DON'T Fertilize Your Sugar Land Lawn Yet (Even If You're Itching To)
January 2026 Update from Todd Farber, Aggie Horticulturist
I know you're ready. The weather's been gorgeous. You're seeing those early spring lawn care displays at the nursery. Your neighbor might have already thrown down some fertilizer.
But hold up.
If you fertilize your St. Augustine grass right now in Sugar Land, you're literally throwing money onto dormant grass that can't use it. And you might actually hurt your lawn.
Here's what the late, great Randy Lemmon always said: "If it ain't green, don't feed."
Randy was right. And with 30+ years as a Texas A&M-trained horticulturist, I'm here to tell you the same thing.
Why NOT to Fertilize Your Fort Bend County Lawn in January
Your St. Augustine grass is dormant or semi-dormant right now. Even with our recent warm days, the soil temperature isn't consistently warm enough for active growth. When you fertilize dormant grass:
The grass can't absorb the nutrients - they just wash away with the next rain (hello, wasted money)
You're feeding the weeds instead - winter weeds LOVE early nitrogen applications
You risk disease - fertilizing too early can stress grass and invite fungal issues
Randy Lemmon used to call this "fertilizer roulette" - you're gambling with your lawn's health.
It may be warm but it’s not the right time to fertilize in Fort Bend County.
So When SHOULD You Fertilize?
The Rule: Wait until your grass is actively growing AND consistently green.
For Sugar Land/Fort Bend County: This is usually mid-March (around March 15th, give or take a week depending on the weather).
Here's the science from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension:
"Begin fertilizing 3 weeks after the grass turns green and when there is little chance of a late frost. Apply 1 pound of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn every 8 weeks, or 1 1/2 pounds of slow-release nitrogen every 10 weeks."
Translation: When your lawn looks green and healthy, wait another 3 weeks. THEN fertilize.
What You SHOULD Be Doing Right Now (January-February)
1. Weed Control (Starting February 1st)
This is your magic window. Here's the decision tree:
NO WEEDS? → Apply pre-emergent herbicide
Pre-emergent creates a barrier that prevents weed seeds from germinating
Apply by February 1st before soil temps warm up
This stops summer weeds before they start
Our favorites pre-emergents:
GOT WEEDS? → Apply post-emergent herbicide
Post-emergent kills weeds that are already growing
Use broadleaf weed killers
Our favorite post-emergents:
Apply when temps are 50-85°F and weeds are actively growing
IMPORTANT: Don't use pre-emergent and post-emergent at the same time. They interfere with each other and you'll waste both products.
2. Mowing Prep
Once your grass starts growing (late February/early March):
Set mower to 2.5 to 4 inches
Never cut more than 1/3 of the blade length at once
Sharpen your mower blade now while you're waiting
3. Irrigation Check
Test your sprinkler system now:
Look for broken heads, leaks, or coverage gaps
Set timer for early morning watering (reduces evaporation and fungal issues)
Plan for 1 inch of water per week once active growth starts
Garden Guy’s Spring St. Augustine Care Timeline for Sugar Land
Early February (Feb 1-15):
Apply pre-emergent herbicide if no weeds present
OR apply post-emergent if weeds already growing
Late February:
Monitor grass for green-up
Begin mowing when growth starts
Check for winter damage or bare spots
Mid-March (~March 15):
FERTILIZE when grass is consistently green
Use balanced fertilizer formulated for St. Augustine
Then repeat every 8 weeks (soluble N) or 10 weeks (slow-release N)
Ongoing:
Water deeply and infrequently (1" per week including rain)
Monitor for chinch bugs, armyworms, grubs
Watch for brown patch and gray leaf spot disease
The Bottom Line
I get it - you want a gorgeous lawn and you're ready to get started. But patience pays off with St. Augustine grass.
Randy Lemmon's wisdom still holds true: Let the grass tell you when it's ready. When it's green and growing, THEN you feed it.
Your lawn (and your wallet) will thank you.
Got lawn questions? Garden Guy, Todd Farber provides free expert horticultural advice.
Todd Farber is a Texas A&M-trained horticulturist with 30+ years of experience serving Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford, and Fort Bend County. Garden Guy is Fort Bend County's Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite.
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