The Weekly Insight Week 9
Growing Grass in the Desert Starts Here
February 22 - 28, 2026
From My Side of the Counter
My father used to tell me, “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.”
This time of year proves that true. Warm weather makes people want to rush, but lawns don’t reward rushing. They reward timing. The steps we take before growth starts determine what the lawn looks like when growth actually arrives.
Trust the process.
Right thing. Right time. Right results.
What the Soil Temperature Is Telling Us and How to React
Current conditions in San Angelo
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Afternoon soil temp readings are high (sun driven)
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24-hour average: 67°F
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5-day average: 65°F
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No recent freezes
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Bermuda beginning to green in areas
We are officially in the transition season.
Grass is waking up.
Weeds are finishing up.
Summer weeds are preparing next.
What this means
Winter weeds like henbit and rescuegrass are nearing the end of their life cycle. Spraying them now rarely gives long-term benefit.
The bigger issue right now is preparing the soil and turf so the grass wakes up faster than the weeds next month.
How to react
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Prepare the canopy before growth
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Apply pre-emergent into the soil, not onto leaves
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Avoid rushing turf fertilizer
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Focus on soil warmth and sunlight
What We’re Doing Right Now
1. Scalping and Canopy Removal (Main Focus)
Dormant grass acts like a blanket.
Remove the blanket, soil warms faster.
Bermuda
Remove 95 - 100% of dormant vegetation
Zoysia
Cut only down to green tissue (roughly half the height)
St. Augustine
Do NOT scalp
Remove only top dormant material or lightly rake
Bermuda grows mostly below ground.
St. Augustine grows mostly above ground.
That’s why they are treated differently.
What you’ll see after scalping:
Faster green-up and fewer weeds.
2. Pre-Emergent Application Order
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Scalp first
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Apply pre-emergent
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Blow product off sidewalks
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Water in at least ½ inch
Focus on edges and thin areas where weeds start.
If you already applied and did not water it in, irrigate first, then gradually lower mowing height. The product must move into the soil to form the barrier.
3. Winter Weeds (Henbit & Rescuegrass)
They are finishing their life cycle.
Today’s pre-emergent does not control them.
Fall pre-emergent would have.
Mowing them regularly now is often more effective than spraying during green-up.
4. Fertilizer Guidance
Trees, shrubs, and beds, okay to fertilize with slow release.
Turfgrass please wait.
Temperature greens grass, not nitrogen.
Reminders
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Adjust irrigation systems and perform a water audit soon
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Service mowers before everyone brings them in at once
Best Management Practice (BMP)
This Week’s Plan
Right product. Right rate. Right time.
Talk Shop
If you don’t know your chemicals, know your chemical man.
Bring pictures, samples, or questions and we’ll help you figure it out at the counter.
If this weekly update helps you, pass it along to a neighbor. Lawn problems rarely stay in one yard.
BES-TEX Supply
4512 Adobe Dr., San Angelo, TX
325.653.1300
www.BES-TEX.com
Payment Terms: At BES-TEX Supply, we accept all major credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express), as well as personal checks & cash. Please note that all sale items must be paid for at the time of purchase. We do not offer net 30 terms on sale items.