Lawn Care Tips for Stillwater, OK

Apply pre-emergent herbicide before soil temps hit 55°F to stop crabgrass

Scalp Bermuda grass to 1" to remove dormant thatch and speed green-up

Test soil pH — spring is the best time to lime if needed

Trim back ornamental grasses and dead perennial stems before new growth

Clean up winter debris from beds before mulching

Begin mowing Bermuda once it fully greens up — keep blade at 1.5"–2"

Apply first fertilizer of the season once Bermuda is actively growing

Install fresh mulch in landscape beds — 2–3" depth is ideal

Spot treat broadleaf weeds emerging in lawn with selective herbicide

Seed or sod bare spots before the heat of summer arrives

Water Bermuda deeply and infrequently — 1" per week is usually sufficient

Mow more frequently during peak growth (every 5–7 days for Bermuda)

Never remove more than 1/3 of the blade height in a single mowing

Apply slow-release summer fertilizer to sustain color through heat

Watch for chinch bugs and brown patch fungus during humid stretches

Aerate and overseed Fescue lawns in September for best germination

Apply fall pre-emergent to suppress winter annual weeds like henbit

Apply winterizer fertilizer to Bermuda before dormancy to strengthen roots

Complete fall cleanup before first frost — don't leave leaf mats on lawn

Clean gutters after major leaf drop to prevent winter blockages

Bermuda will go dormant — brown color is normal and healthy, not dead

Avoid heavy foot traffic on dormant Bermuda to prevent compaction damage

Overseeding with ryegrass now provides green color through winter if desired

Plan spring services — book aeration, fertilization, and cleanup early

Inspect fencing, irrigation heads, and landscape features for winter damage