My Grass Is Dying in the Summer Heat in San Antonio & Is It Dead or Just Dormant?

Every summer in San Antonio, I get calls from homeowners who think their lawn is dead. The grass has gone brown, it is not growing, and it looks like it is done for. Most of the time it is not dead. It is dormant.

Here is how to tell the difference.

Dead vs. Dormant: The Pull Test

Grab a handful of grass and pull. If the blades pull out easily with no resistance and the roots come out too, the grass is dead. If there is resistance and the roots stay in the ground, the grass is dormant and will come back when conditions improve.

Dormant grass is the lawn's way of surviving extreme heat and drought. St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia all go dormant in San Antonio summers when temperatures stay above 100 degrees for extended periods or when water is restricted.

What to Do If It Is Dormant

Keep watering on your assigned day under San Antonio's water restrictions. One inch of water per week is enough to keep dormant grass alive. Do not fertilize dormant grass. It cannot use the nutrients and you will burn the roots.

Do not scalp the lawn trying to remove the brown blades. Leave it alone and let it come out of dormancy when temperatures drop in September and October.

What to Do If Sections Are Actually Dead

If you have patches that fail the pull test, those areas need to be reseeded or resodded. In San Antonio, the best time to lay new sod is late spring through early summer when the ground is warm enough for roots to establish before the worst heat hits.

St. Augustine sod is the most common choice for San Antonio yards. It establishes quickly and handles the heat well once it is rooted in.

When to Call Someone

If more than 30 percent of your lawn looks dead after the pull test, or if you have been watering consistently and the grass is still not recovering, it is time to get a professional opinion. There may be a pest problem like chinch bugs, a fungal issue, or a soil problem that is killing the grass rather than the heat alone.

Call me at 817-484-8835 and I will come take a look. I can tell you within a few minutes whether you need sod, treatment, or just patience.