Calling all Texas Hill Country Yard/Grass Experts

[TXBRASS]

Finally able to close on the new home just north of San Antonio. Just under one acre lot, but yard has been neglected to the point of no grass and only weeds. Never have really started with zero grass so need advice on what to do to kill the weeds and get grass growing. Any help would be appreciated.

pic of the yard now.

[HOOKNBULLET2]

1st start by reducing the size of the area you want grass to a minimum. We don’t have enough water around here to support the amount of turf. Plenty of water wells are running dry north of San Antonio these days.

That being said, measure your soil depth where you want turf. You need 4-6 inches to support and maintain quality turf. Bring in quality topsoil mix to get to the appropriate depth and then plant sod.

Lack of soil and water will be your 2 biggest hurdles.

If the area is shaded or not will determine which varieties of turf to plant.

Good luck.

[TXBRASS]

Thank you. So there's no seeding options that would work for this situation?

[flywise]

Go to a local golf course and asked to speak to the superintendent. He/she should be an expert on grass and weeds and will likely be willing to give you a consult

[68rustbucket]

Welcome to central Texas. Depending on where you live, there will more than likely be some sort of water restrictions. There’s not enough water to handle the population. We live half way between Austin and San Antonio, have been on some level of outdoor watering restrictions since ‘08. During the heat of the summer, only allowed outdoor watering once every 2 weeks. Choose you sod carefully. If you’re gonna resod, plan on May as being the wettest month. Get your sod laid next year late March, and pray for rain. Focus on the backyard first, you can sneak in some extra watering.

[Txhunter3000]

Xeriscape. Seriously, there's not enough water. San Antonio draws water from around Burleson county through the Vista Ridge pipeline. Our wells have consistently dropped since it opened in Burleson County.

[TXcazador91]

Like the others said, water is an issue. You’ll have a crazy high water bill keeping that area watered and then summer hits and watering gets restricted and your lovely green grass turns brown. That being said if you are dead set on having some nice grass, I would use an herbicide to kill off the existing weeds. Then rent a tiller from Home Depot to till it up. Get a load or two of topsoil spread out. Go to Dels Grass Farm in San Antonio get a pallet or two sod. Fertilize and water.

[black42]

look at a native non grass. We put frogfruit in our yard and it stayed green all year, during the summer it grew with once a week watering and it only grows to about 3" tall and attracts butterflies.

[Kingfisher789]

Looks to me like you need some Sandy loam for starters.

[TxDuSlayer]

Bermuda requires minimal water and can buy Bermuda seeds to throw out. It’s taken over my st. Augustine here in Sugar Land am just going to let it. Lot of benefits to having.

[tkuehn5410]

Buffalo grass would work and require little water. Xeriscape would be nice and all you'd need to do is walk around on the weekend with a sprayer of roundup.

[68rustbucket]

Bermuda requires minimal water and can buy Bermuda seeds to throw out. It’s taken over my st. Augustine here in Sugar Land am just going to let it. Lot of benefits to having.

Big difference in annual rainfall in Sugar Land and Central Texas, about half the amount in Central Texas.