Lawn Care Guide for Tensas Parish
Tensas Parish, Louisiana
Data Story
About Lawn Care in Tensas Parish, Louisiana
Tensas offers the best conditions
With a score of 37.6, Tensas Parish is the easiest place to grow a lawn in this group. Despite being in the slightly cooler Zone 8b, it outperforms the state average difficulty of 33.8.
Abundant heat and moderate rain
Tensas faces 108 extreme heat days, the highest in this set, requiring very heat-tolerant grass. However, its 58.2 inches of rain is closest to the national ideal, reducing the risk of waterlogged roots.
Solid soil with high clay
The soil pH of 6.12 is nearly perfect for lawn health, falling right in the 6.0-7.0 sweet spot. The 38.9% clay content helps retain moisture during the parish's frequent 90-degree days.
Extreme drought alert in Tensas
Current data shows 98.4% of the parish is in severe drought, despite having only 11 drought weeks last year. Residents must adhere to local water restrictions and consider drought-dormant grass varieties.
Mid-March begins the season
Bermuda and Zoysia are the top performers for handling the 108 days of intense heat. Schedule your planting for mid-March, following the typical last frost on March 13.
Lawn Difficulty Score
Recommended Grasses
Bermudagrass
Cynodon dactylon
Climate Snapshot
Annual Precip
58.2"
Growing Degree Days
6,195.8
Base 50F
Last Spring Frost
03/13
First Fall Frost
11/10
Days Above 95F
108
Hardiness Zone
8b
Seeding Calendar — Zone 8B
Seasonal Lawn Care Checklist
Spring
- Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil reaches 55F
- Begin mowing when grass reaches 3 inches
- Start irrigation if rainfall is below 1 inch/week
- Soil test every 2-3 years — adjust lime or sulfur as needed
Summer
- Raise mowing height to reduce heat stress
- Water deeply 1-2 times per week (1 inch total)
- Avoid fertilizing cool-season grasses in peak heat
- Scout for grubs and treat if >10 per sq ft
Fall
- Overseed warm-season lawns if thinning
- Apply fall fertilizer (highest N application for cool-season)
- Continue mowing until growth stops
- Rake or mulch leaves to prevent smothering
Winter
- Apply pre-emergent for winter weeds
- Service mower and sharpen blades
- Plan spring soil amendments based on fall test
- Overseed with ryegrass for winter color
Watering Deficit Calculator
Monthly Deficit
0.0"
inches of water
Monthly Water
0
gallons
Estimated Monthly Cost
$0.00
at $0.008/gallon average
Estimates based on 58" annual precipitation and estimated evapotranspiration. Actual costs vary by local water rates.
Common Lawn Problems in Tensas Parish
Excess Moisture & Fungal Disease
High annual rainfall (58 inches) increases risk of fungal diseases like brown patch and dollar spot. Ensure good drainage and avoid overwatering.
Learn more about regional lawn challenges at The Lawn Report.
Want detailed soil composition, drainage classes, and soil series data? View soil details on SoilByCounty.com
Data sourced from USDA SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, and US Drought Monitor. Lawn difficulty scores and grass recommendations are estimates for informational purposes only.
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