McAllen Green Lawn Weed Control & Fertilization Services

Keeping McAllen Green and Weed-Free

Look, maintaining a decent-looking lawn in South Texas isn’t easy. The heat, the drought stress, the weeds that seem to grow overnight after one good rain—it’s a constant battle. And if you’re not hitting your lawn with the right treatments at the right times, you’re fighting a losing battle.

Colco Pest and Weed Control provides comprehensive weed control and fertilization services for McAllen residential and commercial properties. We know what works in our climate, what weeds you’re dealing with, and how to keep your St. Augustine or Bermuda grass healthy year-round.

Free Lawn Consultation: Call 956-777-6328 and we’ll evaluate your lawn and give you honest recommendations.

Why Lawns in McAllen Need Professional Care

Year-Round Growing Season: Grass doesn’t go dormant here like it does up north. St. Augustine and Bermuda grass grow 10-11 months of the year, which means they need consistent fertilization to stay healthy.

Weeds Never Stop: We don’t get a killing freeze to knock back weed populations. Winter weeds, summer weeds, transition weeds—something’s always trying to take over your lawn.

Heat Stress: Summers hit 95-105°F regularly. Without proper fertilization, grass gets stressed, thins out, and weeds move in to fill the gaps.

Soil Quality Issues: McAllen soil tends to be alkaline with high clay content in some areas. This affects nutrient availability and requires specific fertilization strategies.

Irrigation Challenges: Not enough water and grass dies. Too much water and you get fungus issues and shallow root systems. Proper fertilization helps grass develop deeper roots and handle stress better.

St. Augustine Struggles: St. Augustine is the most common lawn grass in McAllen, but it’s susceptible to chinch bugs, brown patch fungus, and iron deficiency (yellowing). Healthy, properly fertilized grass resists these problems better.

Common McAllen Lawn Weeds

Dallisgrass: Clumpy, coarse-textured perennial that grows faster than your lawn grass. Forms distinctive seed heads that stick up above mowing height. Extremely difficult to control—requires multiple treatments.

Nutsedge (Yellow and Purple): Not actually a grass—it’s a sedge. Triangular stems grow faster than grass, and spread through underground tubers. Mowing doesn’t help; it just grows back. Needs specific herbicides.

Crabgrass: Summer annual that germinates when soil temps hit 55°F (March in McAllen). Forms wide, sprawling patches. Prevention with pre-emergent is way easier than trying to kill it after it’s established.

Spurge (Spotted and Prostrate): Low-growing, mat-forming weed with small leaves. Spurge loves hot, dry conditions and thrives in thin lawns. Produces thousands of seeds per plant.

Goosegrass: Similar to crabgrass but tougher. Forms circular patches that spread from a central point. Tolerates close mowing and compacted soil.

Dandelions: Cool-season perennial. Shows up in winter when grass is slower-growing. Deep taproot makes hand-pulling ineffective—it just grows back.

Clover (White Clover): Low-growing, spread by stolons. Some people like it, but it attracts bees and creates uneven texture. Shows up in nitrogen-deficient lawns.

Doveweed: Summer annual that loves moist, over-irrigated areas. Spreads rapidly and produces tons of seeds.

Oxalis (Wood Sorrel): Small, clover-like leaves with yellow flowers. Spread by seed and underground bulbs. Very persistent.

Our Weed Control & Fertilization Program

We customize programs based on your grass type, weed pressure, and budget. Here’s what a typical annual program looks like:

Treatment 1 – Early Spring (February/March)

• Pre-emergent herbicide to prevent crabgrass, spurge, and other summer annuals from germinating
• Balanced fertilizer to kickstart spring growth
• Iron supplement if grass is yellowing

Treatment 2 – Late Spring (April/May)

• Post-emergent herbicide for any weeds that emerged
• Second fertilizer application to support active growth
• Nutsedge control if needed

Treatment 3 – Early Summer (June/July)

• Light fertilization (grass is stressed in peak heat)
• Spot-treat weeds as needed
• Iron supplement for St. Augustine

Treatment 4 – Late Summer (August/September)

• Heavier fertilizer application as temperatures moderate
• Post-emergent weed control
• Preparation for fall growing season

Treatment 5 – Fall (October/November)

• Final fertilizer application to build root reserves
• Pre-emergent for winter weeds
• Treat any remaining broadleaf weeds

Treatment 6 – Winter (December/January) – Optional

• Post-emergent for winter weeds (henbit, chickweed, dandelions)
• Light fertilization if needed

Most lawns do well with 4-6 treatments per year. We’ll recommend what makes sense for your property.

Pre-Emergent vs. Post-Emergent Herbicides

Pre-Emergent: Applied before weeds germinate. Creates a chemical barrier in the top layer of soil that prevents weed seeds from developing roots. Think of it as birth control for weeds. Timing is critical—apply too late and weeds are already growing. Pre-emergent doesn’t kill existing weeds.

Post-Emergent: Applied to actively growing weeds. Kills weeds after they’ve emerged. Some are selective (kill weeds but not grass), others are non-selective (kill everything). Post-emergent works best on young, actively growing weeds.

You need both for complete weed control. Pre-emergent prevents most weeds, post-emergent kills the ones that slip through.

Fertilization Strategy for South Texas

Nitrogen: Promotes green growth and density. St. Augustine needs 3-4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft per year, split across multiple applications. Too much at once causes excessive growth and thatch buildup.

Phosphorus: Supports root development. Most McAllen soils have adequate phosphorus, so we focus on nitrogen and potassium.

Potassium: Helps grass handle stress—heat, drought, disease. Especially important going into summer and winter.

Iron: St. Augustine grass in alkaline soil often shows iron deficiency (yellowing). We apply iron supplements to keep grass dark green without excessive growth.

Slow-Release Formulas: We use slow-release fertilizers that feed grass over 6-8 weeks. Quick-release fertilizers give a fast green-up but burn out quickly and increase mowing frequency.

Lawn Care Tips That Actually Help

Mow High: Set your mower to 3-4 inches for St. Augustine, 2-3 inches for Bermuda. Taller grass shades soil, reduces weed germination, and develops deeper roots.

Water Deep and Infrequent: Better to water 1 inch twice a week than a little bit every day. Deep watering encourages deep root growth. Shallow, frequent watering creates weak, shallow roots.

Sharpen Mower Blades: Dull blades tear grass instead of cutting it cleanly. This stresses grass and creates entry points for disease.

Don’t Bag Clippings: Leave clippings on the lawn (unless they’re excessive). They decompose and return nutrients to the soil.

Address Bare Spots: Thin areas invite weeds. Overseed bare spots in spring or fall to maintain density.

Don’t Cut Wet Grass: Wet grass clumps, mower wheels compact soil, and you spread fungus. Wait until the grass dries.

What About Organic/Botanical Options?

We offer botanical (plant-based) weed control options for customers who prefer them. Here’s the reality:

Pros:

• Lower toxicity
• Break down quickly in environment
• Safer around kids and pets immediately after application

Cons:

• Less effective than synthetic herbicides
• Require more frequent applications
• Higher cost per treatment
• Work best on young, tender weeds

If you want organic options, we can do it. Just understand it requires more patience and more treatments to achieve the same results.

Commercial Weed Control

We handle commercial properties too:

• Office complexes
• Retail centers
• Apartment communities
• HOA common areas
• Industrial facilities
• Schools and churches

Commercial properties have different needs—larger areas, more foot traffic, stricter appearance standards. We customize programs based on property type, budget, and expectations.

Call us at 956-777-6328 to discuss commercial lawn care programs.

What We Don’t Do

Full Lawn Maintenance: We don’t mow, edge, or trim. We focus on weed control and fertilization. If you need a full-service lawn company, we can recommend partners.

Landscaping Design/Installation: We treat lawns, not design landscapes or install plants.

Irrigation Repair: We’ll tell you if irrigation issues are affecting your lawn, but we don’t repair sprinkler systems.

Realistic Expectations

Weed Control Takes Time: Expect to see results in 7-14 days after post-emergent treatment. Some tough weeds (dallisgrass, nutsedge) need multiple treatments.

Pre-Emergent Isn’t Perfect: Pre-emergent prevents 80-90% of weeds. You’ll still get some breakthrough weeds that need spot treatment.

Fertilization Results: You’ll see greening in 5-10 days. Full density improvement takes 4-6 weeks of consistent growth.

Seasonal Appearance: Even with perfect care, lawns look best in spring and fall. Summer heat stress and winter slow-growth periods affect appearance.

Rio Grande Valley Areas We Serve

• All Rio Grande Valley neighborhoods
• Mission
• Edinburg
• Pharr
• Palmview
• Sharyland
• Weslaco
• Donna
• Alamo
• And surrounding Rio Grande Valley communities

Get Your Lawn Program Started

Call Colco at 956-777-6328 for your free lawn consultation. We’ll evaluate your property, identify weed issues, and recommend a treatment program that fits your budget.

No high-pressure sales, no gimmicks—just honest lawn care that keeps your grass healthy and weeds under control.