Whether you love or hate looking after your grass lawn, it likely needs a lot of water to flourish wherever you are in the south of the country—from Nashville to Houston.
But what’s the best time to water grass in Texas so that you get that lush, green carpet you want? Does the best watering time change throughout the year or is one time of day always better than the rest?
Also, do watering requirements vary between Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin-San Antonio or the west of the state because of the different climates?
In this grass watering guide, we’ll briefly cover what you need to know about watering your lawn in Texas…and what to do if you don’t want to worry about watering your yard in the future.
Best Time to Water Grass in Texas
It’s best to water grass in Texas before sunrise, setting the sprinklers for around 4 am when the temperatures are lower, the air is calm, and the wind cannot disrupt the watering pattern for the grass. The low evaporation rates also allow the water to work into the soil and root system for maximum beneficial effect.
Houston, Dallas, and Austin-San Antonio variations
With the climatic variations in our huge state, watering requirements do vary from north to south and east to west.
Houston, with its sub-tropical climate, sees generally high rainfall totals and high humidity with plenty of water in the air. It’s easier to keep a lawn green and lush in these conditions than in more arid areas of the state to the west. Lawns require less frequent watering in Houston though the best time of day to water is still before sunrise.
Dallas-Fort Worth is still considered sub-tropical but it is generally drier and less humid than Houston or Austin—but not as dry as western areas. Dallas also has cooler winters than both Houston and Austin-San Antonio, which can impact the best type of grass to lay as well as how you water it.
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High Evaporation Rates in Texas
The rate of evaporation exceeds precipitation in most of Texas. This, coupled with periods of moderate to severe drought in some areas, makes it important to work out the most effective grass-watering systems for lawns.
Watering grass during the heat of the day wastes water as the sun will evaporate a large proportion of the water before it is absorbed and the grass’s root systems won’t fully benefit. This applies for most of the year in most areas of Texas—but especially during the blistering summer months.
How Often Should You Water Grass in Texas?
How often you water grass in Texas depends heavily on the type of grass, the time of year, and the prevailing weather conditions.
Most lawn grasses need plenty of water and sunlight to grow healthily—but are not too choosy about where the water comes from. If it’s been raining heavily every day, there’s obviously no need to water the lawn. Over-watering is wasteful and may harm your lawn.
However, if no help is available from the elements, watering your grass every other day may be necessary—depending on the type of grass (see more below).
Learn to “read” the conditions and adjust accordingly. In winter, you may be able to water just once a week. In hot, dry conditions, step the watering up. However, bear in mind local watering restrictions that often apply in the main urban centers like Dallas, Austin, and Houston.
For instance, in Dallas, the following rules apply (amongst others):
- Maximum twice-weekly watering allowed—on different days according to your address.
- Don’t water your yard between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. between April 1 and October 31.
- Don’t water during any form of precipitation.
How Long Should You Water Grass for in Texas?
Turf areas generally require a minimum of one to two inches of water per week during the growing season. If you run your sprinklers for approximately fifteen minutes in the very early morning twice a week, this should cover most requirements.
If you notice any runoff during or after your irrigation times, fifteen minutes may be too long and you should reduce the time you run the system.
Adjust how long you water according to the time of year, the conditions, the type of grass on your lawn, the type of irrigation system you use, and how established your lawn is. There’s no definitive answer for all Texas lawns.
Does the Type of Grass Matter?
Various types of grass are used for lawns in Texas. The grass you select will affect how often you need to water your lawn area—and how much water it requires—but the best time to water grass will still be before sunrise.
Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine grass
The three most popular types of lawn grass in Texas are Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia grass—though you may also see some buffalo grass, fescue, and even ryegrass in the north of Texas.
St. Augustine and Zoysia grasses are moderately drought-resistant and generally require slightly less watering than Bermuda grass. Bear in mind that new grass generally requires much more watering than older, established grass if all else is equal.
Does the Type of Irrigation System Matter?
Many homeowners in Texas have replaced hand watering the grass with an irrigation system. How long you will water the grass depends partly on the type of irrigation system you use. Rotor head systems usually need to run for a little longer than spray heads to achieve the same water output.
With a little testing, you should be able to achieve the perfect output of water for your grass area to suit the grass type, soil type, time of year, and prevailing weather conditions.
An irrigation system can remove the guesswork from watering. Automated systems can be programmed to water your lawn with a precise output over a set period. However, it’s not all good news. Studies have shown that homes with automatic irrigation systems can use 50 percent more water over a year—and up to 70 percent more during the summer months.
Water Shortage Issues in Texas
Droughts and water shortages are a growing feature of life in Texas. None of the main urban centers in Texas escape drought problems though the worst drought areas are in the extreme southwest and north of the state at present.
We’ve touched on the water restrictions already. In major cities like Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin-San Antonio, and Houston, water-saving education is an important part of resource management.
As well as restrictions on the number of times to water per week and the times of day, many local governments are stressing the need to:
- Maintain sprinkler systems and repair broken, missing or misdirected sprinkler heads.
- Install rain and freeze sensors on automatic sprinkler systems.
- Prevent sprinkler systems from watering driveways, sidewalks, and streets.
- Prevent runoff while watering.
Many more water-saving tips are available online – including these tips from the City of Austin government.
Save Time, Money and Water With Artificial Grass
If you want to save time, money, and water in your yard, natural grass may not be the answer. Plenty of grass alternatives are available to create wonderful backyard landscapes that all the family can enjoy.
Artificial grass closely resembles the real thing but requires no water, no fertilizers, no mowing, and virtually no weeding or other maintenance. We compare artificial grass and real grass here and you can read more about the pros and cons of synthetic grass here.
High-quality artificial grass remains verdant, lush, and immaculate all year round with no work or watering. Although the initial installation costs are higher than real grass, synthetic turf pays for itself within five years—with virtually zero maintenance costs—and lasts around 15-20 years.
FAQs
Considering Switching to Artificial Grass?
If you want to say goodbye to any water worries once and for all in your backyard, switching to artificial grass can help. Discuss your options with an artificial grass professional.
