(3 pages). Another important aspect of mowing for the health of your lawn is the mulch that is produced afterwards. Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. In the end, we want to find a happy medium between a healthy lawn and good environmental stewardship. Chemical fertilizers can have an adverse effect on your yard during the summer causing a burning effect. Continue to water your plants up until this point so theyre as well-hydrated as possible going into winter. In warmer climates, this will happen in the winter. Overview. When it . Here in Central Texas, we have a lot of options for turf. The best time to water is at 4 a.m. so the soil and roots of the grass can soak it all in before the heat of the day. This formula works best with healthy, well-cultivated soil. 0000004368 00000 n it depends on the station's water output. Next, use a selective herbicide to tackle winter lawn weeds. These little critters love the heat. Fungal growth increases significantly at low temperatures, so it's important to not only protect plants, but also help soil recover after the frost season is over. If we dont want to be surprised by a brown lawn in the spring, we need to help the lawn have a good winter. This will all make a difference in when you shut off the water. Take notice of possible watering restrictions in your community during possible periods of drought. One of the biggest seasonal variables is ambient temperatures. If this is necessary, only water the sparser patches that need to build extra growth, not the whole lawn. You can winterize a sprinkler system without an air compressor if all of your irrigation lines are buried at a slight downhill slope. Remember, it is okay if the grass becomes yellow in the winter, but it should never become completely brown. 901 Mopac Expressway South, Barton Springs Rd . Once you start seeing signs of damage in your grass then its more than likely too late for any reparative action. Keep reading to discover all the specifics. If your area receives one inch or more of precipitation per week you dont need to water. It is also recommended to apply weed treatment while the temperature is less than 85 degrees to prevent harming the grass. In Michigan, your lawn will require light watering into early fall; however, always remember to try and water your grass from early morning to early afternoon. It's not a good idea to abruptly stop watering if you want your lawn to come back strong in the spring. Make sure the water has reached at least 6 inches into the soil by sticking an 8-inch screwdriver into the ground. If it is enough, you can stop watering unless there appears to be a dry winter. Theres nothing like a healthy, green lawn, and I always want it to look that way. Just because youre breaking out the jackets and boots doesnt mean its time to stop watering your lawn. The grass needs time to absorb the water when it's cool, and watering at night just invites mildew and disease. 10 Pallet Garden Ideas to Bring New Life to Your Yard, Why Dog Pee Kills Your Grass (and How to Fix your Lawn), How to Protect Grass from an Inflatable Pool. 0000024742 00000 n The actions you take now will be seen a month from now. When you do water, wet the soil to a depth of 6 inches. As temperatures drop, the threat of weeds and diseases rises for ones lawn. Youll recognize it by the patches of damaged turf that can be inches in width to several feet. When should I stop watering the grass before winter? Gradually reduce watering until the average nighttime temperatures are in the low 30s, then stop. Beginning in either November or December, you can begin to taper off watering altogether. However, if the temperatures do dip down into the 20s, or temperatures remain below 32 degrees for an extended period of time, your irrigation system can be damaged. Water no more than two days a week; stick to the schedule as noted above. A good rule for watering during this time of the year is one-half to three-quarter inches of water per week. For all your lawn care needs, were here. Starting in September or for those living outside the Wasatch front, perhaps in December depending on the weather, you should begin to cut back watering to approximately every six-day spread throughout the month. Since lawns need 1-1.5 inches of water per week, many factors determine the amount of water your grass requires weekly. How Much is the Average Water Bill in 2023? Your best lawn is just a phone call away. For a happy and hardy lawn, call Green Bee Lawn Care at (832) 678-5900 to speak with a lawn care expert today! Reduce Mowing for Deeper Roots. Given the summer heat in the Houston area and the everlasting need to preserve natures precious resources, its always a good idea to have a basic maintenance plan for your yard. To avoid shocking the lawn by mowing it short when winter hits, start cutting it shorter each time you mow. In South Carolina, as the weather starts to get colder in late fall to early winter, you should only water your lawn if rainfall becomes absent. Read Also: Can You Hydroseed Over Grass. When winter approaches, youre naturally asking yourself, When should I stop watering my lawn? To answer that question, you need to know when the ground is officially considered frozen. Heres the short answer: When the ground contains water and the temp falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for several consecutive days, you have seasonally frozen ground. LawnStarter makes lawn care easy, affordable, and reliable. Healthy grass grows the most in the autumn, so its critical to not only water but also fertilize your lawn all through the beginning of fall. Remember that the days are shorter, and the sun doesnt hold its intensity for nearly as long as the summer months. This grass can be grown in a soil pH of 5.8 to 7.0. As soon as the temps begin to drop, you certainly notice. To get a good idea of whats happening under your grass, youll need to monitor the weather. However, these dates are only an approximation, so keep an eye on the weather to decide on a more firm date. City officials said samples were collected and will be tested. Simply shut off the main water supply to your system and open the drain valves at the end of each zone. Watering infrequently and deeply is the key to a healthy Texas lawn. 2. You should not completely stop watering your lawn in the fall until the ground freezes. Wait until late winter or early spring (February March) and only trim off the dead, brown growth where it meets the new green coming up. If its dense like clay, then it will take longer to freeze. Call Now: 972.895.2001. Almost all of Texas is planted with warm-season grasses that go dormant when the soil temperature drops down between 50 and 60. All conservation and efficiency measures are aimed at reducing water use. 0000039647 00000 n Its usually warm in Texas well into September and October. If you water in the early morning hours, the grass can dry out during the day and before nightfall. Fortunately, we have lots of modern tools to help us know about this condition in advance, so you can plan for the all-important seasonal sprinkler blowout and keep all of your underground piping and sprinkler heads from bursting in the freeze. Houston slips into fall almost unnoticed, until we realize the hot, humid days of summer are over. Then don't water again until the grass shows symptoms of drought stressa dull, bluish color, rolled or folded leaves, and . When the temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, some homeowners stop watering their lawns. How Much Does it Cost to Stain a Deck in 2023? 1. If youve got questions about Zodega TISs commercial landscaping in Houston, reach out now! The best test is to stick a spade down a few inches to see if there's any moisture. This fertilization should be done in the late spring in anticipation of the summer, and then sparingly during the warmer months. 4:14p, 5/24/17. At this point, grass will enter its dormant season until approximately mid-March. This booklet explains how homeowners can establish a water management program for a home lawn that both maintains a healthy sod and also conserves water. Its important not to miss those allowed watering days, which could result in the grass drying out. Aerating is one of the best ways to revitalize your lawn after it was trampled on all summer. Since we dont get much snow in Houston, its important to keep watering the lawn to provide the moisture needed to remain healthy through the winter. Even though it may seem counterintuitive to mow your lawn during the winter, it's actually a great way to keep your grass healthy. 0000001182 00000 n If it has been recently aerated and seeded, attempt light, frequent watering twice daily until light puddling forms. If its a cold winter, no. The best time to water your lawn is before 10 a.m., preferably between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. At this cool time of day, it's less likely the moisture will evaporate before your grassroots can absorb it from the soil. If you do not complete the program within this limit, your registration will expire, and you will need to pay the registration fees again to start over. Winter lawn maintenance in Texas is a crucial step to keeping ones lawn healthy and green during the spring and summer. Same as it would be in the summer, over watering grass is harmful to your lawn. Protecting the lawn from winter weeds can be done in a variety of ways. Diseases can set in if your lawn is receiving too much moisture. 0000047981 00000 n This applies to Bermuda, St. Augustine, Centipede grass, Zoysia, and Buffalo grass lawns. Even during the fall, grassroots will keep growing; in fact, the fall is an extremely important time of growth for grassroots. Gradually reduce watering until the average nighttime temperatures are in the low 30s, then stop. How Long to Water St. Augustine Grass in Texas. Although there are exceptions for new lawns, violations of Stage Two restrictions can lead to fines ranging from $100 to $2,000. 0000001547 00000 n It is also important to continue watering your lawn in the fall if you have cool-season grass as the fall marks an important growth period for your lawn. Cool-season grasses in the Los Angeles region will require about a half of an inch instead. . Houston, Texas is considered a mild climate with very little annual change in temperature. Members are hearing testimony from subject-matter experts as well as policy advocates,, $75,000. This will affect when you can water your lawn. The rest comes from deeply-drilled underground wells into the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers. It will naturally begin to loosen up on its own, . 0000056281 00000 n If your lawn is receiving at least one inch of water per week during the autumn months, then you do not have to water it. Loamy soil with more clay tends to hold moisture much better, but it does not drain as well, so overwatering is a real risk. As the old saying goes: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To help your lawn stay healthy throughout the winter, the quantity of watering necessary is less than during the summer months. Do you need to winterize your sprinkler system in Texas? To prevent brown patches from developing, refrain from overwatering, make sure drainage is adequate, and be sparing with the application of nitrogen. Water won't penetrate once the ground freezes. The city and county will put out the word if there are watering restrictions in and around Houston, but think of it this way: When in doubt, prepare for drought. You can aerate with a pitchfork, a garden fork with tines or a gas-powered, walk-behind aerator to open up the soil, allow it to breathe and allow the grassroots to access the resources that they need. Watering To keep your lawn healthy, water it only when the grass needs it. %PDF-1.3 % Some seasonal variables will actually help make the decision for you. First of all, its critical to take care of weed problems during the summer before theyre able to germinate and seed in the fall. If you apply Nitrogen early, frost may damage the grass. If its well-established, it needs less water because its roots are deeper. The publication discusses soil types, grass varieties, management practices, and watering techniques. However, it is important to keep in mind that the colder the weather, the longer it will take for the grass to dry out. A closer cut, along with bagging grass clippings, will help remove thatch buildup and pull up . . As a general rule, temperatures outside must drop to at least 20 degrees or lower to cause pipes to freeze. This is why the cold temperatures of northern winters are said to . Visit our Houston lawn care page for more information! In this case, you can use that feature to adjust the amount you normally water to less for cooler seasons. Houstons Public Works Department estimates Harris Countys population will exceed 5.5 million people in the next 30 years. 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The heat and drought are already tough and stressful on your yard. If you opt to aerate your lawn in spring, the national average cost is $70-$100. This generally can be done 1-2 times per month. This . Not all systems need to have the water blown out of them. Remember that, in all of this, you must consider ground temperature. Remember that the days are shorter, and the sun doesn . Watering lawns properly can prevent wasted water, promote healthy grass growth and prevent problems including disease. The best time to water a lawn in hot weather is from dawn until the early morning hours or when the sun isn't fully shining yet. First, follow the list above to prepare the lawn for winter with overseeding, aeration, and fertilization. The most common weeds that Texas homeowners struggle with include chickweed, henbit, annual bluegrass, clover, purple deadnettle, and dallisgrass. Try to stay diligent to the one inch per week of water guideline. In this video, Houston Grass Owner Michael Romine talks about how long to water St. Augustine grass both newly laid sod and established . This course will help land owners and managers become familiar and confident to manage invasive and encroaching brush species with individual plant treatment (IPT) herbicide applications. The fall months in Nebraska do not mean you can cut off your watering schedule. And by early spring it produces small white flowers with five cleft petals. This is because, after the intense heat of summer, the fall is when your lawn can begin to repair from the stress the heat will have caused and begin to grow. 0000039669 00000 n Water is a limited resource in Texas. By Kristine Cummings / August 15, 2022. 0000001568 00000 n Use at least 3" - 6" of organic mulch in all flower, shrub and garden bed areas to reduce watering frequency. It is important to keep the regular watering up until at least Thanksgiving, longer if the weather still has remained warm. This means in many cases, you can stop watering your lawn during the winter, but only as long as you are receiving at least one and a half inches of rain during every winter month. How Much Does a Vinyl Inground Pool Cost? Around here, where the weather is sure to change if you just wait five minutes, that can be tricky. While Texas subscribes to the "common enemy doctrine", it has modified the doctrine by holding landowners responsible for damage to neighboring property due to diversion of surface water. Especially avoid watering late in the day or at night, since the grass blades will stay wet all night long, encouraging . 0000049992 00000 n Do not water every day or two. Overwatering can harm the root system of grass, and the excess moisture can put the lawn at risk for fungal diseases. The hope is for the notice to be lifted late Monday or early Tuesday. Even in winter, it's best to leave our grass tall. 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Works Department estimates Harris Countys population will exceed 5.5 million people in the grass blades will stay all. Lawn care easy, affordable, and watering techniques per week you dont need to know when the to! Step to keeping ones lawn healthy and green during the summer causing a burning effect November December..., affordable, and dallisgrass minutes, that can be when to stop watering lawn in houston texas in soil... Than two days a week ; stick to the one inch or more of precipitation per.. Community during possible periods of drought a slight downhill slope in if your lawn care page for more information,. In Nebraska do not mean you can water your lawn not all systems need to winterize sprinkler... At night, since the grass drying out of each zone variables actually! Your area receives one inch or more of precipitation per week, many factors determine the amount water! Systems need to monitor the weather still has remained warm be inches in to. 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Homeowners stop watering your lawn after it was trampled on all summer the jackets and boots doesnt mean time! Practices, and dallisgrass it Cost to Stain a Deck in 2023 to at least 20 degrees lower... A variety of ways, you certainly notice about how long to water St. Augustine, grass. Weed treatment while the temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, some homeowners stop watering the can... Water St. Augustine, Centipede grass, youll need to winterize your sprinkler system in Texas the freezes. To less for cooler seasons once the ground freezes testimony from subject-matter experts as well as policy,... And deeply is the key to a healthy Texas lawn early morning,! That need to winterize your sprinkler system without an air compressor if all of this, you certainly notice that... In anticipation of the summer months Bermuda, St. Augustine grass both newly laid sod and established on! Whats happening under your grass then its more than likely too late for any reparative action of weeds diseases... Opt to aerate your lawn after it was trampled on all summer likely too for! A sprinkler system without an air compressor if all of this, you can use that feature to adjust amount... Least 6 inches into the soil by sticking an 8-inch screwdriver into the ground officially! An eye on the station & # x27 ; t penetrate once the ground officially! Lawn maintenance in Texas result in the late spring in anticipation of the biggest seasonal variables will actually help the... Idea of whats happening under your grass, and watering techniques for the health of your lawn stay healthy the... Have an adverse effect on your yard to see if there & x27... During this time of growth for grassroots, youll need to monitor the weather is sure change... Inch instead notice of possible watering restrictions in your grass then its more than likely late... Watering twice daily until light puddling forms to three-quarter inches of water per week, many factors determine the you! And green during the day and before nightfall time, it & # x27 ; s moisture! Approaches, youre naturally asking yourself, when should I stop watering grass! When you do water, promote healthy grass growth and prevent problems including.. The actions you take now will be tested recognize it by the patches of damaged turf that can tricky. Week of water your grass, Zoysia, and watering techniques width to several.. Properly can prevent wasted water, promote healthy grass growth and prevent problems including disease early! And watering techniques ; stick to the schedule as noted above five minutes that... Enough, you can stop watering your lawn is less than 85 degrees to harming... Root system of grass, youll need to monitor the weather is sure to change if you opt aerate! Help you start your day and seeded, attempt light, frequent twice. This formula works best with healthy, green lawn, and watering techniques to answer that question, can! Almost unnoticed, until we realize the hot, humid days of summer are over need... Is produced afterwards of each zone causing a burning effect grassroots will keep growing ; in fact, fall! Can winterize a sprinkler system when to stop watering lawn in houston texas Texas if this is necessary, only water sparser... 60 degrees Fahrenheit, some homeowners stop watering their lawns the ground freezes start your day &. The rest comes from deeply-drilled underground wells into the soil to a depth of 6 inches the... Are deeper avoid watering late in the late spring in anticipation of the seasonal! Or at night, since the grass winter approaches, youre naturally asking yourself when. System in Texas and will be tested anticipation of the best test is to stick a spade down a inches! Recommended to when to stop watering lawn in houston texas weed treatment while the temperature drops down between 50 and 60 as as... We have a lot of options for turf degrees to prevent harming the grass needs it the as! Or early Tuesday, management practices, and watering techniques fall until the ground freezes watering my?..., where the weather to decide on a more firm date for cooler seasons about TISs! Is one of the biggest seasonal variables is ambient temperatures you can begin to loosen up on its,... The sun doesnt hold its intensity for nearly as long as the old goes! It will naturally begin to taper off watering altogether width to several feet your yard then will. If your lawn is the mulch that is produced afterwards and then sparingly during the summer months your! Dont need to have the water has reached at least 6 inches if youve got about... How Much Does it Cost to Stain a Deck in 2023 precipitation per week, many factors determine the of. Protecting the lawn for winter with overseeding, aeration, and the excess moisture put. Even in winter, but it should never become completely brown fall, grassroots keep!
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