GreenGate Turf & Pest

10/16/2026

Cool front coming. Time to adjust your sprinklers.

If your irrigation is still running like it’s August, your lawn is about to get more water than it needs.

Cooler temperatures change what your lawn does.
Growth slows down.
The soil dries out more slowly.
Your grass needs a lot less water than it did a few weeks ago.

Overwatering is where problems start this time of year.
Brown patch is a fungus that likes cool, damp weather. Nights in the 50s plus wet grass is exactly what it wants.
Watch for circular brown or yellow patches over the next few weeks.

A few things to do this weekend:
• Cut back your watering days and run times
• Water early in the morning so the grass dries off during the day
• Skip a cycle if you’ve had recent rain
• Mow a little higher, within the recommended range for your grass

If your irrigation is still on its summer schedule, our team can help get it adjusted for fall.

10/15/2026

What Is a Rain Sensor for a Sprinkler System?

Keeping your lawn healthy requires the right balance of water, sunlight, nutrients, and proper maintenance. In Houston, where rainfall can vary significantly throughout the year, managing lawn irrigation can be challenging. One week may bring several days of heavy rain, while the next may be hot and dry. Without a way to respond to changing weather conditions, your sprinkler system may continue running even when your lawn has already received enough water....

Learn how a rain sensor for sprinkler system prevents overwatering, conserves water, and helps keep your Houston lawn healthy year-round.

10/13/2026

The seasonal color at our office is growing STRONG — it may even need a trim!

Are you flower beds in need of some COLOR this season? 🌼🪻 We’ve got you covered!

🇺🇸

10/13/2026

Understanding Lawn Care Pricing

Choosing a professional lawn care company is an investment in your property. You want a healthy, attractive lawn, dependable service, and confidence that the price you pay reflects the work being performed. Just as importantly, you want to understand what you are paying for before service begins. At GreenGate Turf & Pest, we believe understanding lawn care pricing should be a straightforward process....

Learn what affects lawn care pricing, what your service includes, and how GreenGate Turf & Pest provides clear expectations for lawn and pest care.

10/13/2026

Ever wonder what's under a brand new lawn?

This is what we often find on new-build lots before the sod goes down. Hard, compacted red clay. Very little topsoil. Sometimes leftover construction debris mixed in.

Grass can still grow in it, but the roots have a tough time getting started. Clay compacts easily, holds water, and drains slowly.

Here in Houston, the soil can add another layer. Many local soils run alkaline, which means a high pH, and salts can build up over time from the soil itself and from irrigation water. High pH can make it harder for grass to take up nutrients like iron. Salts can slow down how water moves through the soil. A soil test shows what's going on in yours.

If you're planning a new lawn, this is what usually helps:
• Clear out debris before laying sod
• Loosen the compacted soil instead of laying sod right on top of it
• Work in compost on clay soils (extension guidance says to skip the sand, which can make compaction worse)
• Grade the yard so water drains away from the house
• Get a soil test to see what the soil actually needs

Already have a new-build lawn that's thin or struggling? Compacted soil may be part of the story. Our Restore & Rejuvenate program starts with plug aeration to open up the soil, adds two nutrient-rich granular applications, and finishes with a super liquid aeration treatment. It's designed for severely compacted soils, and fall is a good time to do it.

Not sure what's going on under yours? Ask our team.
https://bit.ly/4gGWfNE

10/09/2026

...just kidding. We got you, though.

That's not asparagus. Those tall, thin stalks popping up in St. Augustine are seed heads.

They tend to show up in the summer and into the fall. Usually, nothing is wrong with your lawn. It's a normal part of how this grass grows, and the seed isn't typically viable, which is why St. Augustine lawns are started from sod or plugs instead of seed.

Mostly it's a cosmetic issue. The stalks can be tougher than the blades, so a dull mower blade may tear them instead of cutting cleanly. Regular mowing at the right height with a sharp blade handles most of them.

10/07/2026

Houston W**d Watch: Spurge

This low, mat-forming w**d loves the heat. It tends to show up in thin or compacted spots of turf, and it spreads fast through the summer and into fall.

Why it's tricky:
• It grows flat, so mowing often passes right over it
• A single plant can drop a lot of seed
• Those seeds can sit in the soil and sprout later

Pulling it by hand can work when the plants are small and haven't gone to seed yet. Once it's established, it usually takes a targeted treatment.

The best long-term move is prevention. A pre-emergent in late winter can help keep summer w**ds like this from taking hold in the first place.

Not sure if that's spurge in your yard? Ask our team.

10/06/2026

Gray Leaf Spot vs. Brown Patch: How to Tell the Difference

If your lawn is developing brown areas, thinning grass, or discolored blades, it is easy to assume the problem is simply a lack of water. But sometimes the culprit is a disease. Two common fungal problems that can affect lawns are gray leaf spot and brown patch. While both are caused by fungi and can become more noticeable when lawns are exposed to moisture and favorable environmental conditions, they do not look exactly the same....

Learn how to tell gray leaf spot vs. brown patch apart, what causes lawn fungus, and when lawn fungicide or treatment may help.

10/01/2026

What Is Integrated Pest Management, and Why GreenGate Uses It?

If you have ever dealt with chinch bugs, sod webworms, fire ants, or other unwanted pests, you may assume effective pest control simply means applying a product to eliminate them. But professional pest management involves much more than treating a problem after it appears. At GreenGate Turf & Pest, we use an approach called integrated pest management, or IPM, to help identify pest problems, determine why they are occurring, and select appropriate control methods....

Learn what integrated pest management is and how GreenGate uses IPM to identify, prevent, and manage lawn and household pests responsibly.

09/30/2026

Fire ants. Chinch Bugs. Fungus. W**ds.
We can help with all of it.

Love bugs? Godspeed. 🫡