Groundwork
Answers for the yard.
What things cost, when to do them, and what to ask before you hire, for lawns and yards in the Tulsa area.
21 guides, newest first
Lawn care
When to aerate a Bermuda lawn in OklahomaCore aerate Bermuda while it's green and growing. Late May through June fits every extension guide we checked. Skip dormant grass and spring dead spot.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
Lawn care
When to cut Bermuda grass short after winterScalp Bermuda once in early spring, after the frost risk passes and as it starts to green. Tulsa's average last frost is March 29. Bag the clippings.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
Lawn care
How often should you mow Bermuda grass in summer?Every 5 to 7 days from June through August for most Bermuda lawns, and more often for hybrids cut short. Never take off more than a third of the blade.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
Lawn care
What a lawn care plan should include (and what it usually doesn't)A plan should put the visit work, seasonal cleanups, visit frequency and price in writing. Fertilizer, weed control and repairs are usually separate.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
Hardscaping
Signs your retaining wall is failingA wall that leans forward, bulges, opens gaps or has cracked, sinking ground behind it is moving. Most failures trace back to water held behind the wall.
· Tulsa
Hardscaping
Do you need a permit for a patio or pergola in Tulsa?Tulsa requires a building permit for a covered patio. Open patios under 30 inches and arbors can sit in any setback. Ask the city about pergolas.
· Tulsa, Glenpool
Landscaping
Mulch: how deep, which kind, and when to refresh itSpread wood chips or bark 2 to 4 inches deep, keep it 4 to 6 inches off trunks, and top up in spring only where the old layer has thinned.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
Landscaping
Winter yard prep checklist for Tulsa-area homesDrain the sprinkler system and disconnect hoses before Tulsa's average hard freeze on November 14, then mulch beds and water evergreens in dry spells.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
Hardscaping
Tulsa fire pit rules: what's allowed in your backyardBackyard fire pits are legal in Tulsa without a permit if the fire is 3 feet across or less and 25 feet from structures. Burn bans override that.
· Tulsa
Hardscaping
How much does a paver patio cost?National cost guides put a paver patio at $8 to $25 per square foot installed. A 20 by 20 foot patio runs about $3,200 to $9,600.
· Tulsa
Hardscaping
How much does a retaining wall cost in the Tulsa area?National cost guides put most retaining walls at $3,500 to $9,400, or about $20 to $53 per square foot of wall face, before permits and engineering.
· Tulsa, Bixby
Christmas lights
Christmas light events in Jenks, Bixby, Sapulpa and Glenpool, 2026Sapulpa's Christmas Chute opens November 19, Jenks lights Main Street November 20, and Bixby and Sapulpa both hold parades December 12 at 6 p.m.
· Jenks, Bixby, Sapulpa, Glenpool
Christmas lights
Permanent vs. seasonal Christmas lights: what's the difference?Seasonal lights go up each fall and come down after the holidays. Permanent lights stay mounted under the eaves all year and cost several times more up front.
Lawn care
When does Bermuda grass go dormant in Oklahoma?Bermuda goes dormant after fall's first frosts, which average November 3 to 14 in Tulsa, and greens up once 4-inch soil reaches 65°F in spring.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
Drainage
French drain vs. regrading: which fixes a wet yard?Regrade when rain runs the wrong way and the yard has room to slope. Add a French drain when the ground stays soaked, seeps, or has no room for slope.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
Drainage
Why does water pool in my yard after rain?Around Tulsa, clay soil takes in rain slowly and the grade sends it to a low spot. Water still standing 48 hours after a storm means the yard needs a fix.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
Lawn care
Fall leaf cleanup: when to do it and what it costs in TulsaClear leaves in rounds as they fall, not in one big cleanup. Hired leaf removal runs $160 to $290 for a quarter-acre yard, per LawnStarter.
· Tulsa, Sand Springs
Christmas lights
When should you book Christmas light installation in the Tulsa area?Book in October or early November. Tulsa's average first freeze is November 3, installers get busy after Thanksgiving, and most lights come down in January.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
Christmas lights
How much does Christmas light installation cost?National cost guides put professional Christmas light installation at $220 to $684 for most homes, or about $2 to $7 per foot of roofline.
Hardscaping
Do you need a permit for a retaining wall in Tulsa?In Tulsa, a wall up to 4 feet needs a zoning clearance permit. Over 4 feet, from the bottom of the footing, it needs a building permit and an engineer.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
Lawn care
When should you stop mowing your lawn in the Tulsa area?Keep mowing Bermuda grass at its normal height until the first frost turns it brown, usually early November in Tulsa. Then you can put the mower away.
· Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Sand Springs
