Should you water your lawn during a drought? Here’s how to care for it while saving water
Watering lawns can prevent foundation issues for Texas homeowners, but it can also lead to water supply strains during times of drought.
With drought conditions affecting most of the state, some Texas cities have restricted water use or banned sprinklers to help conserve supply.
Central Texas cities like Manor and Georgetown banned sprinkler use this summer, restricting residents to watering their lawns by hand.
Excessive heat and lack of rainfall led to severe drought conditions in North Texas as well, including Tarrant County.
Should you water your lawn during a drought?
Watering your lawn prevents grass from drying out and becoming a fire hazard, and helps with your home’s foundation.
However, during a drought it is important to maximize when and how you water your lawn, according to Dallas-based company Lawns-4-U.
Much of the water used outdoors in Texas is wasted through inefficient landscape watering practices, according to the Texas Water Development Board.
Outdoor watering also contributed to more than 30% of household water use, according to the TWDB.
Because grass only needs about one inch of water a week, Lawns-4-U recommends watering once or twice a week for about 30 to 60 minutes to train grass to develop a robust root system.
Watering early in the morning is best to limit evaporation between the sprinkler or hose before it reaches the grass, according to the TWDB.
Fort Worth has year-round outdoor watering restrictions to maintain and encourage water efficiency.
This includes a watering schedule by address and restrictions on irrigation systems and sprinklers.
How can I water my lawn and foundation in a drought?
If you’re in an area that restricts sprinkler use and only allows watering by hand, a soaker hose may be a good alternative.
A soaker hose — also known as a “weeping hose” — slowly seeps water out of the hose onto the ground and are ideal for home foundations.
Soaker hoses are recommended to be placed about 6 to 22 inches away from the foundation of a house and used at least three times a week for around 15 to 20 minutes each time.
By seeping water out along the length of the hose instead of from one end, soaker hoses provide more efficient coverage, according to watering company Swan. Because of its efficiency, a properly positioned soaker hose can save time water.
