Lawn Care Calendar for Killeen TX 2026 — Month-by-Month Bermudagrass Guide

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Killeen TX’s climate doesn’t follow the national lawn care calendar. Central Texas has two growing seasons, a brutal summer that stresses even heat-tolerant Bermudagrass, and winter dormancy that catches homeowners off guard when the lawn goes brown. This is the complete lawn care calendar for Killeen TX in 2026 — month by month, task by task, timed specifically for Bermudagrass and St. Augustine in Blackland Prairie clay.

For in-depth guides on specific tasks, see our posts on when to fertilize Bermudagrass in Killeen TX, when to mow Bermudagrass in Killeen TX, and lawn watering schedules for Killeen TX. Visit our lawn service in Killeen TX homepage or browse our lawn care blog.

Killeen TX Lawn Care Calendar — Month by Month

January — Dormancy Management

Bermudagrass is fully dormant and brown. St. Augustine is dormant but may retain some color during mild winters. No mowing needed unless St. Augustine is unusually tall from a warm spell.

• Mowing: None required for Bermuda. Mow St. Augustine if it exceeds 4 inches during a warm stretch.
• Watering: Reduce to once every 3–4 weeks or eliminate unless there’s been no rain for 3+ weeks and temperatures are above 50°F.
• Fertilization: None. Dormant grass cannot use nutrients.
• Weed control: Apply pre-emergent if you missed your fall application. Henbit, chickweed, and annual bluegrass germinate in cool Killeen TX soil.
• Aeration: Not recommended during dormancy.

February — Pre-Season Preparation

Bermudagrass begins waking up as soil temperatures approach 60°F in late February in Killeen TX. You may see the first green tinge emerging from dormant Bermuda in sheltered, south-facing areas.

• Mowing: First mow of the season if green growth appears. Scalp Bermuda to 1–1.5 inches once to remove dormant thatch and stimulate green-up. Do not scalp St. Augustine.
• Watering: Begin light watering if February is dry — once per week is sufficient to keep soil from cracking severely in Killeen clay.
• Fertilization: None yet. Wait for soil temperature above 65°F consistently.
• Weed control: Apply pre-emergent by late February for spring crabgrass prevention. This is one of the most important timing points in the Killeen TX lawn care calendar.
• Equipment: Service your mower blade, air filter, and spark plugs before the season starts.

March — Green-Up Season

Bermudagrass actively greens up across Killeen TX in March as soil temperatures consistently exceed 65°F. Growth is rapid once it starts.

• Mowing: Mow weekly once Bermuda reaches 3 inches. Maintain at 2–3 inches. St. Augustine at 3.5–4 inches.
• Watering: Increase to 1 inch per week as temperatures rise. Water deeply and infrequently — one or two heavy waterings per week is better than daily light watering in Killeen clay.
• Fertilization: Apply first round of fertilization in late March when Bermudagrass is actively growing and showing at least 50% green coverage. Use a slow-release nitrogen formulation.
• Weed control: Post-emergent for any winter weeds still present. Pre-emergent should already be down from February.

April — Peak Spring Growth

April is peak growth season for Killeen TX lawns. Bermudagrass and St. Augustine both grow aggressively in the warm, moist April conditions. This is also when most lawn problems — nutsedge emergence, dallisgrass activation, and fire ant mound proliferation — become visible.

• Mowing: Weekly mowing is essential. Missing a week in April can require step-down mowing to recover height safely. Never remove more than 1/3 of blade height in a single cut.
• Watering: 1 inch per week. April rains in Killeen TX often provide most or all of this — adjust irrigation accordingly to avoid overwatering, which promotes disease and nutsedge in Killeen TX.
• Fertilization: Second fertilization round if your spring round was in late February/early March. Otherwise, wait until June.
• Weed control: Spot-treat dallisgrass, crabgrass, and nutsedge with sedge-specific herbicide. See our dallisgrass vs crabgrass guide for Killeen TX.
• Fire ants: April is when fire ant mounds multiply rapidly in Killeen TX Blackland Prairie clay after rain. Apply broadcast bait treatment across the lawn.

May — Transition to Summer Routine

• Mowing: Weekly. Maintain Bermuda at 2–3 inches — do not cut lower as summer heat builds. A taller Bermuda canopy shades the soil and reduces water loss.
• Watering: Increase to 1–1.25 inches per week as May temperatures climb toward 90°F. Water in early morning (before 9AM) to reduce evaporation and disease risk.
• Fertilization: Apply June fertilization round if your calendar is early June — May is acceptable if it’s been 8+ weeks since your March application.
• Weed control: Continue nutsedge treatment — early May applications are most effective when nutsedge plants are small.

June — Summer Heat Management

June brings consistent 95–100°F temperatures to Killeen TX. Lawn management shifts from encouraging growth to protecting what you have.

• Mowing: Weekly, but critically — do not mow during the hottest part of the day or when lawn is heat-stressed. Early morning or late evening preferred. Never scalp. Bermuda at 2.5–3 inches; St. Augustine at 3.5–4 inches.
• Watering: 1.25–1.5 inches per week. Deep watering twice per week is ideal — Killeen clay holds moisture well when watered deeply but dries and cracks quickly on the surface. Watch for grey-blue grass coloration indicating drought stress.
• Fertilization: June fertilization — this is the most important application of the year for Killeen TX Bermudagrass. Apply nitrogen when Bermuda is growing actively but before peak summer heat slows it.
• Weed control: Continue nutsedge treatment. Limit other herbicide applications during extreme heat — stress-applying herbicides can damage Bermudagrass in 100°F conditions.

July — Peak Summer

• Mowing: Biweekly is acceptable if growth slows in extreme heat. Never scalp. The worst lawn damage Killeen TX homeowners do happens in July and August when scalping a heat-stressed lawn.
• Watering: 1.5 inches per week. Water early morning. If Killeen TX is under drought conditions, Bermudagrass can survive (though it will go dormant) on 0.5 inches per week — but recovery from severe drought stress takes 4–6 weeks after watering resumes.
• Fertilization: No fertilization during extreme heat. Stimulating growth during 100°F temperatures stresses Bermudagrass and creates disease vulnerability.
• Weed control: Spot-treat nutsedge only. Avoid broadcast herbicide applications above 90°F.
• Aeration: Core aeration is acceptable in late July when growth has slowed — it gives cores time to break down before fall. See our core aeration guide for Killeen TX.

August — Aeration Month + Late Summer Prep

• Mowing: Resume weekly mowing as August temperatures begin to moderate slightly. Maintain height — do not scalp.
• Watering: Continue 1.25–1.5 inches per week. Late August often brings tropical moisture to Killeen TX — adjust irrigation to avoid overwatering.
• Fertilization: Apply the third and final fertilization round in late August (before September 1 in Killeen TX). This feeds Bermudagrass through the fall growing season without stimulating too much growth before dormancy. Do not fertilize after September 1 — late nitrogen application prevents proper hardening before winter and increases cold damage risk.
• Core aeration: If not done in July, August is the ideal time for core aeration in Killeen TX. The loosened clay allows fall fertilizer and water to reach grass roots more effectively.
• Weed control: Apply fall pre-emergent by late August to prevent winter weeds from germinating in September–October.

September — Fall Recovery Season

• Mowing: Weekly. Bermudagrass and St. Augustine grow actively in September’s moderated temperatures. This is one of the best recovery months for lawns that were stressed over summer.
• Watering: Reduce to 1 inch per week as temperatures drop and evaporation slows. Adjust for rainfall.
• Fertilization: None after September 1. If you missed August, do not apply in September — the risk of cold damage outweighs the benefit.
• Weed control: Fall pre-emergent should already be down. Spot-treat any persistent warm-season weeds while temperatures allow.

October — Preparing for Dormancy

• Mowing: Continue weekly until growth stops. Final mow of the season: lower Bermuda to 2 inches (slight reduction, not scalping) to reduce thatch heading into dormancy.
• Watering: Reduce to 0.75 inches per week. October rainfall in Killeen TX is often sufficient — check before running irrigation.
• Fertilization: None.
• Weed control: Second pre-emergent application if your fall program uses two rounds (August + October). Winter weeds germinate in Killeen TX soil when temperatures drop below 70°F consistently.

November — Dormancy Transition

• Mowing: Mow only if growth continues. Bermudagrass typically stops growing by mid-November in Killeen TX. Final mow when needed.
• Watering: Reduce to once every 2–3 weeks. Cool temperatures and shorter days dramatically reduce lawn water needs. The primary risk in November is allowing clay soil to crack severely — one deep watering per month prevents this.
• Fertilization: None.
• Lawn cleanup: Remove fallen leaves from live oaks and pecans — leaf accumulation on a browning Bermudagrass lawn in November can cause patches of fungal disease and smothered grass.

December — Full Dormancy

• Mowing: None. Lawn is dormant and brown.
• Watering: Once per month if there has been no rain for 3+ weeks and temperatures are above 50°F. Killeen TX winters are generally mild enough that monthly watering prevents clay cracking without overwatering dormant grass.
• Planning: Schedule pre-emergent purchase, mower service, and any sod repair for February delivery — popular products and times sell out.
• Brown lawn: A brown Killeen TX lawn in December is normal dormancy. See our guide on a brown lawn in Killeen TX — dead or dormant.

The Killeen TX Annual Lawn Care Summary

Frequently Asked Questions — Lawn Care Calendar Killeen TX

When is the best time to fertilize in Killeen TX?

Three rounds: late March (green-up), June (peak summer nutrition), and late August (fall prep, must be before September 1). The June application is the most critical for Killeen TX Bermudagrass. See our full Bermudagrass fertilization calendar for Killeen TX.

When should I apply pre-emergent in Killeen TX?

Two rounds: late February (before soil temperatures reach 55°F consistently, targeting spring crabgrass) and late August (before fall winter weed germination). The February application is the more important of the two for most Killeen TX homeowners.

When does Bermudagrass go dormant in Killeen TX?

Bermudagrass typically begins going dormant in Killeen TX in late October as night temperatures consistently drop below 50°F, and is fully brown by mid-November. It remains dormant until late February or early March when soil temperatures exceed 65°F.

When should I aerate my Killeen TX lawn?

July or August is the optimal window for core aeration in Killeen TX. This timing allows cores to break down before fall, takes advantage of the pre-dormancy period when Bermudagrass recovers fastest, and aligns with the fall pre-emergent and last fertilization applications.

Why is my Killeen TX lawn brown in winter?

Bermudagrass goes fully dormant and turns brown in Killeen TX winters. This is normal. The lawn is not dead. See our complete guide on brown lawn in Killeen TX — dead or dormant for how to tell the difference.

Want a lawn that follows this calendar without managing it yourself? Our recurring lawn service in Killeen TX covers mowing, edging, and blowing on your schedule. Call (254) 813-3561. Browse our lawn care blog for all Killeen TX lawn guides.

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