The short answer: Effective weed control in Houston requires a year-round approach that combines pre-emergent herbicides (to stop weeds before they sprout) with post-emergent treatments (to kill weeds that break through). Most Houston homeowners need at least three pre-emergent applications and eight rounds of broadleaf weed control to keep their lawns weed-free.
The biggest mistake people make is waiting until weeds are visible before taking action. By that point, the problem is already out of control.
Quick overview:
- Pre-emergent herbicides: Apply in January, February, and September to stop weeds before they germinate
- Broadleaf weed control: Needed throughout the growing season (8 rounds for best results)
- Specialty treatments: Nutsedge, crabgrass, and dallisgrass require targeted products that regular weed killers won’t touch
Keep reading to learn exactly which weeds threaten Houston lawns and how to eliminate them for good.
The Complete Weed Control Approach: Lawn Squad’s 8-Round Program
At Lawn Squad of West Houston, we’ve developed a weed control system specifically designed for the weeds that plague our area. Our programs include broadleaf weed control in all eight treatment rounds, plus three strategically timed pre-emergent applications.
What makes this approach work is consistency. Weeds don’t take breaks, so your weed control program can’t either. Each round targets different weeds at different growth stages, creating multiple lines of defense throughout the year.
Whether you tackle weed control yourself or hire a professional, understanding how different herbicides work and when to apply them will save you time, money, and frustration.
Why Weed Control Matters More Than Most Houston Homeowners Realize
Weeds aren’t just ugly. They actively steal water, nutrients, and sunlight from your grass. A lawn with even 20% weed coverage is a lawn under constant stress.
Here’s what happens when weeds take hold: They grow faster than grass, spreading seeds and underground roots that make next year’s problem even worse. Some weeds, like nutsedge, spread through underground tubers that can survive for years in the soil. Others, like crabgrass, produce thousands of seeds per plant before dying in fall.
The key principle to understand is this: one year of poor weed control creates three years of problems. Those seeds and roots don’t go away. They wait in the soil for their chance to sprout.
Houston’s long growing season and mild winters make weed pressure especially intense. While northern lawns get a break during cold months, Houston weeds germinate almost year-round. That’s why timing your treatments correctly matters so much in our area.
Pre-Emergent Weed Control Guide for Houston Lawns
Pre-emergent herbicides are the foundation of any successful weed control program. These products create a barrier in the soil that kills weed seeds as they try to sprout.
Round 1: January Pre-Emergent (Starting January 5)
This is your most important pre-emergent application. It targets spring weeds like crabgrass, goosegrass, and annual bluegrass before they emerge.
Apply pre-emergent before soil temperatures consistently reach 55 degrees. In the West Houston area, this means getting your first application down in early January. Wait too long, and crabgrass seeds will already be germinating below the surface.
Water in pre-emergent within 24 to 48 hours of application. The product needs to reach the soil to work. If it sits on grass blades and dries out, it loses effectiveness.
Round 2: February Pre-Emergent (Starting February 16)
This second application extends your pre-emergent barrier through spring. One application rarely lasts long enough to prevent all warm-season weed germination.
Combine this application with fertilizer to give your lawn a competitive edge. Healthy, thick grass crowds out weeds naturally. A weak lawn with bare spots invites weed invasion.
Round 7: September Pre-Emergent (Starting September 14)
Fall pre-emergent targets winter annual weeds like henbit, chickweed, and annual bluegrass. These weeds germinate in fall, survive winter, and become problems in early spring.
Many Houston homeowners skip fall pre-emergent because their lawn looks fine in September. That’s a mistake. The weeds you prevent in fall are the weeds you won’t be fighting in March.
Critical warning: Pre-emergent herbicides prevent ALL seeds from germinating, including grass seed. If you plan to overseed your lawn, you cannot apply pre-emergent for 8 to 12 weeks before or after seeding. This is why timing matters and why professional programs are designed around this conflict.
Lawn Squad’s ELITE, PRO, and ESSENTIAL programs all include three pre-emergent applications timed to provide maximum protection without interfering with lawn health.
Post-Emergent Weed Control Guide for Houston Lawns
Post-emergent herbicides kill weeds that have already sprouted. Even with perfect pre-emergent coverage, some weeds will break through and require targeted treatment.
Broadleaf Weed Control (All 8 Rounds)
Broadleaf weeds include dandelions, clover, chickweed, henbit, dollarweed, and dozens of other common lawn invaders. These weeds have wide leaves that look obviously different from grass.
Standard broadleaf herbicides work by disrupting plant hormones in ways that don’t affect grass. They’re selective, meaning they kill weeds without harming your lawn when applied correctly.
Apply broadleaf weed control when weeds are actively growing. Products work best when weeds are young and small. Large, mature weeds may require multiple applications.
Don’t mow for 24 to 48 hours after application. The herbicide needs time to absorb through the leaves and move into the root system. Mowing too soon removes the treated leaf tissue before the product can work.
Nutsedge Control: A Special Challenge
Nutsedge looks like grass but grows faster and sticks up above your lawn with a yellowish-green color. It’s not actually a grass or a broadleaf weed. It’s a sedge, which means regular weed killers don’t work on it.
Nutsedge spreads through underground tubers called “nutlets.” Pulling nutsedge by hand breaks the stem but leaves the nutlet behind, which sprouts new plants. One nutlet can produce hundreds of new plants over a few seasons.
Effective nutsedge control requires specialized sedge herbicides applied multiple times. Lawn Squad includes sedge suppression in Rounds 4, 5, and 6 of our ELITE and PRO programs because one application is never enough for established nutsedge.
Crabgrass Control: Prevention and Cure
Crabgrass is an annual weed that germinates in spring, spreads aggressively through summer, and dies after the first frost. A single crabgrass plant can produce over 150,000 seeds before it dies.
Prevention through pre-emergent is the best strategy. Once crabgrass is established, curative treatments are more expensive and less effective.
If crabgrass breaks through, post-emergent crabgrass killers can help, but they work best on young plants. Mature crabgrass with seed heads is extremely difficult to kill without damaging surrounding grass.
Dallisgrass and Goosegrass Control
These grassy weeds are among the hardest to control in Houston lawns. They look similar to desirable grass, making them hard to spot until they’re well established.
Dallisgrass forms clumps with tall seed stalks and spreads through both seeds and underground rhizomes. Goosegrass lies flat with a silvery-white center and thrives in compacted soil.
Both require specialized herbicides and often multiple applications. Severely infested areas may need spot treatment with non-selective herbicide (which kills everything) followed by reseeding.
How to Identify Common Houston Weeds
Knowing which weeds you’re dealing with helps you choose the right treatment. Here’s how to identify the most common Houston lawn weeds.
Visual identification process:
- Look at the leaf shape (broad and flat vs. narrow like grass)
- Check the growth pattern (spreading flat, growing upright, or forming clumps)
- Note the color (lighter green, darker green, or yellowish compared to your lawn)
- Examine the root system if you pull one up (fibrous roots, taproot, or tubers)
Common broadleaf weeds: Dandelion (yellow flowers, puffball seeds), clover (three-part leaves, white or pink flowers), dollarweed (round leaves like silver dollars, loves wet areas), henbit (square stems, purple flowers in early spring).
Common grassy weeds: Crabgrass (spreads outward like a crab, lighter green), nutsedge (grows faster than grass, triangular stem), dallisgrass (clumping growth, tall seed stalks), goosegrass (flat growth, white center).
What About Organic Weed Control?
For homeowners concerned about chemical herbicides, organic options exist but come with important trade-offs.
Organic pre-emergents like corn gluten meal can reduce weed germination, but they’re less effective than synthetic products and require higher application rates. They also add nitrogen to the soil, which affects your fertilization schedule.
Organic post-emergent options include vinegar-based herbicides and citrus oil products. These work by burning plant tissue on contact but don’t kill roots. Weeds often regrow from the root system, requiring repeated applications.
Lawn Squad offers an organic program with organic fertilizer and weed control for customers who prefer this approach. Be aware that organic weed control typically provides about 60 to 70% of the effectiveness of conventional products.
The most effective organic weed control is actually cultural: maintaining thick, healthy grass that crowds out weeds naturally. This means proper mowing height, appropriate watering, and regular fertilization.
Common Weed Control Mistakes Houston Homeowners Make
After serving the West Houston area since 2001, we’ve seen these mistakes repeated constantly.
Mistake #1: Waiting Until Weeds Are Visible Pre-emergent herbicides must be applied BEFORE weeds germinate. If you can see the weed, it’s too late for pre-emergent. You’ve missed your window and now need more expensive curative treatments.
Mistake #2: Applying Products at the Wrong Time Herbicides work best when weeds are actively growing. Applying broadleaf weed killer during a drought or cold snap wastes product and frustrates homeowners who expect results.
Mistake #3: Using One Product for All Weeds Regular broadleaf weed killer won’t touch nutsedge, crabgrass, or dallisgrass. Using the wrong product means spending money without solving your problem. Identify your weeds first, then choose appropriate products.
Mistake #4: Mowing Too Soon After Application Post-emergent herbicides need 24 to 48 hours to absorb and work. Mowing immediately after application removes the treated leaf tissue and gives weeds a chance to recover.
Mistake #5: Skipping Fall Pre-Emergent Winter annual weeds germinate in fall but don’t become obvious until spring. By then, they’ve established root systems and are much harder to kill. September pre-emergent prevents this entire category of weeds.
DIY vs. Professional Weed Control: Which Should You Choose?
DIY weed control costs less upfront and works well for minor weed problems. Big box stores sell effective pre-emergent and broadleaf products. However, DIY requires correct product selection, proper timing, accurate application rates, and consistent follow-through across all eight treatment windows. Best for: Homeowners with light weed pressure, those who enjoy lawn care, and anyone willing to learn which products work for which weeds.
Professional weed control provides expert product selection, commercial-grade herbicides not available to consumers, and guaranteed timing. Professionals can identify weeds you might miss and adjust treatments based on what they see during each visit. Best for: Lawns with persistent weed problems, homeowners frustrated by DIY results, properties with nutsedge or grassy weed infestations, and anyone who wants consistent results without the hassle.
Your Houston Weed Control Calendar at a Glance
DIY Basic Schedule
| Month | What to Do | Target Weeds |
|---|---|---|
| January | First pre-emergent application | Crabgrass, goosegrass, spring annuals |
| February | Second pre-emergent plus first broadleaf treatment | Henbit, chickweed, clover |
| March/April | Broadleaf weed control as needed | Dandelions, clover, dollarweed |
| May/June | First nutsedge treatment, broadleaf control | Nutsedge, summer broadleafs |
| July/August | Second nutsedge treatment, monitor for crabgrass | Nutsedge, crabgrass escapes |
| September | Fall pre-emergent plus broadleaf control | Winter annuals, lingering summer weeds |
| October/November | Final broadleaf treatment of season | Fall-germinating broadleafs |
Professional Treatment Schedule (PRO Program)
| Round | Timing | Weed Control Services |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 5, 2026 | Pre-emergent, broadleaf weed control |
| 2 | February 16, 2026 | Pre-emergent, broadleaf weed control |
| 3 | March 30, 2026 | Broadleaf weed control |
| 4 | May 11, 2026 | Broadleaf weed control, sedge suppression |
| 5 | June 22, 2026 | Broadleaf weed control, sedge suppression |
| 6 | August 3, 2026 | Broadleaf weed control, sedge suppression |
| 7 | September 14, 2026 | Pre-emergent, broadleaf weed control |
| 8 | October 26, 2026 | Broadleaf weed control |
The Bottom Line
Effective weed control in Houston isn’t about one miracle product or one well-timed application. It’s about consistent treatment throughout the year, using the right products for the right weeds at the right time.
Key principles to remember:
- Pre-emergent in January, February, and September creates your first line of defense
- Broadleaf weed control works best on young, actively growing weeds
- Nutsedge, crabgrass, and dallisgrass need specialized products
- One year of poor weed control creates multiple years of problems
- Thick, healthy grass is your best long-term weed prevention
Stay consistent with your weed control program, and you’ll see fewer weeds each year as the seed bank in your soil gets depleted.
Let Lawn Squad Handle It For You
Every Houston lawn faces different weed pressures based on soil type, grass variety, shade patterns, and what the neighbors’ lawns are spreading into your yard.
Our programs are designed around Houston’s specific weed challenges and treatment timing requirements.
Our PRO Program includes:
- Three pre-emergent applications timed for Houston’s climate
- Eight rounds of broadleaf weed control throughout the year
- Sedge suppression for nutsedge problems
- Surface insect control to keep grass healthy and competitive
- Unlimited service calls if weeds break through between visits
Frustrated by weeds that keep coming back no matter what you try? Let the local experts develop a plan that actually works.
Contact Lawn Squad of West Houston today at 713-510-3656 or visit lawnsquad.com/contact-us to get a free quote and take control of your lawn’s weed problem.
