This post is provided by Lora Young.

Central Texas is officially drought-free after surviving a record-setting 271-week drought.  Even in a regular year, our lawns stand up to some brutal conditions. Getting the yard to withstand the heat of summer before the rainy winter takes a lot of maintenance and adjustments. If your lawn survived the drought and went on to tackle the floods from hurricanes Michael and Willa, it is time to get it back to healthy this year.

Choose low maintenance grass

If you lost your St. Augustine turf in the droughts earlier this decade, consider replacing it with Bermuda or Buffalo grass instead. The sod is more expensive per pallet, but Bermuda is resistant to most diseases and fungus, and Buffalo uses less water than most other turfgrasses. The lower maintenance costs of either grass can save you money over the life of the lawn.
Check for excess thatch

After the rough weather conditions of the decade, check for excess thatch in your yard. Thatch is the layer of dead and living grass stems, roots, and rhizomes that develops between your green grass and the soil. Thatch is a useful layer that can keep soil from eroding and provide insulation for the roots against extreme temperatures, but excess thatch can prevent water and oxygen from adequately reaching plant roots and soil.

Dethatch and compost

Ask your lawn care professional about using a core aerator to dethatch and aerate your lawn so that much-needed air can reach...