Because drought has become a fact of life in Texas, water restrictions are still very much in effect in Austin and will likely not be lifted anytime soon. But if you have a lawn you want to keep healthy, what do you do?
Believe it or not, you can still maintain an attractive lawn even if you are only able to run sprinklers once a week.
Here’s how:
1. Water deeply to encourage deep root growth
Frequent shallow waterings encourage weed germination. Moreover, they also cause grass roots to grow near the surface, leaving the grass itself more susceptible to drought as well as disease. For most grasses, the water should penetrate 8 to 12 inches for maximum benefit.
2. Water early in the morning
When you use sprinklers, some water evaporates before it even hits the ground. On a hot, windy day, the amount of water that never reaches your grass can be quite a lot. To reduce loss to evaporation, water sometime between 4 AM to 9 AM when the air is still relatively cool and the wind is at its calmest.
3. Water problem areas by hand
Many lawns have one or two places that require more water than the rest of the lawn. If you water your entire lawn every time you need to water these “hot spots,” then you’ll likely overwater every area except the ones that really need the help. Instead, water them by hand or use a separate sprinkler that’s not attached to the rest of your irrigation system.
4. Avoid creating runoff
Even with sprinklers correctly targeted, many individuals irrigate until water begins to run off the grass and into the street or driveway. If water starts to run off your lawn before you’ve been able to give it a deep watering, turn off the water for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the ground to absorb the water already there. Then continue irrigating as needed.
At South Austin Irrigation Repair, we are committed to helping you keep your lawns and other greenery as beautiful as possible no matter the prevailing weather conditions. That’s why we provide expert advice and service for all your irrigation needs.
When only the best will do for your landscape issues, contact us!
