Most Sherman lawns are at their worst not in August, but in March. The damage you see in spring almost always traces back to what didn’t get done in November and December. Winter is when North Texas Bermuda is dormant and looks dead — but that’s also exactly when the right work pays off.
Here’s the practical winter lawn care checklist we follow for our Grayson County clients, and what you can handle yourself.
Why winter lawn care matters in Grayson County
The warm-season grasses we grow here (Bermuda, Zoysia, and some St. Augustine) go fully dormant from November to April. The grass blades stop growing, but the roots and crowns stay alive underground. Winter dormancy is the lawn’s recovery season — what happens during these months sets up how strongly it greens up in spring.
Skip winter work and you’ll see thin spots, weed pressure, and weak green-up come March. Do it right and your lawn comes back ahead of your neighbors’.
November — the final fall pass
Last mow before dormancy
Drop your mower one notch lower than your summer height for the final mow. For Bermuda, that’s usually 1.5″-2″. For Zoysia, 1.75″-2.25″. Shorter dormant grass lets sunlight reach the soil and warm it faster in spring.
Apply pre-emergent for winter weeds
Late October to early November is the window for winter pre-emergent (typically a dithiopyr or prodiamine product). This is what stops henbit, chickweed, and annual bluegrass from taking over your dormant lawn. Miss this window and you’ll be fighting weeds all winter.
Final irrigation check
Run every zone one last time. Note any heads that aren’t popping, leaks at valves, or dry spots. Schedule any sprinkler repair now — before you need to winterize.
Winterize the sprinkler system
Before the first hard freeze (typically mid-to-late November in Sherman), drain the system. Shut off the water at the backflow, open the drain valves, and let everything purge. Frozen water in the backflow preventer is the #1 cause of expensive March repairs.
Clean up leaves
Don’t let leaves pile up on dormant grass. They smother the crowns and trap moisture, which invites fungal disease. Mulch them with the mower or rake them off entirely.
December — protect and prep
Sharpen your mower blade
Off-season is the right time. A sharp blade is one of the cheapest upgrades to spring lawn quality — it cuts cleanly instead of tearing, which prevents disease and gives a cleaner finish.
Watch for armadillo damage
Grayson County armadillos dig for grubs in winter when the ground is soft after rain. If you see torn-up patches, that’s the cause. Treating for grubs in fall reduces the digging — but if you’ve got an armadillo, fencing the yard is the only real fix.
Don’t fertilize
Dormant warm-season grass cannot use fertilizer. Anything you apply in December just runs off in the next rain or sits in the soil through winter (sometimes feeding winter weeds). Save the spring fertilizer money.
Water only if drought
Dormant Bermuda doesn’t need water. The exception: if you go more than 3-4 weeks without any rain AND temperatures are above 60°F, the roots can dehydrate. One deep watering in that scenario is enough. Otherwise leave the system off.
January — the planning month
Walk the yard and take photos
Note thin spots, dead patches, areas where snow or shade lingers, and edges that look worn. These are the trouble spots to address in spring. Photos help you remember in April when everything’s green again.
Plan any larger projects
January and February are slow months for landscapers in North Texas, which means easier scheduling for big projects you want done before peak summer. Sod replacement, irrigation system upgrades, mulch installations, and full landscape redesigns are all easier to book now for spring start dates.
Watch for ice damage
Sherman gets occasional ice storms. After one, walk the yard and look for broken tree limbs. Even small broken branches dropping onto dormant Bermuda can damage the crowns when temps swing.
February — the early-spring transition
Late-winter pre-emergent
Mid-February is the second pre-emergent window — this one stops crabgrass and goosegrass before they germinate when soil temperatures hit 55°F (usually mid-March in Grayson County). Skip this and you’ll be pulling crabgrass all summer.
Soil test if you haven’t in 3+ years
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office in Sherman processes soil tests cheaply. Send them a sample now and you’ll have results in time to amend properly before spring green-up. Most Grayson lawns benefit from a touch of nitrogen and a soil-pH correction.
Equipment service
Mower oil change. Sharpen the blade again if you didn’t in December. New spark plug. Drain and refill string trimmer fuel — old fuel gums carburetors. Doing this in February means you’re ready when grass first needs mowing.
What NOT to do in winter
- Don’t aerate. Aeration is a warm-season job. Doing it on dormant Bermuda damages the crowns.
- Don’t overseed with ryegrass unless you really want green grass for football season. Overseeded Bermuda competes badly come spring and usually thins out.
- Don’t apply herbicides to dormant grass. Most won’t work, some can damage the dormant crowns.
- Don’t mow more than once or twice all winter. The grass isn’t growing. Repeat mowing just stresses dormant tissue.
Frequently asked questions
My Bermuda turned brown in November. Is it dead?
No. That’s dormancy — completely normal in Sherman and across Grayson County. Bermuda greens up again in late March or early April when soil temperatures climb back above 65°F. If it’s still brown in May, then there’s a real problem.
Should I water dormant Bermuda?
Only in extreme drought (3+ weeks no rain AND temperatures above 60°F). Otherwise the dormant lawn doesn’t need water. Over-watering dormant grass causes more fungal problems than it solves.
When does spring lawn care start?
First mow is usually mid-to-late April in Sherman. Pre-spring activities (mower service, late-winter pre-emergent, soil testing) should be wrapped by mid-February. Active growing-season work picks back up at the first 70°F week.
Do you handle full-service lawn care in Sherman?
Yes. Weekly mowing, fertilization, irrigation, and seasonal cleanups across Sherman, Pottsboro, Denison, and the rest of Grayson County. Our mowing service page has the full breakdown.
Will hard freezes kill my Bermuda?
Established Bermuda survives every winter we get in Sherman. The exception is very young, recently-installed sod (less than 6 weeks old) — that can take frost damage. Mature lawns just go dormant.
Plan your spring lawn now
The best March green-up starts with what you do in November. We help homeowners across Grayson County plan and execute the full seasonal cycle — winter prep, spring start, summer maintenance, and fall transition. Call (903) 462-0316 or request a quote if you want a real plan for your yard.