rooting and waste a tremendous amount of water.

The goal is not to keep your lawn wet all the time.

The goal is to apply the appropriate amount of water, allow it to penetrate into the root zone, and then allow the soil to begin drying between irrigation events.

That is the basic concept behind deep and infrequent watering.

What About Once-a-Week Watering Restrictions?

Water restrictions make proper irrigation even more important.

When you’re limited in how frequently you can irrigate, you need to make the watering opportunity you have count.

A properly designed and adjusted system can help get water deeper into the soil while minimizing runoff.

Even with good irrigation practices, you may still see some signs of stress during extended periods of 100-degree weather.

Our goal isn’t necessarily to make the lawn believe it is 75 degrees outside.

We can’t control the weather.

What we can do is build the healthiest turf and root system possible so the lawn is better equipped to tolerate those difficult conditions.

Irrigation Is One of the Most Important Parts of Lawn Health

At Century Outdoor Services, we can provide the fertilization, weed control, insect control, disease treatments, and other turf services a lawn needs, but none of those can replace proper irrigation.

Water is one of the most important pieces of the entire lawn-care puzzle.

You can have an excellent fertilization program, but if half of the lawn isn’t receiving adequate water, those areas are still going to struggle.

That’s why irrigation is one of the first things I look at when diagnosing summer lawn problems.

If you’re seeing dry areas, don’t immediately assume your entire lawn needs more water.

Look at the pattern.

Is it one zone?

Is it around a sprinkler head?

Is it on a slope?

Is it beside pavement?

Does the area have shallow soil?

Is it getting full afternoon sun?

Those clues can help determine whether you have a scheduling problem, coverage issue, soil problem, or something else entirely.

Have Your Irrigation System Checked

If you aren’t sure whether your system is operating correctly, I recommend having it evaluated by a knowledgeable irrigation professional.

They can look at the sprinkler heads, coverage, pressure, zone layout, precipitation rates, slopes, soil conditions, and other factors that determine appropriate runtimes.

In Texas, irrigation work is regulated, so make sure anyone you hire to perform regulated irrigation services has the appropriate Texas license.

Even if your irrigation system is working correctly, I recommend reviewing the controller at least seasonally.

A schedule that worked well during spring may not be appropriate for August.

Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Lawn Watering in Austin

How long should I water my lawn in Austin during summer?

There is no universal number of minutes that works for every Austin lawn. Runtime depends on sprinkler-head type, precipitation rate, soil depth, slope, sun exposure, turf conditions, and irrigation-system design. The goal is to apply enough water to reach deeper into the root zone without creating runoff.

Is it better to water grass longer or more often?

In general, we want to encourage deeper, less frequent watering rather than frequent shallow watering. Deep watering encourages the turf to develop a deeper root system, which can improve its ability to tolerate Austin’s summer heat and periods of drought stress.

Should I run every sprinkler zone for the same amount of time?

Usually not. Different types of sprinkler heads apply water at different rates, and individual areas of your property may have different conditions. Each zone should be evaluated based on its sprinkler type, soil, slope, sunlight, plant material, and other factors.

Why does my lawn still look dry after watering?

A lawn can appear dry even when the irrigation system is running regularly. Poor sprinkler coverage, shallow soil, compacted soil, slopes, incorrect runtimes, clogged or damaged heads, and extreme sun exposure can all contribute to localized dry areas.

What is cycle-and-soak watering?

Cycle-and-soak divides a longer irrigation runtime into several shorter watering cycles. The breaks between cycles allow water to soak into the soil before additional water is applied. This can reduce runoff, particularly on slopes or soils that absorb water slowly.

Should I water my lawn during winter in Austin?

If we go through an extended dry period without meaningful rainfall, dormant turf can still benefit from occasional irrigation. Dormant grass is still alive, and maintaining reasonable soil moisture can help protect turf health until spring.

Building a Lawn That Can Better Handle an Austin Summer

There isn’t a magic sprinkler setting that works for every lawn in Austin.

That’s probably the most important thing I want homeowners to take away from this.

Proper summer irrigation is about getting the right amount of water into the right depth of soil without wasting it through runoff or excessive watering.

Deep soil gives us room to develop deeper roots. Deep watering encourages those roots to use that soil. A deeper, healthier root system then gives the turf a better chance of handling the extreme heat and drought stress we experience every summer in Central Texas.

At Century Outdoor Services, our goal isn’t simply to make a lawn green for a few weeks. We want to build healthier turf that can better handle the challenges of our Central Texas environment.

Proper fertilization, weed control, insect and disease management all play a role, but irrigation remains one of the most important factors in the health of your lawn.

If your lawn struggles every summer, take a close look at your irrigation system and your soil before assuming the grass simply needs more fertilizer or more frequent watering.

Sometimes the biggest improvement isn’t adding more water.

It’s watering the lawn correctly.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

Lawn Fertilization Schedule in Austin, TX

Lawn Fertilization in Austin, TX: The Complete Schedule for St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bermuda Lawns

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

If there’s one question I hear more than any other as the owner and agronomist of Century Outdoor Services, it’s, “When should I fertilize my lawn?” The answer isn’t as simple as picking a month on the calendar. Here in Austin, our long growing season, high pH soils, summer heat, and periodic drought all affect how and when your lawn can use nutrients.

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One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is applying fertilizer based solely on the calendar or using the same fertilizer year-round. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia all have different growth habits, but they share one important characteristic—they should be fertilized when they are actively growing, not while they are dormant.

At Century Outdoor Services, we’ve built our 9-round fertilization program around how lawns actually grow in Central Texas. Instead of making a few heavy fertilizer applications each year, we make seasonal adjustments that provide the nutrients your lawn needs at each stage of its growth cycle. This approach produces healthier turf, stronger roots, better color, and more consistent results throughout the year.

Why Fertilizer Timing Matters

Many homeowners spend a lot of time deciding which fertilizer to buy but overlook something even more important: timing.

Even the best fertilizer won’t deliver good results if it’s applied at the wrong time. Fertilizing too early can encourage weeds and waste nutrients before the grass is actively growing. Fertilizing too late in the season may stimulate unnecessary growth when the lawn is preparing for dormancy.

The goal is to apply nutrients when the grass can use them most efficiently. That means adjusting your fertilization schedule based on the season, soil temperatures, and the natural growth cycle of your lawn.

Spring Fertilization (March–April)

Spring is when many homeowners get excited to fertilize, but patience is important.

Although temperatures begin warming in March, most lawns in Austin are still coming out of dormancy. Bermuda grass often greens up earlier than St. Augustine or Zoysia, depending on weather conditions.

Rather than rushing to fertilize, wait until your lawn has greened up and is actively growing. Once the grass begins producing new leaves consistently, it can effectively use the nutrients you’re applying.

Early spring fertilization helps:

Encourage healthy green-up
Promote new shoot growth
Support root development
Prepare the lawn for the growing season

Applying fertilizer before active growth begins often results in wasted nutrients and inconsistent results.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Late Spring and Early Summer (May–June)

This is typically the most important fertilization period of the year for Central Texas lawns.

During late spring, warm-season grasses enter their most active growth phase. Temperatures are ideal, roots are expanding rapidly, and the lawn is capable of using nutrients efficiently.

Proper fertilization during this period helps produce:

Thick, dense turf
Improved color
Faster recovery from mowing and foot traffic
Stronger root systems
Better drought tolerance later in the summer

This is also when maintaining a consistent fertilization schedule becomes important. Instead of one large fertilizer application, smaller seasonal applications provide more consistent growth while reducing stress on the lawn.

Summer Fertilization (July–August)

Austin summers are demanding on every lawn.

Extended periods of high temperatures, watering restrictions, and drought stress make nutrient management especially important.

Many homeowners assume they should stop fertilizing completely during the summer. In reality, healthy lawns continue to benefit from proper nutrition, but the program should be adjusted for seasonal conditions.

At Century Outdoor Services, we make seasonal adjustments throughout the summer rather than applying the exact same fertilizer used earlier in the year. This helps maintain color and overall plant health while avoiding excessive growth that can increase stress during extreme heat.

Summer fertilization should always be paired with proper irrigation and mowing practices to maximize results.

Fall Fertilization (September–October)

As temperatures begin to cool, lawns recover from the stress of summer.

Fall fertilization focuses less on producing rapid top growth and more on helping the lawn rebuild energy reserves before winter dormancy.

Benefits of fall fertilization include:

Stronger root development
Improved recovery from summer stress
Better color into the fall
Healthier spring green-up the following year

Many homeowners mistakenly stop thinking about lawn care after summer ends, but fall is actually one of the most valuable times to strengthen your lawn for the seasons ahead.

Winter (November–February)

Warm-season grasses become dormant during the winter months in Central Texas.

Because the lawn is no longer actively growing, routine nitrogen fertilization is generally unnecessary. Instead, winter is an excellent time to prepare for the following growing season through proper cultural practices and planning.

Allowing the lawn to rest during dormancy helps it emerge healthier when spring arrives.

Fertilization Needs by Grass Type

Although Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia all thrive in Central Texas, they don’t all require the same fertility program.

Bermuda Grass

Bermuda has the highest nutrient demand of the three common lawn grasses found in Austin.

Its aggressive growth habit allows it to recover quickly from mowing, traffic, and summer stress, but that performance depends on maintaining adequate fertility throughout the growing season.

A properly fertilized Bermuda lawn develops excellent density, vibrant green color, and outstanding recovery.

St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine requires a more balanced fertilization approach.

Too much fertilizer can produce excessive top growth that increases mowing requirements and may place unnecessary stress on the lawn during periods of heat and humidity.

A consistent fertilization program helps maintain color and density without encouraging excessive growth.

Zoysia Grass

Zoysia is naturally slower growing than Bermuda and generally requires less fertilizer to maintain an attractive appearance.

Many homeowners appreciate Zoysia because it maintains excellent density and color with fewer growth flushes throughout the season.

While it still benefits from regular fertilization, the focus should be on maintaining steady, healthy growth rather than encouraging rapid expansion.

Grass Type	Fertility Requirement	Growth Rate	Fertilization Approach
Bermuda	High	Fast	Regular applications throughout the growing season
St. Augustine	Moderate	Moderate	Balanced seasonal nutrition
Zoysia	Moderate to Low	Slow	Consistent nutrition without excessive growth

Why a Seasonal Fertilization Program Produces Better Results

One of the biggest differences between professional lawn care and occasional DIY fertilization is consistency.

Many homeowners fertilize once or twice each year and expect season-long results. In reality, your lawn’s nutritional needs change throughout the growing season.

That’s why our 9-round program is built around seasonal adjustments instead of repeating the same application every visit. As weather conditions change, so do your lawn’s nutrient requirements.

This approach allows us to support healthy growth in the spring, maintain turf quality during the heat of summer, and prepare the lawn for recovery in the fall. Rather than chasing problems after they appear, we’re continually managing the lawn’s health throughout the year.

Final Thoughts

A beautiful lawn doesn’t come from applying more fertilizer—it comes from applying the right nutrients at the right time.

Whether you have Bermuda, St. Augustine, or Zoysia, following a consistent fertilization schedule tailored to Austin’s climate will produce healthier roots, improved color, and stronger turf throughout the year.

At Century Outdoor Services, we’ve designed our fertilization program around the unique growing conditions of Central Texas. By making seasonal adjustments instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, we’re able to help homeowners achieve healthier lawns while taking the guesswork out of lawn care.

If you’re looking for a healthier, greener lawn without wondering when or what to fertilize next, our team is here to help.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

Why Brown Spots Suddenly Appear After Summer Rain in Austin Lawns

Why Brown Spots Suddenly Appear After Summer Rain in Austin Lawns

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

Every July, August, and September, I can almost predict when our phones are going to start ringing. We finally get one of those much-needed summer rainstorms, and within a day or two homeowners across Austin begin noticing brown spots all over their lawns. The calls usually start the same way:

“My lawn looked fine before the rain, but now I have brown patches everywhere. Do I have a fungus?”

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Most of the time, the answer is no.

In fact, one of the biggest misconceptions I see during a Central Texas summer is that rain somehow causes these brown spots to appear. The truth is that the rain isn’t creating the problem—it is simply making an existing issue much easier to see.

At Century Outdoor Services, we inspect hundreds of lawns every year, and this is one of the most common situations we run into after a summer rain. Understanding what’s happening can save you from spending money on products your lawn doesn’t need.

The Rain Didn't Create the Brown Spots

If you’ve lived in the Austin area for very long, you know how our summers work. We go weeks without meaningful rainfall while temperatures climb well into the upper 90s and triple digits. On top of that, most homeowners are limited by watering restrictions, which means our lawns are constantly trying to survive on less water than they would really like.

As the summer wears on, certain areas of the yard naturally become stressed. These are what we refer to as hot spots. They may be located where the afternoon sun beats down the hardest, where the soil is shallow, or where irrigation coverage isn’t quite as good as the rest of the lawn.

Before the rain, these areas may already have looked a little faded or off-color. They simply didn’t stand out because the entire lawn was under some level of heat stress.

Then the rain arrives.

Almost overnight, the healthy grass responds by turning a beautiful deep green. Bermuda and Zoysia are especially quick to take advantage of fresh moisture. The stressed areas, however, can’t recover nearly as fast because they’ve already been through weeks of heat and drought stress.

Suddenly those dry spots seem to appear out of nowhere.

They were actually there all along.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Why Bermuda and Zoysia Show This More Than Other Grasses

I see this most often in Bermuda and Zoysia lawns throughout Central Texas. Both grasses are incredibly drought tolerant, but that doesn’t mean they stay green forever without moisture.

One of the reasons these grasses perform so well in Texas is because they’re smart plants. When conditions become too stressful, they’ll slow their growth and even go partially dormant to protect themselves until moisture returns.

Many homeowners mistake that dormancy for dead grass.

Fortunately, those are two very different things.

Most of the time, the brown leaf tissue you’re seeing is simply the top growth that dried out during the hottest part of the summer. The crown of the plant—the growing point—is still alive beneath the surface. Once cooler temperatures arrive or soil moisture improves, the grass begins producing new growth again.

That’s why I always tell customers not to panic when they see these spots after a rainstorm.

The Biggest Mistake Homeowners Make

One thing I encourage homeowners to avoid is assuming every brown patch is a lawn disease.

After a rainstorm, it’s easy to convince yourself that fungus has suddenly taken over the yard. While lawn diseases certainly exist in Central Texas, they’re much less common than simple drought stress.

Before treating anything, I always ask homeowners one simple question:

Did those areas already look stressed before the rain?

If the answer is yes, you’re probably looking at hot spots—not a disease.

The rain simply made the healthy grass recover faster, which created a much greater contrast between the healthy turf and the stressed turf.

That difference in color is what catches your eye.

Don't Rush to Apply Fungicide

This is where I see homeowners waste the most money.

As soon as brown spots appear, many people head to the store looking for a fungicide. Unfortunately, if the problem isn’t actually a disease, that application isn’t helping anything.

In fact, it can actually work against you.

I like comparing fungicides to antibiotics. When we take antibiotics, they don’t only eliminate harmful bacteria. They also affect many of the beneficial bacteria our bodies need.

The same thing happens in your lawn.

Healthy soil is full of beneficial fungi, bacteria, and microorganisms that help break down organic matter, cycle nutrients, and support healthy root development. When fungicides are applied unnecessarily, they don’t distinguish between the organisms we want and the ones we don’t.

That’s why at Century Outdoor Services we only recommend fungicide applications when we’re confident a disease is actually present.

What These Hot Spots Are Really Telling You

Instead of looking at these spots as a problem, I like to think of them as valuable information.

Your lawn is showing you exactly where it’s struggling.

Maybe that section isn’t getting enough irrigation.

Maybe the soil is only a couple of inches deep.

Maybe the afternoon sun reflects off the driveway and heats that area much more than the rest of the yard.

Every hot spot has a reason.

Rather than trying to cover it up with chemicals, it’s much more valuable to figure out why that area consistently dries out faster than everything else.

Sometimes There Isn't Anything You Can Do

One thing I remind homeowners every summer is that we live in Central Texas.

Between the heat, the drought, and watering restrictions, there are times when our lawns simply can’t stay perfectly green every day of the summer.

That’s normal.

Warm-season grasses evolved to survive these conditions. They’re designed to protect themselves until moisture returns.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply be patient.

As temperatures cool and rainfall becomes more consistent in late summer and fall, these stressed areas often recover remarkably well without any special treatment.

My Advice

If you notice brown spots appearing after a summer rain, don’t assume the worst.

Take a walk through your yard and think back to what those areas looked like before the storm. Were they already a little lighter in color? Did they seem to dry out faster than the rest of the lawn? Are they in full afternoon sun?

If so, there’s a very good chance you’re simply looking at drought-stressed hot spots that are taking longer to recover than the rest of your lawn.

At Century Outdoor Services, we see this every single summer, and more often than not, the solution isn’t another product—it’s understanding how warm-season grasses respond to the challenging conditions we face here in Central Texas.

If you’re ever unsure whether you’re dealing with drought stress, insects, or a disease, we’re always happy to take a look and help you determine what’s really going on. Sometimes the best recommendation we can make is simply giving your lawn a little more time.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

Why Lawns Struggle in Lakeway, TX

Why Lawns Struggle in Lakeway, TX (And How to Fix Them)

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

If you’ve lived in Lakeway for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed that maintaining a healthy lawn here can be more challenging than it is in other parts of Central Texas. One yard can look lush and green while the lawn next door struggles with weeds, thinning grass, or yellow patches—even when both homeowners are watering regularly.

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As the owner and Director of Agronomy at Century Outdoor Services, I’ve worked with hundreds of homeowners throughout Lakeway over the years. The unique combination of rocky limestone soils, mature live oak trees, intense summer heat, and watering restrictions creates challenges that require a different approach than many other Texas communities.

At Century Outdoor Services, we’re proud to be part of the Lakeway community. In addition to helping homeowners maintain healthier lawns, we’re also proud sponsors of the Lake Travis Cavalettes, supporting one of the area’s outstanding organizations and the students who represent our community so well.

The good news is that most lawn problems in Lakeway are predictable—and more importantly, they’re preventable. Once you understand what causes them, it’s much easier to keep your lawn healthy throughout the year.

In this guide, I’ll walk through the seven most common lawn problems I see in Lakeway and explain what homeowners can do to avoid them.

High pH Soil Is the Biggest Hidden Problem in Lakeway

If I had to point to one issue that causes more lawn problems than anything else in Lakeway, it would be the soil.

Much of Lakeway is built on limestone, which naturally creates alkaline (high pH) soils. While your grass may have plenty of nutrients available in the soil, a high pH can prevent the roots from absorbing important elements such as iron, manganese, and other micronutrients.

That’s why many homeowners notice their lawn turning light green or yellow even though they’re fertilizing regularly.

One of the most common calls we receive is:

“My lawn looks unhealthy, but I’ve already fertilized it. What am I doing wrong?”

In many cases, the fertilizer isn’t the problem. The nutrients are there—they’re simply unavailable to the grass because of the soil chemistry.

Signs Your Lawn May Have High pH Issues

Grass appears pale green or yellow.
New growth lacks its normal deep green color.
Fertilizer doesn’t seem to improve color.
Certain areas decline faster than others.
Trees and shrubs also show yellowing leaves.

High pH is extremely common throughout Lakeway, Bee Cave, and much of western Travis County, so it’s something we account for in every fertilization program we design.

Rather than simply applying the same fertilizer every visit, we adjust our applications throughout the year based on the seasonal needs of Central Texas turf and include specialty nutrients when they’re needed. This helps improve turf color, encourage stronger root development, and maintain healthier growth despite our naturally alkaline soils.

Healthy soil is the foundation of a healthy lawn, and understanding your soil is often the first step toward solving persistent lawn problems.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Too Much Shade Is Slowly Taking Over Many Lakeway Lawns

One thing that makes Lakeway beautiful is also one of the biggest challenges for maintaining a healthy lawn—our mature live oak trees.

When many of these neighborhoods were first developed, the trees were much smaller and allowed enough sunlight for Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia grass to thrive. Fast forward 20 or 30 years, and those same trees have created dense canopies that significantly reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the lawn.

I see this all the time when visiting properties. Homeowners often think their lawn has a disease or insect problem when, in reality, the grass simply isn’t receiving enough sunlight to stay healthy.

No amount of fertilizer or weed control can overcome a lack of sunlight.

How Much Sun Does Your Lawn Need?

Each turfgrass variety has different light requirements.

Bermuda Grass performs best with at least 7–8 hours of direct sunlight each day. If your lawn receives less than that, you’ll typically notice thinning turf, slower recovery, and more weeds invading open areas.

St. Augustine has traditionally been the preferred choice for shaded landscapes because it tolerates moderate shade better than Bermuda. However, it still needs several hours of filtered sunlight to remain healthy. In heavy shade, even St. Augustine will become thin and susceptible to insects and disease.

Zoysia has become increasingly popular throughout Lakeway over the past several years. Certain Zoysia varieties provide excellent density while tolerating significantly more shade than Bermuda. For many homeowners, it offers the best balance between appearance, durability, and shade tolerance.

Signs Shade Is Becoming a Problem

You may have a shade issue if you notice:

Thin or sparse grass beneath trees.
Bare soil developing around tree trunks.
Moss beginning to appear.
Weeds replacing healthy turf.
Grass growing taller but becoming less dense.
Areas that remain damp much longer after irrigation or rainfall.

What Can Homeowners Do?

Fortunately, there are several ways to improve shaded lawns.

Selective tree pruning can allow additional filtered sunlight to reach the turf without sacrificing the beauty of your mature trees. In some situations, raising the mowing height can also help grass develop a larger leaf blade and capture more available sunlight.

If the amount of shade has increased dramatically over the years, it may be worth considering whether your current grass variety is still the best fit for your property. We’ve helped many Lakeway homeowners transition from struggling Bermuda lawns to Zoysia in areas where shade has become too significant.

The important thing is recognizing that not every lawn problem can be solved with fertilizer or weed control. Sometimes the environment has changed, and your lawn needs a different strategy to stay healthy.

Watering Too Often (or Not Long Enough)

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear from homeowners is that if their lawn looks stressed during the summer, they simply need to water more often.

In reality, it’s usually the opposite.

Most lawns in Lakeway perform much better with deep, infrequent watering rather than short, daily irrigation cycles. Frequent, shallow watering encourages grass roots to stay near the surface, where they’re exposed to extreme heat and dry out much faster.

Our Central Texas summers are tough enough on turf. When roots remain shallow, your lawn becomes much more vulnerable to drought stress, insects, disease, and heat damage.

Lakeway’s Rocky Soils Create Additional Challenges

Many Lakeway properties have shallow soils over limestone, making proper irrigation even more important.

Water can run off quickly on sloped lawns instead of soaking into the root zone. If your irrigation system applies water faster than the soil can absorb it, much of that water ends up running down the driveway or into the street instead of benefiting your lawn.

I’ve seen homeowners increase their irrigation time, only to waste water because it never has a chance to penetrate the soil.

A better solution is often cycle-and-soak watering. Instead of running a zone for one long cycle, divide the total runtime into two or three shorter cycles with breaks in between. This allows the soil to absorb more water while reducing runoff.

One-Day Watering Restrictions Mean Every Minute Counts

Many Lakeway homeowners are limited by watering restrictions, so it’s important to make every irrigation cycle as effective as possible.

I recommend checking your irrigation system several times throughout the growing season to make sure:

Every sprinkler head is operating correctly.
Coverage is even across the lawn.
Heads aren’t spraying sidewalks or driveways.
Broken nozzles are repaired quickly.
Seasonal runtimes are adjusted as temperatures change.

Even a few broken or misaligned sprinkler heads can create dry spots that are often mistaken for disease or insect damage.

Signs Your Lawn Isn’t Being Watered Properly

Improper irrigation can show up in several ways, including:

Grass turning bluish-gray before wilting.
Footprints remaining visible after walking across the lawn.
Localized dry spots.
Areas staying consistently wet.
Increased weed pressure.
Greater susceptibility to chinch bugs and lawn diseases.

Water Smarter, Not More

A properly watered lawn develops deeper roots, making it more resilient during periods of extreme heat and drought.

At Century Outdoor Services, we often evaluate irrigation practices when diagnosing lawn problems because watering is one of the biggest factors affecting turf health. Even the best fertilization and weed control program can’t overcome poor irrigation practices.

If you’re unsure whether your lawn is receiving the right amount of water, a simple irrigation inspection can often identify issues before they become expensive problems.

Summer Weeds Can Take Over Before You Know It

One of the most frustrating calls we receive during the summer starts with, “My lawn looked great a few weeks ago, and now it’s covered in weeds.”

Unfortunately, that’s exactly how many of our summer weeds behave here in Lakeway.

By the time homeowners notice them, they’ve often been growing for several weeks. Warm temperatures, occasional summer rain, and thinner turf create the perfect conditions for weeds to spread quickly.

The good news is that most of these weeds can be managed—but the best approach is preventing them before they ever emerge.

The Most Common Weeds We See in Lakeway

While every lawn is different, these are some of the weeds we treat most often throughout Lakeway and the surrounding area.

Spurge

Spurge is probably my least favorite summer weed.

It grows incredibly fast, spreads low across the ground, and produces thousands of seeds in a very short period of time. Once it becomes established, it can quickly take over thin areas of the lawn.

The challenge with spurge is timing. During the hottest part of summer, many herbicides that effectively control it can also stress or damage desirable turf if applied incorrectly. That’s why prevention and early treatment are so important.

Nutsedge

Nutsedge isn’t actually a grass—it’s a sedge—and it behaves very differently than most weeds.

It typically appears after periods of heavy rainfall or excessive irrigation and grows much faster than the surrounding turf. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is repeatedly pulling it by hand. While that removes the top growth, the underground tubers often remain, allowing the plant to return.

Proper control requires specialty herbicides and, in many cases, multiple treatments.

Dallisgrass

Dallisgrass is one of the most difficult perennial grassy weeds we encounter in Central Texas.

Unlike many broadleaf weeds, there isn’t a simple selective product that removes mature Dallisgrass without affecting the surrounding turf. Control often requires patience and a long-term management strategy.

The best defense is maintaining a thick, healthy lawn that leaves very little room for Dallisgrass to establish in the first place.

Thick Turf Is Your Best Weed Control

One of the biggest misconceptions is that weed control is all about spraying herbicides.

In reality, healthy turf is your lawn’s first line of defense.

When your grass is dense and actively growing, it shades the soil, competes for water and nutrients, and makes it much harder for weed seeds to germinate. On the other hand, lawns that are stressed from shade, poor irrigation, insects, or nutrient deficiencies leave open space where weeds can quickly move in.

That’s why our fertilization and weed control program is designed to do more than simply eliminate weeds. Every application is focused on building a thicker, healthier lawn that naturally resists future weed problems.

Prevention Always Beats Treatment

If there’s one piece of advice I could give every Lakeway homeowner, it’s this:

Don’t wait until weeds are everywhere.

Pre-emergent herbicides applied at the right time of year stop many annual weeds before they ever break through the soil surface. Combined with proper fertilization and healthy turf management, they dramatically reduce weed pressure throughout the year.

It’s far easier—and often less expensive—to prevent weeds than it is to fight a lawn that’s already been overtaken.

Not Every Brown Patch Is Drought—It Could Be Chinch Bugs

During the hottest part of the summer, one of the first assumptions homeowners make when they see brown grass is that their lawn simply needs more water.

While drought stress is certainly possible, there’s another culprit we find regularly in Lakeway lawns: chinch bugs.

Chinch bugs are tiny insects that feed by piercing grass blades and stems, removing moisture while injecting toxins into the plant. The result is grass that begins to yellow, then quickly turns brown and dies if left untreated.

St. Augustine lawns are especially susceptible, although we occasionally find chinch bug activity in Zoysia as well.

Why Chinch Bugs Thrive in Lakeway

Lakeway’s long stretches of hot, dry weather create ideal conditions for chinch bugs. They thrive in stressed turf, especially lawns that receive intense afternoon sun or have inconsistent irrigation.

Unlike diseases, chinch bug damage often develops in sunny areas first and continues to spread outward as the population grows.

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is increasing irrigation, hoping the lawn will recover. Unfortunately, extra water won’t stop insects from feeding.

How to Tell the Difference Between Drought and Chinch Bug Damage

While the symptoms can look similar at first, there are a few clues.

Drought stress often causes:

A bluish-gray appearance before browning.
Footprints that remain visible after walking across the lawn.
Recovery after deep watering if caught early.

Chinch bug damage often includes:

Irregular brown patches that continue expanding.
Healthy green grass immediately beside dead turf.
Damage beginning in hot, sunny locations.
Grass that doesn’t improve even after irrigation.

If you’re unsure which problem you’re dealing with, it’s important to identify the cause before applying any treatment. Treating for drought when insects are the real issue only delays recovery.

Early Detection Makes Recovery Easier

One advantage of our nine-round lawn care program is that every visit includes an inspection of the lawn—not just an application.

Our technicians are trained to look for early signs of insect activity, disease pressure, and other developing issues before they become widespread. Catching chinch bugs early often means less damage, faster recovery, and fewer costly repairs.

As an agronomist, I’ve learned that successful lawn care isn’t just about applying products—it’s about recognizing problems early and using the right solution at the right time.

Lawn Diseases Can Spread Quickly After Rain and Humid Weather

While our summers are often hot and dry, periods of heavy rainfall followed by warm, humid weather can create ideal conditions for lawn diseases.

Every year, we receive calls from homeowners who say, “My lawn looked great last week, and now there are large brown areas showing up everywhere.”

In many cases, those symptoms aren’t caused by insects or lack of water at all—they’re caused by fungal diseases.

The Most Common Lawn Diseases We See in Lakeway

Two diseases account for the majority of the lawn disease issues we diagnose in Central Texas.

Brown Patch

Brown Patch is most common during the cooler, humid months of spring and fall. It typically appears as circular brown patches that can expand rapidly when moisture levels remain high.

St. Augustine is especially susceptible, although Zoysia can also be affected under the right conditions.

Take-All Root Rot

Take-All Root Rot is one of the most challenging diseases we treat because the symptoms often resemble nutrient deficiencies or drought stress.

This disease attacks the root system, reducing the turf’s ability to absorb water and nutrients. Homeowners often respond by adding more fertilizer or increasing irrigation, but neither addresses the underlying problem.

Lakeway’s naturally alkaline soils can make lawns more susceptible to Take-All Root Rot, which is one reason proper soil management plays such an important role in maintaining healthy turf.

How to Reduce Disease Pressure

While no lawn is completely immune, homeowners can significantly reduce the risk of disease by following a few simple practices:

Water deeply and avoid frequent evening irrigation.
Improve air circulation where possible.
Mow with sharp blades.
Avoid excessive fertilizer applications during stressful periods.
Address drainage issues that allow water to remain on the lawn.

Healthy turf is always more resistant to disease than stressed turf.

Healthy Lawns Recover Faster

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that healthy lawns don’t just experience fewer problems—they recover much faster when problems do occur.

That’s why our lawn care program focuses on the overall health of the turf throughout the year instead of simply reacting when issues appear.

When your lawn has a strong root system, balanced nutrition, and consistent care, it’s much better equipped to withstand insects, disease, drought, and the extreme weather conditions we experience here in Lakeway.

Fertilizing at the Right Time Makes All the Difference

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that more fertilizer equals a better lawn.

The truth is, it’s not just about how much fertilizer you apply—it’s about applying the right nutrients at the right time of year.

Here in Lakeway, our lawns go through several different growth stages throughout the year. The nutritional needs of Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine grass change as soil temperatures, rainfall, and weather conditions change.

That’s why a one-size-fits-all fertilizer program rarely delivers the best results.

Spring: Building a Strong Foundation

As soil temperatures begin to warm in the spring, your lawn starts coming out of dormancy and producing new growth.

This is the time to encourage healthy root development while preventing summer weeds before they become a problem. Proper spring fertilization helps the lawn green up naturally and prepares it for the stress of the Texas summer.

Summer: Maintaining Health During Extreme Heat

Summer is often when homeowners think they should apply the most fertilizer, but that’s not always the case.

During periods of extreme heat, lawns can become stressed. Applying excessive nitrogen at the wrong time may encourage lush top growth when the grass is already struggling with high temperatures and limited rainfall.

Instead, our focus shifts to maintaining overall turf health while continuing to monitor for weeds, insects, and disease.

Fall: Preparing for Next Year

Many homeowners think lawn care ends when summer is over.

In reality, fall is one of the most important times of the year.

This is when we apply fall pre-emergent herbicides to help prevent many winter weeds before they germinate. We also continue strengthening the lawn as growth begins to slow, setting it up for a healthier start the following spring.

Skipping fall treatments often means fighting weeds all winter and into early spring.

Winter: Lawn Care Doesn’t Stop

Even though Bermuda and Zoysia are dormant during the winter, there’s still plenty happening beneath the surface.

Winter is an excellent time to monitor for weeds, inspect for disease or insect activity, and prepare the lawn for the upcoming growing season.

A healthy lawn isn’t built in one visit—it’s built through consistent care throughout the entire year.

That’s why our nine-round fertilization and weed control program is designed to address the changing needs of Central Texas lawns in every season. Each visit builds on the previous one, helping homeowners stay ahead of weeds, insects, diseases, and seasonal stress instead of reacting after problems develop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my lawn keep turning yellow even though I fertilize it?

Many Lakeway lawns have naturally alkaline (high pH) soils. High pH can limit your lawn’s ability to absorb important nutrients like iron, even when they’re present in the soil. Proper fertilization and micronutrient management are often the solution.

What type of grass grows best in Lakeway?

It depends on your property. Bermuda performs best in full sun, Zoysia offers an excellent balance of durability and shade tolerance, and St. Augustine remains a good choice for moderately shaded lawns. The right grass depends on how much sunlight your lawn receives each day.

How often should I water my lawn in Lakeway?

Most lawns benefit from deep, infrequent watering rather than short daily irrigation cycles. Watering should also be adjusted throughout the year based on temperatures, rainfall, and local watering restrictions.

Why do weeds keep coming back every summer?

Most summer weeds are easiest to control before they emerge. Maintaining a thick, healthy lawn with timely pre-emergent applications greatly reduces weed pressure compared to relying only on post-emergent herbicides.

Why does my St. Augustine lawn suddenly develop brown patches?

Brown patches can be caused by several factors, including chinch bugs, lawn disease, drought stress, or irrigation problems. Proper diagnosis is important because each issue requires a different solution.

Is professional lawn fertilization worth it?

A professionally managed lawn care program provides more than fertilizer. It includes ongoing monitoring for weeds, insects, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies while adjusting treatments throughout the year based on seasonal conditions. This proactive approach helps prevent problems before they become expensive to fix.

Let Century Outdoor Services Help You Build a Healthier Lawn

Lakeway is one of the most beautiful communities in Central Texas, but it’s also one of the most challenging places to grow and maintain a healthy lawn. From rocky limestone soils and mature oak trees to intense summer heat and watering restrictions, every property has its own unique challenges.

At Century Outdoor Services, we’ve been helping homeowners throughout Lakeway and the surrounding communities maintain greener, healthier lawns since 2013. Our locally owned and operated company specializes in fertilization, weed control, lawn insects, lawn diseases, liquid aeration, and shrub and tree care—all designed specifically for the growing conditions we experience here in Central Texas.

As proud supporters of the Lakeway community, including our sponsorship of the Lake Travis Cavalettes, we’re committed to helping our neighbors enjoy lawns they can be proud of.

If you’re ready for a healthier, weed-free lawn backed by local expertise and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, we’d love the opportunity to earn your business.

Request your free estimate today and discover why so many Lakeway homeowners trust Century Outdoor Services for year-round lawn care.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

How to Get Rid of Spurge Weed in Austin Lawns

How to Get Rid of Spurge Weed in Austin Lawns (And Why It Keeps Coming Back)

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

If I had to pick my least favorite summer weed in Austin, it would probably be Spurge.

Every year, as temperatures climb into the upper 90s and triple digits, I start seeing this weed pop up across lawns throughout Austin, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Dripping Springs, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and the surrounding areas. What starts as a tiny seedling can quickly become a large mat of weeds that spreads across your lawn in just a few weeks.

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The frustrating part is that spurge isn’t necessarily difficult to kill. The challenge is controlling it safely during the hottest part of the Texas summer.

As the owner and Director of Agronomy at Century Outdoor Services, I want to explain why spurge becomes such a problem in Central Texas lawns, why it thrives in certain conditions, and what you can do to prevent it.

What Is Spurge?

Spurge is a summer annual broadleaf weed that germinates when soil temperatures rise in late spring and early summer.

It grows low to the ground and spreads outward from a central root system, forming a dense mat that can quickly cover open areas of turf. If left untreated, a single plant can grow to the size of a sheet of paper or larger in only a few weeks.

One reason spurge is so persistent is its ability to produce thousands of tiny seeds. These seeds are incredibly small and can germinate in the thatch layer of your lawn, making complete prevention difficult.

Even lawns that receive professional pre-emergent applications can occasionally develop spurge during the summer months.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Why Does Spurge Thrive in Austin Lawns?

Over the years, I’ve noticed that spurge is most common in lawns with thin turf coverage.

Healthy, dense turfgrass is one of the best defenses against weeds. When grass is thick and actively growing, it shades the soil surface and prevents weed seeds from receiving the sunlight they need to germinate.

Spurge tends to appear in:

Thin Bermuda grass
Drought-stressed lawns
Areas with poor soil quality
Lawns that are mowed infrequently
Bare or open areas in the turf canopy
Lawns with inconsistent fertilization

Interestingly, I don’t often see severe spurge infestations in dense St. Augustine or Zoysia lawns. The biggest problems typically occur in Bermuda grass that has open areas where sunlight can reach the soil surface.

Why Pre-Emergent Doesn't Always Stop Spurge

At Century Outdoor Services, our Fertilization and Weed Control Program includes multiple pre-emergent applications throughout the year.

While pre-emergent treatments significantly reduce spurge pressure, they aren’t always 100% effective against every seed.

Spurge has extremely small seeds that can germinate within the thatch layer of the lawn. Because of this, some seedlings may emerge above the pre-emergent barrier.

This is why homeowners occasionally see a few spurge plants even when they’re on a professional weed control program.

The goal isn’t necessarily zero weed pressure. The goal is dramatically reducing the number of weeds that emerge and preventing them from taking over the lawn.

Why Spurge Is Difficult to Control During Summer

This is where things get tricky.

Most traditional broadleaf weed control products containing 2,4-D work very well on spurge. In fact, if our summer temperatures stayed around 80 degrees, controlling spurge would be relatively simple.

The problem is that Austin summers aren’t 80 degrees.

When temperatures reach 95, 100, or even 105 degrees, many broadleaf herbicides can stress or injure desirable turfgrass. Applying the wrong product during extreme heat can cause turf discoloration, burn, or severe damage.

As lawn care professionals, we have to balance effective weed control with protecting the health of the lawn.

How We Control Spurge at Century Outdoor Services

After years of testing different approaches, we’ve found a treatment combination that provides excellent spurge control while remaining safe for Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia grass.

We utilize a combination of broadleaf herbicides and Recognition® herbicide technology.

Recognition contains a safener that helps protect desirable turfgrass from injury while enhancing weed control performance. This allows us to target spurge even during the hottest months of the year when many traditional treatments become riskier.

The downside is cost.

Recognition is significantly more expensive than traditional weed control products, but in our experience, it provides some of the best summer spurge control available for Central Texas lawns.

For us, delivering results for our customers is worth the additional investment.

The Best Way to Prevent Spurge

The best spurge control strategy isn’t actually spraying weeds.

It’s creating a lawn where spurge doesn’t want to grow in the first place.

Homeowners can reduce spurge pressure by focusing on:

Mow Weekly

Regular mowing encourages thicker turf growth and reduces open areas where weed seeds can germinate.

Water Properly

Drought-stressed Bermuda grass is far more vulnerable to spurge invasion. Deep, infrequent watering helps maintain healthy turf density.

Follow a Fertilizer Program

Proper nutrition promotes thicker turf and stronger root systems, helping your lawn out compete weeds naturally.

Improve Turf Density

The thicker your lawn becomes, the less sunlight reaches the soil surface. Less sunlight means fewer opportunities for spurge seeds to germinate.

Final Thoughts

Spurge is one of the most frustrating summer weeds we deal with in Austin-area lawns.

It grows quickly, produces thousands of seeds, and thrives in hot, sunny conditions. While professional weed control treatments can effectively eliminate existing plants, the long-term solution is maintaining a thick, healthy lawn that naturally suppresses weed growth.

If you’re seeing spurge take over your Bermuda grass this summer, don’t wait too long. A small plant can become a large infestation surprisingly fast.

At Century Outdoor Services, we help homeowners throughout Austin, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Dripping Springs, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Kyle, and Buda keep their lawns healthy and weed-free year-round through our professional Fertilization and Weed Control Program.

If you have questions about spurge or other lawn weeds, we’d be happy to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is spurge weed?

Spurge is a summer annual broadleaf weed that spreads quickly in thin or stressed lawns throughout Austin and Central Texas.

Why is spurge common in Bermuda grass?

Bermuda lawns with open canopy areas allow sunlight to reach the soil, creating ideal conditions for spurge seed germination.

Does pre-emergent stop spurge?

Pre-emergent significantly reduces spurge but may not stop every seed because spurge can germinate in the lawn’s thatch layer.

What kills spurge?

Broadleaf herbicides containing 2,4-D are highly effective, but special care must be taken during Austin’s extreme summer temperatures to avoid turf damage.

How can I prevent spurge from coming back?

Maintain a dense lawn through proper mowing, watering, fertilization, and pre-emergent weed control applications.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

why-is-my-austin-lawn-turning-brown-even-though-im-watering-it

Why Is My Austin Lawn Turning Brown Even Though I'm Watering It?

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

If you’ve been watering your lawn regularly but are still seeing brown patches develop across your yard, you’re not alone. Every June, we receive calls from homeowners throughout Austin, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Dripping Springs, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Round Rock asking the same question:

“Why is my lawn turning brown even though I’m watering?”

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As the owner and Director of Agronomy at Century Outdoor Services, I can tell you that watering is only one piece of the puzzle. In fact, many lawns that appear to be suffering from drought stress are actually dealing with insects, disease, poor soil conditions, or improper cultural practices.

Let’s look at the most common reasons your lawn may be turning brown and what you can do to get it back on track.

Reason #1: Your Lawn May Not Be Getting Enough Water

One of the biggest misconceptions we see is that simply running the sprinkler means the lawn is getting enough water.

Many Austin-area lawns have irrigation systems that aren’t applying water evenly. Some areas receive plenty of moisture while other sections remain dry. This often creates brown patches that continue to expand despite regular watering.

During the summer months, we recommend watering deeply rather than frequently. Deep watering encourages roots to grow further into the soil where moisture remains available longer during periods of heat.

If your lawn turns brown quickly after temperatures rise, irrigation coverage should be one of the first things evaluated.

Signs of watering issues:

Brown patches that appear in irregular shapes
Areas near sprinkler heads remain green while others brown
Soil is dry several inches below the surface
Footprints remain visible after walking across the turf

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Reason #2: Chinch Bugs Are Damaging Your St. Augustine Grass

This is one of the most common problems we diagnose during June, July, and August.

Chinch bugs thrive in hot weather and are particularly destructive to St. Augustine lawns. These insects feed by piercing grass blades and extracting plant fluids while injecting toxins that damage the turf.

Unfortunately, chinch bug damage looks very similar to drought stress.

Many homeowners increase watering when they see brown areas developing, but the lawn continues declining because the underlying issue isn’t moisture—it’s insects.

Common signs of chinch bug damage:

Yellow or brown patches that continue spreading
Damage near driveways, sidewalks, and heat-reflective surfaces
Turf does not recover after watering
Grass appears dry even when soil moisture is adequate

At Century Outdoor Services, insect monitoring and treatment are included as part of our lawn care program because insect activity is such a common issue in Central Texas.

Reason #3: Lawn Disease Can Cause Brown Areas

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that lawn diseases remain active even during warmer weather.

Disease pressure often increases after periods of rain followed by hot temperatures and high humidity. These conditions create an ideal environment for fungal activity.

The most common diseases we encounter include:

Brown Patch

Brown Patch typically creates circular brown areas that continue expanding over time.

Take-All Root Rot

This disease is especially common in Austin because of our naturally high-pH soils. It attacks the root system and prevents the grass from properly absorbing nutrients and water.

The result is a lawn that looks drought-stressed even when irrigation is adequate.

Signs of lawn disease:

Circular or irregular brown patches
Yellowing grass around the edges
Thinning turf
Areas that fail to respond to watering or fertilizer

Our lawn care program includes disease monitoring and treatment because early intervention often prevents significant damage.

Reason #4: Austin's High-pH Soil Is Working Against Your Lawn

One of the biggest challenges we face in Central Texas is our alkaline soil.

Many essential nutrients become less available to turfgrass when soil pH is high. Even when nutrients are present in the soil, the grass may not be able to efficiently utilize them.

This often leads homeowners to believe their lawn needs more water when the real issue is nutrient availability.

High-pH soils can contribute to:

Poor color
Reduced growth
Weak root systems
Increased susceptibility to insects and disease

At Century Outdoor Services, our fertilization program is designed specifically for Austin-area soils and the unique challenges they create.

Reason #5: Soil Compaction Is Restricting Root Growth

Compacted soil limits the movement of air, water, and nutrients through the root zone.

When roots cannot grow deeply, lawns become more vulnerable to summer stress.

A shallow-rooted lawn dries out faster and struggles to withstand periods of high temperatures.

This is one reason we recommend Liquid Aeration. It helps improve soil conditions and encourages better root development without the disruption associated with traditional core aeration.

Signs of soil compaction:

Water runs off instead of soaking in
Turf struggles during hot weather
Thin or weak growth
Hard soil surface

Reason #6: Mowing Too Short Creates Summer Stress

Many homeowners unknowingly create additional stress by mowing too short.

Short grass means less leaf surface available for photosynthesis. It also exposes the soil to more sunlight, increasing soil temperatures and moisture loss.

For most Austin lawns, raising mowing heights during the summer can significantly improve turf performance.

Proper mowing helps:

Reduce heat stress
Improve moisture retention
Encourage deeper rooting
Increase overall turf density

Why Is My Neighbor's Lawn Green While Mine Is Brown?

This may be the most common question we hear during the summer.

The reality is that two neighboring lawns can have very different results based on:

Fertility programs
Insect activity
Disease pressure
Soil conditions
Irrigation coverage
Mowing practices

A lawn receiving proactive treatments throughout the year is often better prepared to handle summer stress than a lawn that only receives attention after problems develop.

How Century Outdoor Services Helps Austin Lawns Stay Green

At Century Outdoor Services, our goal is to prevent problems before they become expensive or difficult to correct.

Our 9-Round Fertilization and Weed Control Program is designed specifically for Central Texas lawns and includes:

We also offer:

By combining proper nutrition, weed control, insect management, and disease prevention, we help homeowners maintain healthier lawns throughout the demanding Texas summer.

Need Help Diagnosing a Brown Lawn?

If your lawn is turning brown despite regular watering, don’t assume it’s simply drought stress.

The sooner the actual cause is identified, the easier and less expensive it is to correct.

At Century Outdoor Services, we specialize in diagnosing lawn problems throughout Austin, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Dripping Springs, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Pflugerville, and surrounding communities.

If you’re concerned about your lawn this summer, contact our team today and let us help determine what’s really causing the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my lawn turning brown even though I’m watering?

A lawn can turn brown for many reasons besides lack of water. In Austin, common causes include chinch bugs, lawn disease, soil compaction, high-pH soil conditions, improper mowing practices, and irrigation coverage issues. Identifying the root cause is important before increasing watering.

How often should I water my lawn in Austin during summer?

Most Austin lawns benefit from deep, infrequent watering rather than daily shallow watering. Watering requirements vary depending on grass type, soil conditions, weather, and local watering restrictions. Proper irrigation should moisten the soil several inches deep to encourage deeper root growth.

How can I tell if my lawn has chinch bugs?

Chinch bug damage often appears as yellow or brown patches that continue spreading even after watering. Damage commonly develops near sidewalks, driveways, and other heat-reflective surfaces. St. Augustine grass is especially susceptible to chinch bug infestations.

Can lawn disease cause brown patches in summer?

Yes. Lawn diseases such as Brown Patch and Take-All Root Rot can cause brown areas throughout the lawn. Disease activity often increases following periods of rain, humidity, and warm temperatures.

Why is my neighbor’s lawn greener than mine?

Two neighboring lawns can perform very differently based on fertilization, weed control, insect activity, disease pressure, mowing practices, irrigation coverage, and soil health. A proactive lawn care program often helps lawns better withstand summer stress.

Should I fertilize my lawn if it is turning brown?

Not always. Brown grass can be caused by insects, disease, drought stress, or soil issues. Applying fertilizer without identifying the problem may not solve the issue. A proper evaluation can help determine the best course of action.

What grass types are most common in Austin?

The most common residential lawn grasses in Austin are St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia. Each grass type has different watering requirements, shade tolerance, and responses to heat and drought stress.

How can Century Outdoor Services help my lawn?

Century Outdoor Services provides lawn fertilization, weed control, grub prevention, insect control, disease monitoring, liquid aeration, moisture management, and shrub and tree care services throughout the Austin area. Our programs are designed specifically for Central Texas lawns and soil conditions.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

Organic Fertilizer for Austin Lawns: The Real Pros and Cons From an Austin Agronomist

Organic Fertilizer for Austin Lawns: The Real Pros and Cons From an Austin Agronomist

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

If you’ve been researching organic fertilizer for your lawn in Austin, you’ve probably heard a lot of conflicting information. Some companies claim organic fertilizer is the only safe and effective option, while others say synthetic fertilizers are the only way to get a healthy green lawn in Texas heat.

The truth is that both have advantages and disadvantages — especially here in Central Texas.

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As the owner and agronomist at Century Outdoor Services, my goal is always to help homeowners understand what actually works in Austin’s unique soil and climate conditions. Our area has extremely high pH soils, intense summer heat, drought stress, and heavy clay content that all impact how fertilizers perform.

After years of working on thousands of lawns across the Austin area, my recommendation is usually a balanced hybrid approach that combines the benefits of both organic and synthetic lawn care programs.

In this article, I’ll break down:

How organic fertilizers work
The pros and cons of organic lawn care
The differences between organic and synthetic fertilizers
Why Austin’s soil changes everything
Whether organic fertilizer is actually safer for pets and kids
Why patience matters with organic lawn programs

Why Austin Soil Matters So Much

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is reading lawn care advice online that was written for completely different soil types and climates.

Austin-area lawns are unique because we deal with extremely high pH alkaline soils caused by the limestone throughout Central Texas. These alkaline conditions can lock up nutrients in the soil, making it harder for turfgrass to absorb what it needs.

This is one reason why I spend so much time focusing on soil health and soil structure.

If you want a deeper explanation of our soil conditions, check out our high pH soil guide and video on Austin lawn soil problems.

Organic fertilizers can actually help improve these alkaline soil conditions over time because they add:

Carbon
Organic matter
Beneficial microbial activity

As these materials break down, they gradually improve soil structure and help make nutrients more available to the turf.

This is one of the biggest long-term benefits of organic lawn care in Austin.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

How Organic Fertilizer Actually Works

Unlike synthetic fertilizer, organic fertilizer depends heavily on microbial activity in the soil.

But during:

cold winters
severe drought
extreme Austin summer heat

…microbial populations slow down significantly.

That means organic fertilizers often work slower during the exact times homeowners expect fast results.

Pros of Organic Fertilizer for Austin Lawns

1. Lower burn risk

One of the biggest advantages of organic fertilizer is the reduced chance of fertilizer burn.

Because nutrients release slowly, you’re far less likely to damage your lawn from overapplication compared to synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

This can be especially helpful for homeowners applying products themselves.

2. Improves soil structure

This is probably the biggest benefit in our Austin-area soils.

Organic fertilizers add carbon and organic matter that improve:

soil structure
water retention
root development
microbial populations

Over time, healthier soil usually leads to healthier turf.

This becomes extremely important during Texas summers when lawns are dealing with heat and drought stress.

3. Better long term root health

One thing I’ve consistently seen over the years is that lawns with stronger soil biology often develop deeper and healthier root systems.

This can help:

improve drought tolerance
reduce watering needs
increase stress tolerance
improve recovery from heat damage

4. Slow-release feeding

Organic fertilizers provide a slower, steadier nutrient release.

Instead of forcing surge growth, they feed the lawn gradually over time.

That slower growth pattern can sometimes reduce stress and improve overall turf quality long term.

5. Often safer around pets and kids

This is a major reason many homeowners look into organic lawn care.

However, this is where I always tell people to be careful:
Organic does not automatically mean safe.

There are organic products that can still cause issues if applied improperly or used at excessive rates.

No matter what product you use, always:

follow the label
water products in properly
use correct application rates

Cons of Organic Fertilizer

1. Slower Results

This is the biggest frustration most homeowners run into.

If you switch to an organic lawn program expecting an immediate dark green lawn within a few days, you’ll probably be disappointed.

Organic lawn care is a long-term investment.

Sometimes improvements happen within a few months. Sometimes it takes multiple growing seasons before you see major changes in soil and turf performance.

Patience is critical.

2. More expensive

Organic fertilizers are usually significantly more expensive than synthetic products.

They also often require:

smaller applications
more frequent treatments
higher labor costs

This is one reason many companies in Austin still primarily use synthetic fertilizer programs.

3. Strong odors

Many organic fertilizers come from natural organic sources and can produce strong smells after application.

Some homeowners do not mind this at all.
Others absolutely hate it.

This is something people should realistically expect.

4. Harder to correct deficiencies quickly

If a soil test shows a major nutrient deficiency, synthetic fertilizers are usually much faster and more precise for correcting the problem.

Organic fertilizers are excellent for improving overall soil health, but they are not always ideal for rapidly fixing severe deficiencies.

5. Organic programs do not control weeds

This is another major misunderstanding.

Organic fertilizer does not:

In some situations, increased organic matter and moisture retention can actually increase disease pressure if lawns are over watered.

Pros of Synthetic Fertilizer

Synthetic fertilizers still provide several major benefits:

Fast green-up – You get a quick visual response.

Precise Nutrient Control – The nutrient analysis is extremely consistent and predictable.

Lower cost – Synthetic fertilizer programs are usually more affordable.

Easier deficiency correction – You can target nutrient problems quickly and accurately.

Cons of Synthetic Fertilizer

The biggest downside is burn risk.

If synthetic fertilizer is:

overapplied
not watered correctly
applied at the wrong time
used on stressed turf

…it can cause serious lawn damage.

Synthetic programs also do very little to improve actual soil structure or soil biology long term.

Why We Use a Hybrid Lawn Care Approach

At Century Outdoor Services, we typically use a hybrid approach because it gives Austin lawns the best balance.

We incorporate:

humic acids
sea kelp extracts
soil improvement products
targeted synthetic nutrients when needed

This allows us to:

improve soil health
maintain consistent turf performance
manage weeds and disease
keep programs affordable for homeowners

In my experience, this creates the most realistic and sustainable lawn care program for Central Texas conditions.

Organic Lawn Care Requires Patience

This is probably the most important thing I tell homeowners.

If you switch to organic lawn care, you are playing the long game.

At first, you may feel like:

nothing is happening
the lawn is not responding fast enough
the program is not working

But over time, healthier soil biology can create:

stronger roots
improved drought tolerance
healthier turf
better overall soil ecosystems

The long-term benefits can absolutely be worth it if you stay consistent.

Final Thoughts on Organic Fertilizer in Austin

Organic fertilizers absolutely work in Austin lawns — but they are not magic.

They have:

real advantages
real disadvantages
higher costs
slower results
long-term soil benefits

For most Austin homeowners, a balanced hybrid lawn care program is usually the most effective solution.

If you’re looking for professional help with organic lawn care, lawn fertilization, weed control, or improving your lawn’s soil health in the Austin area, our team at Century Outdoor Services would be happy to help.

We service:

Austin
Bee Cave
Lakeway
Cedar Park
Round Rock
Georgetown
Leander
Pflugerville
Dripping Springs
and surrounding Central Texas areas.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

Shade Problems in Austin Lawns | Best Grass Types & Fixes

Weak Bermuda lawn in a shaded area in Austin

Shade Problems in Austin Lawns: Best Grass Types, Solutions & What Actually Works

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

Struggling with thin grass under trees in Austin, TX? Learn which grass types handle shade best and how to fix common lawn shade problems from Century Outdoor Services.

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If you live in the Austin area and have large trees around your property, chances are you’ve struggled with thin grass, bare spots, or turf that slowly disappears over time. One of the most common lawn issues we see at Century Outdoor Services is shade-related turf decline in warm-season grasses.

As the owner and agronomist of Century Outdoor Services, I’ve spent years working with Austin-area lawns, and I can tell you this: our southern turf varieties simply are not true shade grasses. Bermuda, Zoysia, and even St. Augustine all prefer sunlight. Some tolerate shade better than others, but eventually, most heavily shaded lawns begin to struggle.

In this article, I want to explain why shade becomes such a major problem in Central Texas lawns, how each turf type responds to shade, and what homeowners in Austin can realistically do to improve these difficult areas.

Why Shade Causes Problems in Austin Lawns

Most lawns in the Austin area are made up of warm-season turf grasses. These grasses evolved to thrive in full sunlight, high temperatures, and long growing seasons. The issue is that many of our neighborhoods also have mature oak trees and dense landscaping that dramatically reduce sunlight exposure.

The most critical sunlight for turf health is morning and midday sun. If your lawn is blocked by a house, fence, or large oak canopy during those times, your grass will usually begin thinning over time.

One of the first signs of a shade issue is bare soil underneath trees or along shaded fence lines. In many cases, homeowners try to fix the problem with more fertilizer, extra watering, or re-sodding the area repeatedly. Unfortunately, none of those solutions permanently fix a lack of sunlight.

This is especially true in Austin because our turf grasses are already stressed by:

High summer temperatures
Drought conditions
Water restrictions
High pH soils
Tree root competition

When you combine all of those stress factors with heavy shade, turf decline becomes very difficult to stop.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Bermuda Grass and Shade Problems

Bermuda grass is by far the least shade-tolerant turf grass we commonly see in the Austin area. It needs a significant amount of direct sunlight to remain thick and healthy.

In my experience, Bermuda generally needs around 7 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily to perform well. Once mature trees begin blocking sunlight, Bermuda will gradually thin year after year.

This is something we dealt with constantly in the golf industry as well. Golf course superintendents spend enormous amounts of time trying to preserve Bermuda turf around trees because Bermuda simply does not like shade.

Homeowners often ask if there are products that can improve Bermuda shade tolerance. While there are certain specialty treatments that may help slightly, I generally do not recommend spending large amounts of money trying to force Bermuda to grow where it naturally struggles. In most cases, it’s simply not worth the cost long term.

If you have heavy shade, the better solution is usually transitioning those areas into mulch beds, landscaping, or decorative stone.

Does Zoysia Grass Handle Shade Better?

Zoysia grass performs better in shade than Bermuda, which is one reason many homeowners in Austin have switched to it.

At my own home, I actually have both Bermuda and Zoysia in different areas because each has strengths and weaknesses depending on sunlight exposure and irrigation.

Zoysia can tolerate moderate shade better than Bermuda, but it still prefers sunlight. Once you start getting below roughly 6 to 7 hours of direct sun, you will usually begin seeing thinning and decline.

One thing homeowners need to understand is that “shade tolerant” does not mean “shade loving.” Zoysia is more forgiving, but it still performs best in sunny conditions.

Is St. Augustine the Best Grass for Shade in Austin?

Out of the three major warm-season grasses we deal with in Central Texas, St. Augustine is the most shade-tolerant.

There are even certain varieties, such as Amerishade, that can survive with significantly less sunlight than Bermuda or Zoysia.

However, there is a major trade-off with St. Augustine in Austin.

St. Augustine requires much more water than Bermuda or Zoysia, especially during our extreme summer heat. In many cases, it may need irrigation two to three times per week to stay healthy during drought conditions.

With Austin-area watering restrictions, that becomes very difficult for most homeowners to maintain consistently. This is one of the reasons St. Augustine has become less popular in newer developments and HOA communities throughout Central Texas.

Personally, I rarely recommend St. Augustine today because of the long-term irrigation demands and water management challenges we face here.

How to Improve Grass in Shaded Areas

If you have moderate shade and still want to maintain turf, there are a few things that can help improve survivability.

Raise Your Mowing Height

One of the best things you can do for shaded turf is mow higher.

Longer leaf blades allow the grass plant to absorb more sunlight through photosynthesis. That additional energy helps the turf survive under reduced light conditions.

For St. Augustine, I generally recommend mowing around 3.5 inches in shaded areas. Zoysia also benefits from increased mowing height, although it does not tolerate extremely tall mowing quite as well.

Cutting shaded turf too short is one of the fastest ways to accelerate decline.

When Grass Simply Won’t Grow

Sometimes the reality is that grass is never going to thrive in certain parts of the property.

This is especially true:

Under mature oak trees
Between houses and fences
On heavily shaded side yards
In dense tree canopies

In these situations, I usually recommend shifting away from turf entirely.

Expand Mulch Rings Around Trees

Mulch beds should naturally expand as trees mature.

Trying to keep grass directly underneath large shade trees usually becomes a losing battle over time. Expanding mulch rings not only looks cleaner, but it also reduces maintenance and helps protect tree roots.

This is also why I’m generally not a fan of rigid stone borders around trees. Tree roots eventually shift and break them, and the mulch area should continue expanding as the canopy grows.

Install Shade-Tolerant Landscaping

Large shaded areas are often better suited for landscape beds with plants adapted to low-light conditions.

There are many ornamental plants that perform very well in Austin shade conditions, and in many cases, they create a much more attractive and sustainable landscape than struggling turf grass.

Use River Rock in Difficult Areas

For narrow side yards or areas that receive almost no sunlight, river rock or decorative stone is often the best long-term option.

The key is preventing bare soil and erosion. Bare dirt creates drainage problems, mud issues, and environmental concerns. Decorative stone provides a clean, low-maintenance solution where turf and plants are unlikely to succeed.

Should You Remove Trees to Save the Lawn?

In almost every case, I would say no.

Mature trees add significant value to homes throughout the Austin area. They provide cooling benefits, reduce heat buildup around the property, and help lower soil temperatures during the summer.

Even if they are not directly shading the home, they still help reduce radiant heat around the property.

The better solution is usually adapting the landscape to work with the shade rather than trying to remove healthy trees just to preserve turf grass.

Professional Lawn Care for Austin Shade Issues

At Century Outdoor Services, we help homeowners throughout Austin, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Georgetown, and surrounding Central Texas areas diagnose lawn problems and develop realistic long-term solutions.

Our programs are specifically designed for Austin-area lawns and include:

Lawn Fertilization & Weed Control Services
Shrub & Tree Care Services
Disease & Insect Management
Soil and turf health
Guidance for shade-related lawn decline

If you’re struggling with thin grass, bare spots, or difficult shaded areas in your lawn, our team can help evaluate the situation and recommend the best practical solution for your property.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

High pH Soil in Austin Lawns: Causes, Problems & Solutions

Why High pH Soil Is One of the Biggest Problems for Austin Lawns

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

If you’ve lived in the Austin area long enough, you’ve probably noticed something frustrating about lawns here. One yard can look thick, dark green, and healthy, while the neighbor’s lawn struggles with thin turf, poor color, weeds, and dry spots — even when both are being watered and fertilized.

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Why Austin Lawns Struggle in High pH Soil (And What We Do About It at Century Outdoor Services)

As the owner and agronomist at Century Outdoor Services, I can tell you that one of the biggest reasons for this is something most homeowners never think about: soil pH.

In Austin and throughout Central Texas, our soil conditions are naturally difficult for turfgrass. High pH soils, limestone-heavy ground, and alkaline irrigation water create an environment where nutrients become tied up and unavailable to the lawn. That means homeowners can spend money on fertilizer and still not get the results they expect.

This is one of the biggest lawn challenges we deal with every day across Austin, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Dripping Springs, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and surrounding areas.

In the video I recently made for Century, I explained why our local soil causes so many lawn problems and what homeowners can do to improve turf health long-term.

How High pH Soil Affects Your Lawn

One of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have is thinking fertilizer alone fixes lawn problems.

I see this all the time in Austin. Someone applies fertilizer, waters regularly, and still has weak turf with poor color and slow growth.

The issue often isn’t the fertilizer itself.

The issue is that the nutrients are getting “locked up” in the soil because of the high pH.

When soil becomes too alkaline, nutrients like iron, manganese, phosphorus, and even nitrogen become harder for the grass plant to absorb. The nutrients may technically be present in the soil, but the turfgrass cannot efficiently take them in.

That’s why you can have a soil test showing good nutrient levels while the lawn still looks unhealthy.

At Century Outdoor Services Lawn Care Programs, we always look at the full picture:

Soil conditions
Irrigation practices
Organic matter levels
Turf density
Drainage
Water penetration
Seasonal stress
Nutrient availability

Healthy turf starts below the surface.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Hydrophobic Soil: Another Big Problem in Central Texas

High pH soils also contribute to another issue we see constantly in Austin lawns: hydrophobic soil.

Hydrophobic soil means water struggles to penetrate the ground properly.

Instead of soaking into the root zone, the water may:

Bead up on the surface
Run off the lawn
Evaporate quickly
Create dry patches
Leave roots under-watered

This becomes a major problem during Austin summers when temperatures stay extremely high for extended periods.

Many homeowners think they simply need more irrigation, but if the soil profile is repelling water, adding more water often does not solve the issue.

That’s why we focus heavily on improving the soil itself rather than just increasing fertilizer or watering frequency.

Why Lawns Look Better After Rain in Austin

One of the things homeowners notice every year is how much greener and healthier lawns look after a heavy rainstorm.

There’s actually a scientific reason for that.

Rainwater is typically much more neutral or slightly acidic compared to our irrigation water.

When rain moves through high pH soil, it temporarily helps release nutrients that were previously tied up. Those nutrients suddenly become available to the turfgrass, and the lawn responds with:

Improved color
Faster growth
Better density
Stronger recovery
Increased vigor

At the same time, heavy rainfall helps flush salts and sodium deeper into the soil profile.

This is one reason lawns often “perk up” naturally after rain events across Central Texas.

Temporary Solutions for High pH Lawns

There are a few short-term ways to improve nutrient availability in Austin lawns.

One common option is sulfur applications. Sulfur can temporarily lower soil pH and help unlock nutrients.

Another tool we sometimes use is ammonium sulfate fertilizer. Because it contains sulfur, it can help acidify the soil slightly while also feeding the turfgrass.

You’ll often see a quick green-up response after these treatments because nutrients suddenly become more available to the plant.

However, these are temporary improvements.

In Austin, the high pH conditions always return because of the limestone soil and alkaline irrigation water. That means lawn care here is less about permanently “fixing” the soil and more about consistently managing and mitigating the conditions.

The Best Long-Term Solution: Improving the Soil

In my experience, the best long-term improvement for Austin lawns is adding quality organic matter back into the soil.

This can be done through:

Compost topdressing
Soil amendments
Organic matter additions
Improved microbial activity
Better soil structure management

Topdressing with quality compost each year can slowly improve the soil profile over time.

Benefits include:

Better water retention
Improved nutrient availability
Increased microbial activity
Reduced compaction
Lower soil stress
Better root development
Improved turf density

This is one of the most overlooked lawn services in Austin, but it can make a dramatic difference long-term.

The key is using a quality compost source. As I mentioned in the video, not all compost products are equal.

Why Local Experience Matters in Austin Lawn Care

Austin lawns are not the same as lawns in other parts of the country.

What works in acidic soils up north often performs poorly here because Central Texas soil behaves completely differently.

That’s why local experience matters.

At Century Outdoor Services, we have spent years building lawn care programs specifically around the challenges of Austin-area turfgrass. From high pH soils to summer heat stress and water management, every treatment we apply is designed for our local conditions.

As an owner and agronomist, I believe great lawn care starts with understanding the science behind the soil.

If you improve the soil, everything else in the lawn improves with it.

Looking for Lawn Care Help in Austin?

If your lawn struggles with poor color, weak growth, weeds, dry spots, or inconsistent performance, your soil may be the real problem.

At Century Outdoor Services, we provide professional lawn fertilization, weed control, soil improvement, and turf health services throughout the Austin area.

We proudly serve:

Austin
Bee Cave
Lakeway
Dripping Springs
Cedar Park
Round Rock
Georgetown
Pflugerville
Leander
Surrounding Central Texas communities

If you’d like help improving your lawn, contact Century Outdoor Services and we’ll help build a program designed specifically for your property and soil conditions.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

How to Choose Local Lawn Care Experts in Austin, TX

fertilization and weed control treatment on Bermuda lawn in Austin, TX

How to Choose Local Lawn Care Experts in Austin, TX

(And How Century Outdoor Services Takes Care of Your Lawn Year‑Round)

Keeping a lawn healthy in Central Texas is not easy. Poor soil, brutal summers, and constant weed and pest pressure mean “mow and hope for the best” is not a strategy.

If you’re searching “lawn care near me” in Austin, you don’t just need someone to cut the grass. You need a team that specializes in fertilization, weed control, and plant health for Texas lawns.

This guide walks you through how to evaluate local lawn care experts and shows you what a professional, year‑round treatment program looks like. You’ll see exactly how we do it at Century Outdoor Services so you can decide if we’re the right fit.

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Why Local Expertise Matters for Austin Lawns

Texas lawns deal with:

Heat and drought

Heavy clay and rocky soils

Aggressive weeds, disease, grubs, army worms, and fire ants

A good local lawn care provider will:

Know which products work on Central Texas warm‑season grasses
Warm‑season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine

Time pre‑emergent weed control for Austin’s real weather, not a generic calendar

Understand how to protect lawns during water restrictions and extreme heat

Recognize local pests and diseases before they wreck your yard

At Century Outdoor Services, every program is built specifically for Central Texas turf and climate, not a national template.

The Core Services Your Austin Lawn Really Needs

You can keep your existing mowing crew. The real difference between “just OK” and “neighbors are jealous” comes from what’s happening in the soil and in the plants.

Here are the key services to look for in Austin:

Fertilization & Weed Control

You want a structured, multi‑round program, not random one‑off sprays.

At Century, our 9‑Round Fertilization & Weed Control Program includes:

Seasonally timed pre‑emergents to block weeds before they sprout

Balanced fertilizers, micronutrients, and soil enhancers for thick, green turf

Ongoing spot treatment of breakthrough weeds every visit

Built‑in disease and grub & army worm protection (not upsold later)

Result: a dense, healthier lawn that naturally chokes out many weeds and withstands Texas summers.

Shrub & Tree Care

Your landscape beds and young trees need their own plan.

Our 6‑Round Shrub & Tree Care Program provides:

Winter dormant oil to kill overwintering insects and eggs

Spring fertilization and pest control for fuller canopies and longer blooms

Targeted insect and disease control during high‑pressure months

Fall fertilization and soil conditioners to build strong roots for next year

This program is designed for planting beds and planted trees up to 3″ caliper (native established trees are excluded).

Fire Ant Control

Fire ants are more than annoying; they’re aggressive and can damage property.

Our Fire Ant Service:

Uses a broadcast granular bait across turf and beds (not just mound spot‑treats)

Is applied 3 times per year (March, June, September) for season‑long control

Is safe for people, pets, and the environment when used as directed

Is offered as an add‑on to any recurring program, not as a stand‑alone hit‑and‑run visit

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Independent vs. Franchise Lawn Care: What Works Best in Austin?

When you choose a lawn care company, you’ll usually pick between:

Franchise providers

Pros: Recognizable name, standardized systems

Cons: Less flexibility, often generic programs not tailored to Central Texas

Local independents (like Century Outdoor Services)

Pros: Deep local knowledge, can build programs around Austin’s climate and city guidelines

Cons: Quality varies, so you must vet them well

If you want a company that specializes in fertilization, weed control, plant health, and pests for Central Texas, a strong local independent is usually your best bet.

How to Evaluate Lawn Care Companies in Austin

Use this checklist:

Experience with Central Texas lawns

“How long have you been servicing lawns in the Austin area?”

Clear, written programs

Do they have a defined multi‑round annual plan (not random visits)?

Is disease and insect control included or constantly upsold?

Licensing & insurance

Are they licensed for lawn and ornamental applications in Texas?

Can they provide proof of insurance?

Product transparency & safety

Do they explain what they’re applying and why?

Is it safe for kids and pets after it dries?

Communication

Do they send before‑service notifications and after‑service summaries?

Do techs leave door hangers with what was done and what to expect?

Century Outdoor Services checks all of these boxes with scheduled notifications, clear door hangers, and a defined program for your lawn, shrubs, trees, and fire ants.

What a Year‑Round Program Looks Like with Century Outdoor Services

Here’s how a typical Austin lawn is cared for with us:

Lawn Fertilization & Weed Control: 9 Rounds in 8 Visits

Targeted pre‑emergents in early spring and fall

Balanced fertilizers and micronutrients throughout the growing season

Humic acids and soil enhancers to improve soil health

Built‑in preventative grub & army worm treatment during peak season

Ongoing disease monitoring and spot treatments as needed

This is an all‑inclusive program: the visits work together. Skipping rounds creates gaps in protection, so we do not “opt out” individual pieces.

Shrub & Tree Care: 6 Rounds

Winter dormant oil

Spring fertilization + pest and disease prevention

Summer insect and disease control

Fall nutrition and soil conditioners

No watering‑in is required from the homeowner for this program.

Fire Ant Control: 3 Applications Per Year

Broadcast granular bait across turf and beds

Season‑long colony control

No watering‑in required

FAQs for Austin Homeowners

Do you offer mowing?
No. We focus exclusively on fertilization, weed control, plant health, and fire ant control. Many of our customers keep their existing mowing service while we handle everything “under the hood.”

Is this safe for kids and pets?
Yes. We use premium, modern products and follow label directions. Once products have dried, treated areas are safe for re‑entry.

How often will you come out?
Most lawns receive a visit about every 6 weeks, depending on the program.

How much does it cost?
Pricing is based on your irrigated turf and/or bed square footage. We measure the property, round to the nearest hundred square feet, and quote a clear per‑round price before we begin.

Ready for a Healthier Austin Lawn?

If you’re in Austin or the surrounding area and want a lawn that’s thicker, greener, and easier to enjoy, without guessing at products and timing:

Get a free quote from Century Outdoor Services.
We’ll walk your property, measure your lawn, and recommend the exact combination of:

Fertilization & Weed Control

Shrub & Tree Care

Fire Ant Service

So your landscape can stay healthy and beautiful all year.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Moisture Manager, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

Why Austin Lawns Are Dying in Summer (And How to Fix It With Moisture Manager)

Why Austin Lawns Are Dying This Summer — And How I'm Fixing It With Moisture Manager

By Kyle Caldwell, Owner & Agronomist, Century Outdoor Services | Austin, TX

Every summer, I get the same calls. A homeowner in Round Rock. A family in Pflugerville. A couple in South Austin. They’ve done everything “right” — set their irrigation system, followed the watering schedule, kept up with fertilization — and their lawn is still turning brown, going dormant, or developing those ugly dry patches that refuse to recover no matter how much water they throw at them.

I’ve been working in the lawn care industry in Central Texas for years, and I’ll tell you something most lawn care companies won’t: the problem usually isn’t how much water you’re applying. It’s whether that water is actually reaching the rootzone of your turf.

That’s why I developed and added the Moisture Manager for Turf to our service lineup at Century Outdoor Services — and why I consider it one of the most important things we can do for Austin-area lawns during the summer months.

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The Real Problem With Austin's Summer Heat

Austin summers are brutal. We regularly see triple-digit heat from June through September, and soil temperatures at the surface can exceed 130°F. That kind of sustained heat creates a serious problem that most homeowners don’t know about: hydrophobic soil.

Here’s what happens. As Austin’s clay-heavy soils dry out under extreme heat, they develop a water-repellent layer. Think of it like a dry sponge — the first water you apply doesn’t soak in, it beads up and runs off. You could run your irrigation for 20 minutes and lose the majority of that water to evaporation and runoff before it ever makes it to the roots. The grass looks dry because it is dry, even if you’ve been watering consistently.

Add in localized dry spots — those random dead patches that appear even in an otherwise healthy lawn — and you start to see why summer is the season that breaks people’s spirits when it comes to lawn care.

As an agronomist, I look at Austin lawns differently than most. I’m not just asking, “Is this lawn getting water?” I’m asking, “Is this lawn’s rootzone actually holding moisture efficiently?” Those are two very different questions.

Austin's Water Restrictions Make Every Drop Count

Here’s the other layer of the problem: Austin’s water situation. As of the Conservation Stage restrictions currently in effect, automatic irrigation systems are limited to one watering day per week. Even under Stage 2 restrictions that have been in effect in recent years due to declining levels in Lakes Travis and Buchanan, homeowners were limited to once-a-week automatic sprinkler use during restricted hours only — midnight to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to midnight.

That’s a tight window. And fines for watering outside those guidelines start at $75 per violation for residential customers and go up from there.

I understand the restrictions, and frankly I support them. Conservation matters here. The Highland Lakes are a shared resource, and we all have a responsibility to protect them. But that does create a real challenge: how do you keep your lawn healthy on one watering day a week through a Texas summer?

The answer, for our clients at Century Outdoor Services, is Moisture Manager

What Is Moisture Manager — And Why Does It Work?

Moisture Manager is a professional-grade, rootzone moisture management application that I personally recommend and apply to lawns across the Austin metro area from May through September.

The product uses an advanced, non-phytotoxic wetting agent — meaning it won’t harm your turf — that fundamentally changes how water behaves in your soil. Rather than running off or evaporating before it reaches the roots, water is pulled down and distributed evenly through the rootzone. And once it’s down there, the soil holds onto it more effectively between watering cycles.

Think of it as giving your soil a complete reset from that dried-out, water-repellent state that summer heat creates.

Here’s what Moisture Manager specifically does for Austin lawns:

Breaks down hydrophobic soil conditions — it treats that hardened, water-repellent layer so water can actually penetrate
Eliminates localized dry spots — those mysterious dead patches usually caused by uneven water distribution in the soil
Reduces water loss from runoff — your irrigation water goes where it’s supposed to go, instead of running off the surface
Prevents excess water retention — it optimizes moisture levels, so you’re not over-watering in some areas while under-watering in others
Provides uniform water distribution to the rootzone — every part of your lawn gets what it needs

The result? Your lawn can survive Austin’s heat more effectively on the limited watering schedule the city allows. The ground doesn’t dry out as fast. Your turf stays greener, deeper, and more stress-resistant when we hit those 105°F afternoons in July and August.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Who Should Be Using Moisture Manager?

In my professional opinion, nearly every Austin homeowner with an established lawn should be considering Moisture Manager this summer. It’s especially critical if you:

Have noticed persistent dry or dead patches that don’t respond to watering
Have clay-heavy or compacted soil (which describes a large portion of the Austin area)
Are working within Austin’s watering restrictions and need to get more out of every irrigation cycle
Have experienced lawn stress or dormancy in previous summers
Want to protect your investment in your lawn without using more water than the city allows

This isn’t just a product I sell — it’s a solution I believe in from an agronomic standpoint. Water efficiency is the future of lawn care in Central Texas. As our summers get hotter and water availability remains a community concern, the lawns that survive and thrive are the ones managed smarter, not just watered more.

Century Outdoor Services: Austin's Lawn Care Professionals

At Century Outdoor Services, we’re not just applying products — we’re managing living systems. As the owner and agronomist of this company, every service we offer is something I’ve evaluated personally for its science, its effectiveness, and its appropriateness for Austin’s specific climate and soil conditions. Moisture Manager is one of those services I’m genuinely proud to offer.

If your lawn struggled last summer, don’t wait for it to happen again. Moisture Manager applications start in May, and spots for our package fill up. We serve homeowners throughout the Austin metro area — including Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Bee Cave, and beyond.

Contact Century Outdoor Services today to schedule your Moisture Manager consultation and get your lawn ready to handle whatever this summer brings.

Century Outdoor Services is an Austin, TX-based professional lawn care company specializing in turf health, seasonal applications, and science-backed lawn management. Owner and agronomist on staff. Serving Austin and surrounding Central Texas communities.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Top Dressing, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

Why Choosing a Family-Owned Lawn Care Company in Austin Still Matters

Century technician applying liquid aeration in Austin

Why Choosing a Family-Owned Lawn Care Company in Austin Still Matters

In today’s lawn care industry, more and more companies are being bought out by large corporations or private equity firms. What used to be local, family-owned businesses are now often run by out-of-state ownership, call centers, and systems that prioritize volume over relationships.

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At Century Outdoor Services, we’ve chosen a different path.

We’re proud to be one of the few remaining family-owned lawn fertilization and weed control companies in the Austin area—and we plan to keep it that way.

Founded in 2013 by husband and wife team Kyle and Jenna Caldwell, our mission has always been simple:
take care of our customers the same way we would want someone to take care of our own home.

A True Local, Family-Owned Lawn Care Company

Century Outdoor Services isn’t backed by private equity. We’re not owned by a national brand. We’re not managed by a corporate board.

We’re a family.

Kyle and Jenna started this company right here in the Austin area, and we continue to live and raise our family in Bee Cave, with our daughters attending schools in the Lake Travis ISD.

That matters.

Because when you choose a local, family-owned company, you’re working with people who:

Live in the same communities you do
Understand the unique challenges of Central Texas lawns
Care deeply about their reputation in the area
Are directly involved in the business every single day

This isn’t just where we work—it’s home.

Why Family-Owned Still Matters in Lawn Care

There’s a big difference between a locally owned company and one that’s been acquired by a larger organization.

When companies grow through acquisitions, things often change:

Customer service becomes less personal
Decisions are made outside of Austin
Pricing pressures increase
Technicians are pushed for volume instead of quality

At Century, we’ve built our company around doing the opposite.

1. You’re Not Just a Number

When you call us, you’re not routed through multiple departments or an out-of-state call center.

You’re speaking with our team—people who know your lawn, your property, and your service history.

We take pride in being:

Polite
Responsive
Easy to work with
Focused on solutions

And if we ever miss your call or it’s after hours, we always call you back. That’s not a policy—it’s our standard.

2. We Take Every Issue Seriously

No company is perfect—but how a company responds is what matters.

If there’s ever an issue with your lawn, we:

Listen carefully
Take responsibility
Act quickly to resolve it

Because at the end of the day, your lawn reflects our name.

And as a family-owned business, that name means everything to us.

3. Ownership Is Involved—Every Day

One of the biggest advantages of working with Century Outdoor Services is that ownership is actively involved in the business.

We’re not removed from operations—we’re in it.

That means:

We oversee service quality
We support our technicians
We stay connected with customers
We continuously improve our programs

This level of involvement simply doesn’t exist in large corporate lawn care companies.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Lawn Care Services Built for Austin, TX

Austin lawns are unique.

Between the heat, drought conditions, clay soils, and aggressive weeds, maintaining a healthy lawn in Central Texas requires a very specific approach.

That’s why we’ve designed our services specifically for this region.

Fertilization & Weed Control Program

Our core service is our comprehensive fertilization and weed control program, designed to keep your lawn healthy year-round.

This program includes:

Seasonal fertilization for consistent turf health
Pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control
Control of common Central Texas weeds
Nutrient balancing for stronger root systems

But what truly sets our program apart is what’s included.

Insect & Disease Control — Included

Unlike many companies that charge extra, we include:

Lawn insect control (excluding fire ants)
Turf disease monitoring and treatment

This ensures your lawn is protected from:

Armyworms
Grubs
Fungal diseases
Other seasonal threats

All without surprise add-ons or upsells.

Liquid Aeration

Soil compaction is one of the biggest challenges in Austin-area lawns.

Our liquid aeration service helps:

Break up compacted soil
Improve water penetration
Enhance nutrient absorption
Promote deeper root growth

This is especially important for lawns dealing with drought stress or heavy clay soils.

Turf Moisture Manager

Water restrictions are a reality in Central Texas.

Our Turf Moisture Manager service helps your lawn make the most of every drop of water.

Benefits include:

Improved water retention in the soil
Reduced drought stress
More efficient irrigation
Healthier turf during extreme heat

This service is a game-changer for homeowners trying to maintain a great lawn under watering limitations.

Shrub & Tree Care

Your landscape is more than just grass.

We also offer a shrub and tree fertilization program that supports:

Strong root development
Improved plant health
Better resistance to stress and disease
Enhanced overall appearance

Healthy shrubs and trees complete the look of a well-maintained property.

Built on Relationships, Not Transactions

At Century Outdoor Services, we don’t see lawn care as a transaction.

We see it as a relationship.

Many of our customers have been with us for years—and that’s something we don’t take lightly.

We’ve built our company on:

Trust
Consistency
Communication
Results

And because we’re family-owned, those values aren’t just words—they’re how we operate every day.

Supporting Fellow Austinites

Austin isn’t just where we do business—it’s our community.

We’re proud to serve homeowners in:

When you choose Century, you’re supporting a local family, local employees, and a company that reinvests in the community.

The Future of Century Outdoor Services

As more companies in our industry are acquired and consolidated, we remain committed to staying independent.

Our goal isn’t to become the biggest lawn care company.

Our goal is to be the best.

That means:

Continuing to deliver high-quality service
Staying connected to our customers
Supporting our team
Maintaining the values we were built on

We believe there will always be a place for companies that prioritize people over profits—and we’re proud to be one of them.

Experience the Difference of a Family-Owned Lawn Care Company

If you’re looking for a lawn care company in Austin that:

Answers the phone
Stands behind their work
Treats you with respect
Delivers consistent results

Century Outdoor Services is here for you.

We’re not a corporation.

We’re not backed by private equity.

We’re a husband and wife team, raising a family in the same community we serve—and we’re committed to taking care of your lawn like it’s our own.

Get Started Today

If you’re ready for a better lawn care experience, we’d love to help.

Reach out to Century Outdoor Services today and see the difference that a local, family-owned company can make.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Top Dressing, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

Why Austin’s Lawns Turn Brown in Fall – Dormant, Not Dead!

Why Austin's Lawns Turn Brown in Fall - Dormant, Not Dead!

Dormancy is a natural part of the turfgrass growth cycle and a key survival mechanism for warm-season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine.

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As the owner of Century Outdoor Services and Director of Agronomy, I often get questions each fall about why lawns suddenly turn brown. Homeowners see the once-green Bermuda, Zoysia, or St. Augustine grass in their Austin, TX yards fading to a straw-colored brown and worry that their lawn has died. The good news: that brown grass is usually not dead at all – it’s just going dormant for the winter. In this post, I’ll explain why our southern turf varieties go dormant in fall, what that means for your lawn’s health, and how different grass types (and even different areas of your property) can go dormant at different times. I’ll also share some winter lawn care tips – including watering, fertilization, and weed control – to keep your grass healthy so it bounces back vibrant and green in spring.

Dormancy 101: Brown Grass Isn't Dead Grass

Dormant warm-season grass in late winter: it appears brown and dry above ground, but the turf is still very much alive at the crown and root level.

Dormancy is a natural part of the turfgrass growth cycle and a key survival mechanism for warm-season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine. When cooler weather arrives and temperatures consistently drop in late fall, these grasses essentially go to “sleep” for the winter to conserve energy. Instead of actively growing, the grass plants slow down their metabolism, stop producing new green blades, and transfer their stored energy into their root system for safe keeping. As a result, the lawn’s leaf blades lose their lush green color and take on a brownish-tan, straw-like appearance.

It’s easy to see brown, patchy turf and assume it has died from cold or drought. However, dormant grass is not dead. The grass blades may look dry and lifeless, but the crowns (the base of the grass plants at soil level) and the roots below are still alive and viable. In fact, the whole point of dormancy is to protect the vital parts of the plant through harsh conditions. By shutting down top growth and conserving moisture and nutrients in the roots, the grass can survive winter cold and bounce back when warmer temperatures return. A truly dead lawn won’t green up again, but a dormant lawn will resume active growth once conditions are favorable.

Homeowners in Central Texas typically notice their lawns entering dormancy in November, though the exact timing can vary. In North Texas, for example, most Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine lawns go dormant around mid-November and remain brown through mid to late April. Here in Austin, with our slightly warmer climate, dormancy might hit some lawns a bit later or end a bit earlier, but generally late fall through winter is the dormant season. Lawns usually begin to brown out once overnight temperatures consistently fall into the low 50s °F and below. Soil temperatures around 55 °F are a tipping point at which warm-season grasses cease growth and lose their green hue. In practice, after our first frost in Austin (often in November), you’ll see the lawn change color from green to brown. During this transition, it’s not unusual for the lawn to look patchy or “camouflaged” – a mix of green and brown areas – for a week or two as dormancy sets in fully. Don’t be alarmed; this is normal, and soon the entire lawn will take on a uniform tan-brown dormant color for the winter.

The key takeaway is that your brown winter lawn isn’t dying – it’s resting. Much like a bear hibernating, the grass has slowed its activity to conserve resources during the cold, dry months. Come spring, those brown lawns will wake up and begin greening up again as soil warms and daylight lengthens. As long as the crown of the grass plant survived (and it will in a normal winter dormancy), the turf will generate fresh green blades and fill back in. In short, brown grass in winter = dormant, not dead.

Different Grasses (and Microclimates) = Different Dormancy Timing

One interesting aspect of fall dormancy is that not all parts of your lawn will go brown at the same time. Here at Century Outdoor Services, we’ve observed that different grass species – and even different areas of a property – enter dormancy on slightly different schedules. There are a few reasons for this:

Grass Variety: Each type of warm-season grass has its own level of cold tolerance and dormancy trigger. For instance, Zoysia tends to go dormant a bit faster than other grasses – it often turns brown quickly after the first frost of the season. Bermuda grass is also warm-season and will certainly brown out with winter cold, but some Bermuda varieties may hang onto green color slightly longer until a hard freeze hits. St. Augustine grass, common in Austin lawns, is somewhat cold-sensitive; a strong frost will make St. Augustine blades go limp and brown as well. In a very mild winter without any frost, St. Augustine might not turn completely brown in all areas, but generally in Central Texas we do see it go dormant to a tan color when real cold fronts arrive. The exact cultivar matters too – for example, improved hybrid Bermudas might green up earlier in spring or potentially go dormant slightly later in fall than common varieties, but all warm-season turf will enter dormancy eventually when it gets cold enough.

Location on Your Property: Microclimates can cause parts of your lawn to experience cold differently. Areas of the grass that get more sunlight during the day (such as south-facing slopes or open ground) may stay warmer and keep their green color a little longer in fall. Spots near heat-retaining structures – for example, next to a stone driveway, sidewalk, or the foundation of your home – can benefit from a bit of radiant heat that delays frost in those areas. On the other hand, low-lying sections of the yard or areas under heavy shade might get cooler at night and be the first to show browning. I’ve seen lawns where the grass under a big live oak tree turned brown sooner (due to cooler, still air and less sun), while the grass out by the street stayed green a week or two longer. Likewise, the north side of a building may cool faster than the south side. Tree coverage, soil type, and moisture levels also play a role. Moist soil holds warmth longer than very dry soil, for example, which can affect how quickly the grass above it goes dormant.

Soil and Drainage: Heavier clay soils (which we have in much of Austin) can stay warmer or cooler differently than sandy soils. If part of your lawn has compacted soil or poor drainage, cold air might settle there and induce dormancy sooner. Areas that stayed healthier and well-watered into the fall (more on that below) may actually resist dormancy until more cold manifests, whereas grass that was drought-stressed might slip into dormancy (or even suffer damage) earlier.

In summary, it’s completely normal for one part of your lawn to start browning before another. Many factors determine exactly when a given lawn (or section of lawn) will enter dormancy – the grass species, the specific cultivar, soil conditions, shade vs. sun, and even proximity to structures can all have an impact. Don’t be surprised if you see a two-tone yard for a little while each fall. Eventually, a hard freeze or extended cold will make all the warm-season turf catch up and go dormant. Understanding these variations can also prevent panic: if your front yard turns brown in early November but the backyard (perhaps more sheltered) is still partly green, it doesn’t mean something is “wrong” – it’s just the natural difference in dormancy timing. Come spring’s warm-up, the same principle works in reverse: some areas (and Bermuda grass, notably) may green up sooner than others, but soon your whole lawn will even out in healthy green growth.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Winter Lawn Care Tips: How to Help Your Dormant Lawn Thrive

Even though your warm-season lawn is essentially “asleep” during the winter, you shouldn’t just ignore it until spring. Dormant grass still benefits from a little care to ensure it stays healthy and ready to green up strong when warmth returns. Here are some winter lawn care tips I recommend for Austin lawns entering dormancy:

Water Occasionally, Even in Winter: Dormant grass has greatly reduced water needs, but it still needs some moisture to keep the roots alive and prevent excessive drying. If we go through a period of no rainfall, you should water your lawn about once every two weeks during winter. I suggest giving the lawn a deep watering (about 0.5–1 inch of water) roughly twice a month in the absence of rain. This infrequent watering is enough to maintain soil moisture and support the grass’s crown and roots through dormancy. Remember, the grass blades won’t green up until warmer weather no matter how much you water – you’re not trying to force growth, just preventing root dehydration. In fact, overwatering a dormant lawn can do more harm than good (it can lead to winter fungal diseases or waste water). The goal is to keep the lawn slightly irrigated, not soggy. Here in Austin, winter rains are sporadic; if we get a decent rain, you can skip the supplemental watering and reset the “timer.” But if we have a dry stretch with windy, sunny weather, a mid-winter watering will ensure the grass isn’t desiccated. Dormant grass isn’t dead – it still needs a drink now and then to stay alive and bounce back in spring. As a bonus, maintaining some soil moisture can protect your grass from winter injury: a well-hydrated lawn going into a hard freeze is less prone to cold damage than a bone-dry lawn facing the same freeze. In short, don’t abandon watering entirely; give your lawn a sip every couple of weeks so it enters dormancy healthy, not under drought stress.
Continue Weed Control Through Fall/Winter: Weed pressure doesn’t stop just because your turf is dormant. In fact, when warm-season grass slows down, it becomes more vulnerable to invasive weeds taking advantage of the open space. Many common winter weeds in Central Texas (like annual bluegrass, henbit, chickweed, etc.) germinate in the fall and early winter. If you don’t proactively prevent or treat them, you might find a crop of bright-green weeds popping up in your brown lawn by late winter (what we call the salad bar) – not the kind of “green” we want! That’s why fall weed control is critical. At Century Outdoor Services, we apply a fall pre-emergent herbicide (Round 7 of our program) in late fall to stop those winter weeds before they sproutcenturyoutdoor.comcenturyoutdoor.com. A pre-emergent creates a barrier in the soil so weed seeds (like Poa annua, also known as annual bluegrass) can’t successfully germinatecenturyoutdoor.com. If you missed the pre-emergent window this year, you can still spot-treat any weeds that do appear over winter with appropriate post-emergent herbicides – just be cautious with products if you have St. Augustine, which can be sensitive; always follow label instructions or consult a professional. The bottom line is weed control is an important part of winter lawn care. You don’t want weeds taking over while your grass is brown and “out of the way.” Not only are they unsightly, but they steal nutrients and water that your turf will need come springcenturyoutdoor.comcenturyoutdoor.com. A weed-free lawn will green up more uniformly and vigorously when dormancy ends. So, keep up with targeted weed treatments and especially plan on that fall pre-emergent each year to make your life easier. (It’s much better to prevent winter weeds in October/November than to fight them in January.)
Fertilize at the Right Time (No late nitrogen): Fertilization is important for turf health, but timing is everything for a dormant lawn. You generally do not want to fertilize after your grass has gone fully dormant – once it’s brown and inactive, it cannot uptake nutrients, and any nitrogen you put down would likely leach away or sit unused. Feeding at the wrong time can even encourage disease. Instead, focus on late-season fertilization in early fall before dormancy, or using a specialized “winterizer” treatment, to fortify the lawn going into winter. For warm-season grasses in Texas, the last nitrogen application is usually recommended by mid to late October. This allows the grass to store nutrients in its roots and become more cold-hardy. In our Century Outdoor Services program, for example, we apply a balanced winter fertilizer (Round 7) in the early fall window – typically a formulation with higher potassium and lower nitrogen – to strengthen the turf during dormancy. Potassium (K) is a key nutrient that improves cold tolerance and disease resistance in turf, and a “winterizer” fertilizer often contains extra potassium for this reason. The benefits of proper fall fertilization are significant: giving your grass the right nutrients at the right time helps increase its winter hardiness, builds up root reserves, and can lead to a faster, stronger green-up in spring. By contrast, skipping fertilization or timing it poorly could leave the lawn undernourished when cold hits. So, yes – fertilization is very important for turf health, but it should be done as part of your fall maintenance plan (and again in spring) rather than in the dead of winter. If you’re following an annual fertilization schedule (like our 8-round program), make sure those late summer and fall rounds are applied; they truly set the stage for how well your lawn endures dormancy and how vigorously it wakes up afterwardcenturyoutdoor.comcenturyoutdoor.com. And once the grass is dormant, hold off on any further feeding until it’s visibly greening up and growing again in spring.
Keep the Lawn Clean: Even though you won’t be mowing weekly in winter, you should still remove fallen leaves and debris from your lawn regularly. A layer of leaves left on a dormant lawn can trap moisture, encourage mold or rot, and block sunlight from reaching the grass (on those days the sun is out). It also creates a cozy habitat for pests that might chew on your grass or create other issues. I recommend either mulching the leaves with your mower or raking/blowing them off at least every week or two during peak leaf-fall. A light layer of mulched leaves is fine (it can even add organic matter to soil), but you don’t want a thick mat smothering the turf. Keeping the lawn clear will ensure it isn’t insulated in a bad way – the grass crowns will experience the normal cool temperatures and know to stay dormant, and when it’s time to warm up, they’ll get the sunlight and air circulation they need. Plus, your property will simply look tidier. Similarly, avoid leaving objects (like lawn furniture, toys, or even holiday decorations) on the grass for too long during winter; since the grass isn’t actively growing, it won’t recover quickly from prolonged compression or cover.
Limit Foot Traffic on Frosty Grass: On chilly Austin mornings, you might see your lawn sparkling with frost. While frost itself doesn’t actually kill healthy dormant grass (the grass has prepped for it by going dormant), walking on a frost-covered lawn can cause damage. The frozen grass blades can become brittle and will easily break or crush under footsteps, leading to brown footprints that persist for weeks. Because the grass isn’t actively growing, it can’t repair those frost-crushed blades until spring. I’ve seen situations where people or pets repeatedly took the same path across a frosted lawn and those trails stayed visible (brown and thinned out) all winter long. So, as much as possible, stay off the grass when there’s frost or ice on it. Once it thaws later in the day, it’s safer to walk on. Also avoid aggressive yard work like aerating or heavy raking when the grass is dormant or frozen – save that for the active growing season. By being gentle with your lawn now, you’ll have less damage to fix later.
Plan for Spring: Finally, remember that winter dormancy is just one phase of your lawn’s annual cycle. Come late winter (around February), start thinking ahead. If you applied fall pre-emergent, you may need a spring pre-emergent as well (to catch early spring weeds). Avoid fertilizing until the grass is breaking dormancy – typically we wait until we’ve mowed the grass at least once because it’s actually growing, which in Austin might be late March. When the lawn begins greening up, you can do a light fertilizer application to nudge it along. Also, late winter is a good time to tune up your mower, plan any re-sodding or seeding for damaged patches (note: St. Augustine is planted by sod, not seed), and get ready to resume regular maintenance. If you maintained good care through dormancy – occasional watering, weed prevention, etc. – you’ve set your lawn up for a quick recovery. As soon as soil temps consistently rise and our night temps stay above ~60 °F, you’ll see fresh green blades emerging. At that time, you might consider a lawn “scalp” (mowing very low and bagging the clippings) to remove the old dead thatch and let sunlight hit new growth, but only do this right as the lawn is fully exiting dormancy and there’s no frost risk. Many of our clients are surprised how fast a well-cared-for dormant lawn can green up – often by early April the yards are looking vibrant again.

In Conclusion

Your lawn’s brown turn in fall is nothing to panic over – it’s a sign that nature knows what it’s doing. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine go dormant to survive the cold, and that brown, dry look is their version of hibernation. By understanding dormancy, you can appreciate that your lawn is on pause, not gone forever. And by following the tips above – watering about twice a month (weather dependent), keeping up with fertilization and weed control on the proper schedule, and minding things like leaf litter and frost – you’ll help your grass weather the winter in great shape. As the owner and agronomy director here, I take pride in seeing dormant lawns wake up lush and healthy in the spring. With a little care during these “quiet” months, your lawn will be primed for a strong green comeback once warmer days returncenturyoutdoor.com. Until then, enjoy the break from mowing, enjoy the cooler weather, and rest assured that your brown lawn is just dormant, not dead – come spring, it will be green and growing again!

Century Outdoor Services: Your Local Lawn Care Experts

At Century Outdoor Services, we specialize in creating healthy, weed-free lawns across Austin, Bee Cave, Dripping Springs, Georgetown, and the surrounding Central Texas areas. Our comprehensive lawn care program includes:

We use proven, professional-grade products and back every service with our satisfaction guarantee.

Ready for a Weed-Free Lawn?

If you’re tired of weeds stealing the beauty from your lawn, let us help. With our expertise and reliable post-emergent treatments, you’ll see your lawn transform—just give it a little time.

Contact Century Outdoor Services today to get started on your custom lawn care program and enjoy the green, healthy yard you deserve.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Top Dressing, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

Could You Have Take-All Root Rot in Your Lawn?

Treating Take-All Patch in an Austin Lawn

Could You Have Take-All Root Rot in Your Austin Lawn?

Learn how to identify, treat, and prevent Take-All Root Rot in Austin lawns. Expert advice from Century Outdoor Services for healthy, green turf.

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Understanding Take-All Root Rot in Austin Lawns

How It Starts and How to Treat It

If you’ve noticed yellowing or thinning patches in your St. Augustine, Bermuda, or Zoysia lawn that just won’t green up, you might be dealing with Take-All Root Rot — often called Take-All Patch. This soil-borne fungus is one of the most destructive lawn diseases we see in Central Texas, and it thrives in the very conditions our local climate provides. The good news? With the right approach, it can be managed and even prevented.

What Is Take-All Root Rot?

Take-All Root Rot is caused by a fungus that attacks the root system of turfgrass. It starts in the soil and moves upward, damaging the roots and stolons (runners). Once infected, the roots lose their ability to take in water and nutrients, causing the grass to yellow, thin out, and eventually die in irregular patches.

St. Augustine grass is the most commonly affected in Austin, but Bermuda and Zoysia lawns can also be hit. The patches usually start small — a few inches across — but can spread several feet over time. When you pull on the grass in these areas, it often lifts easily from the soil because the roots are short, dark, and rotted.

How It Starts

In Austin, Take-All Root Rot tends to develop during our mild, wet spring and fall seasons. The fungus becomes active in cool, damp soil and continues spreading when moisture stays around too long. Lawns that hold water, are over-irrigated, or have poor drainage are most at risk.

Our local soils are often alkaline, and that high pH also favors the fungus. Add in lawn stress from mowing too short, compacted soil, or heavy shade, and you’ve got a perfect recipe for Take-All to move in. Lawns weakened by drought, too much fertilizer, or herbicide damage are especially susceptible.

Many homeowners notice the symptoms in spring when the grass is trying to green up. Infected areas stay yellow, thin, and weak even with watering or fertilizer. By summer, those spots can brown out completely under heat stress.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Treating Take-All Root Rot

Once Take-All Root Rot shows up, acting early makes a big difference. A combination of chemical and cultural practices works best.

1. Fungicide Treatments

Use a fungicide labeled for Take-All Patch control — products containing azoxystrobin, propiconazole, or thiophanate-methyl are common options.

Timing: The best time to treat is spring and fall, when the disease is active. Apply at the first signs of yellowing or thinning.
Application: Mow and rake the lawn before applying. Use plenty of water to get the product down into the root zone — about 4–5 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet of lawn.
Water it in: Lightly water after application so the fungicide can reach the roots.
Reapply: For severe cases, a second or third application spaced 2–4 weeks apart may be needed.

Remember, fungicides stop the fungus from spreading but won’t instantly heal damaged roots. Recovery takes time, and that’s where good cultural practices come in.

Cultural Practices for Long-Term Prevention

Healthy, resilient lawns are the best defense against Take-All Root Rot. Here’s how to strengthen your turf and prevent future outbreaks:

Mow at the proper height: Keep St. Augustine around 2½–3½ inches, Zoysia at 1½–2 inches, and Bermuda around 1–2 inches. Never scalp or remove more than one-third of the blade at a time.
Water deeply but infrequently: Water early in the morning, providing about 1 inch once or twice a week depending on weather. Avoid watering late in the day or too frequently — the fungus loves constant moisture.
Aerate and improve drainage: Core aeration relieves compaction and allows water and nutrients to reach the roots more effectively.
Reduce thatch: Thatch buildup holds moisture and harbors fungi. Dethatch or rake the lawn if the layer exceeds half an inch.
Topdress with compost or peat moss: A light layer of compost or peat once or twice a year helps balance soil pH and introduces beneficial microbes that suppress disease.
Balanced fertilization: Avoid overusing nitrogen. Use slow-release, balanced fertilizers and follow a soil test if possible.
Avoid stress: Keep mower blades sharp, avoid chemical overuse, and reduce heavy foot traffic on wet lawns.

Century Outdoor Services: Your Local Lawn Care Experts

We use proven, professional-grade products and back every service with our satisfaction guarantee.

Ready for a Weed-Free Lawn?

If you’re tired of weeds stealing the beauty from your lawn, let us help. With our expertise and reliable post-emergent treatments, you’ll see your lawn transform—just give it a little time.

Contact Century Outdoor Services today to get started on your custom lawn care program and enjoy the green, healthy yard you deserve.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Top Dressing, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Latest Articles

How Long Does It Take to See Results for Weed Control

How Long Does It Take to See Results for Weed Control?

Our post-emergent weed control is tailored to control our tough weeds here in Austin, TX

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When you invest in professional lawn care, one of the most common questions we hear is: “How long will it take before I see results from weed control?” At Century Outdoor Services, we know how frustrating it can be to look at weeds in your yard and want them gone immediately. But when it comes to post-emergent weed treatments, the process takes a little patience.

On average, you can expect to see visible results from post-emergent weed control within 2 to 4 weeks. The exact timeline depends on the type of weed being treated, the product used, and environmental conditions. Let’s break it down.

What Is Post-Emergent Weed Control?

Post-emergent products are designed to target weeds that have already sprouted above the soil surface. Unlike pre-emergent applications—which stop weed seeds from germinating—post-emergents work by being absorbed into the leaves of the weed, eventually moving down into the root system.

This process doesn’t happen overnight. Just like it takes time for weeds to grow, it also takes time for the herbicide to disrupt their growth cycle and kill them completely.

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Why Results Take 2–4 Weeks

1. Type of Weed Matters

Different weeds respond at different speeds.

Broadleaf weeds like dandelions or clover may begin showing signs of curling, yellowing, or wilting within a week or two.
Grassy weeds like crabgrass or dallisgrass are often tougher and may take closer to the full 4 weeks before you notice significant decline.

2. Product Used

Not all herbicides are created equal. At Century Outdoor Services, we carefully choose products that are safe for your lawn, effective against local weed pressures, and environmentally responsible. Some products are fast-acting, while others are designed to work more gradually but thoroughly.

3. Weather and Lawn Conditions

Weed control is most effective when applied during active growth. If weeds are stressed from drought or extreme heat, absorption can be slower. Rainfall, watering, and soil health also play a role in how quickly results show up.

What to Expect After Treatment

Patience is key. Within the first few days, you may notice slight discoloration on weed leaves. Over the next 2–4 weeks, weeds will continue to weaken, curl, yellow, and eventually die off.

During this time, your healthy grass continues to thrive with the help of proper fertilization, watering, and mowing practices. Once weeds die back, your lawn will fill in more evenly, creating that lush, green look homeowners in Austin and Central Texas love.

Why Patience Pays Off

It’s important to remember that post-emergent weed control is not an instant “spray and gone” solution. Think of it as an investment in your lawn’s long-term health. By allowing the product to work through the weed’s entire system, you’re ensuring it doesn’t just brown out temporarily—it dies all the way to the root.

That’s why we always remind our clients: weed control is a game of patience. Give it the 2–4 weeks it needs, and you’ll see the results you’re looking for.

Century Outdoor Services: Your Local Lawn Care Experts

We use proven, professional-grade products and back every service with our satisfaction guarantee.

Ready for a Weed-Free Lawn?

If you’re tired of weeds stealing the beauty from your lawn, let us help. With our expertise and reliable post-emergent treatments, you’ll see your lawn transform—just give it a little time.

Contact Century Outdoor Services today to get started on your custom lawn care program and enjoy the green, healthy yard you deserve.

What We Do

Our Services

Get Answers

Common Questions

How do you determine the pricing?

For Weed Control and Fertilization, Aeration, and Top Dressing, the price is calculated by every 1,000 ft². Click here to see how we determine our prices.

How do I request and receive an estimate?

If you’d like to receive an estimate, you can call us at (512) 786-1694 or send us a quick message.

Do I have to sign a contract for the services with Century?

Family-Owned • 9-Round Program • 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Lawn Care

Landscape Bed Maintenance

Is My Lawn Dead? Will Austin Lawns Recover After a Hot, Dry Summer?

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Why Austin Lawns Have Struggled So Much

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

When Will My Lawn Turn Green Again?

Don't Give Up on Brown Areas Too Early

What Should You Do With Your Lawn Right Now?

Not Sure If Your Lawn Is Dormant or Dead?

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How to Keep Your Lawn Weed-Free in Austin, Texas

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Fall Pre-Emergent for Winter Weeds

Spring Pre-Emergent for Summer Weeds

2. Understand That Pre-Emergent Doesn't Prevent Every Weed

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

3. Grow a Thick Lawn That Can Compete With Weeds

4. Mow Your Lawn Consistently

5. Water Deeply and Properly

The Best Weed Control Strategy for Austin Lawns

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I apply pre-emergent in Austin?

How often should pre-emergent be applied?

Why do I still have weeds after pre-emergent?

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Georgetown, TX Lawn Care Guide: How to Grow a Healthy Lawn in Central Texas

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Lawn Care in Sun City Georgetown, TX

Sun City Lawns Still Need the Basics

Irrigation Is Especially Important

Don’t Assume Every Brown Area Needs More Fertilizer

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Irrigation Has to Be Correct

What Is the Best Grass for Georgetown, TX?

Bermuda Grass in Georgetown

Zoysia Grass in Georgetown

St. Augustine Grass in Georgetown

Sunlight Can Be More Important Than Fertilizer

Soil Depth and Root Health Matter

Why Deep Roots Are So Important

Fertilizer Cannot Create Soil

Proper Irrigation for Georgetown Lawns

How Often Should You Water Your Lawn in Georgetown, TX?

Check Your Irrigation System—Don’t Just Assume It’s Working

Proper Mowing for Georgetown Lawns

How Short Should You Mow Bermuda Grass?

What About Zoysia and St. Augustine?

Mowing and Fertilization Have to Work Together

Fertilization and Weed Control for Georgetown Lawns

When Should You Fertilize a Lawn in Georgetown, TX?

Why Pre-Emergent Weed Control Is Important in Georgetown

Why Do I Still Have Weeds After a Pre-Emergent Application?

Some Georgetown Weeds Are More Difficult Than Others

Why a Year-Round Lawn Program Matters in Georgetown

What Century’s 9-Round Program Includes

A Healthy Lawn Is the Best Long-Term Weed Defense

Building a Healthier Lawn

What We Do

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Common Questions

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Why Fertilization and Weed Control Alone Won’t Fix Your Lawn in Austin, TX

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Weekly Mowing Is One of the Most Important Things You Can Do

We have been offering our services to homeowners in Austin, TX and throughout the surrounding areas since 2013.

Irrigation Has to Be Correct