Lawn Watering Tips for Austin

Lawn care in the capital city of Texas differs from other regions across the country. Located in central Texas, the annual climate is warm and often pleasant. While summertime is hot in the 512, winters comfortably cool off without freezing over, making the lawn care season longer than in most states. Weather patterns, soil types, watering regulations, and best grass types should all be considered when determining the best lawn care plan for your lawn. It can be difficult to know where to start, but with our guide, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence needed to grow a lush, healthy lawn all year round. 

For more localized watering tips, visit our growing list of regional best practices to discover how to achieve the healthy, greenest lawn of your dreams anywhere in the US. 

List of Tips

The following list of tips is a comprehensive guide that will help you maintaining your healthiest lawn in every season! As most homeowners know, there are multiple steps to remember when building a lawn care plan. There are many options out there when picking and choosing types of grass, fertilizers, and the right sprinkler system for your property. Smart irrigation controllers and precision sprinklers like Irrigreen systems can simplify multiple steps in the process - like adjusting watering amounts based on the time of year - while effortlessly reducing water use and expenses.

 

Best Time of Day to Water Grass in Austin

Knowing the best time of day to water is a key factor for any lawn care plan. In Austin, temperatures climb quickly after the sun rises, making much of the day hot and sunny especially in the summer months. Most guides will tell you that watering between 6am and 10am is the optimal time of day to run your sprinkler system. Restrictions in Austin limit when you can water your lawn, so it is best to stay compliant and water from 4am to 5am. Throughout the rest of the day, your grass will be able to fully absorb the water and nutrients from the soil.

 

Worst Time of Day to Water Grass in Austin

Like much of Texas, Austin experiences very sunny days with direct sunlight beating down on your grass. Overly sunny and hot conditions cause any water laid on the lawn to quickly evaporate. This leads to an overuse of water as the grass cannot properly soak in the moisture. Avoid watering during the sunniest and hottest time of day - 1pm to 5pm. While too much sun can cause water to evaporate too quickly, no sunlight at all is also harmful to an efficient watering schedule. Watering too late into the evening - once the sun has fully set - can oversaturate the soil, not allowing the grass to absorb all of the nutrients. Dark, damp environments also promote the growth of fungal disease. Best practice is to let the lawn dry throughout the day so it is ready for the next watering event in your schedule.

 

How Much to Water a Lawn in Austin and Local Water Restrictions

Typically, the annual amount of rainfall in Austin is 10% below the Texas average, which can lead to naturally drier lawns. Lawns face even drier conditions during a drought, which is why it is important to use water efficiently for a green and healthy lawn. Before planning how much water to use each week, stay informed with local watering regulations.  

The city of Austin’s water conservation program is regularly updated with the most current guidelines and restrictions. At time of publishing, Austin has placed Stage 2 water conservation measures into effect. The guidelines for automatic sprinkler systems include:

• Automatic watering is permitted once per week
• Automatic irrigation is allowed before 5am and after 7pm on assigned days
• Even residential addresses can water on Thursday
• Odd residential addresses can water on Wednesday
• Even commercial & multi-family addresses can water on Tuesday
• Odd commercial & multi-family addresses can water on Friday

For handheld watering and hose-end irrigation:

• Handheld watering is permitted at all times
• Hose-end irrigation is allowed before 10am and after 7pm on assigned days
• Even residential addresses can water on Sunday
• Odd residential addresses can water on Saturday
• Even commercial & multi-family addresses can water on Tuesday
• Odd commercial & multi-family addresses can water on Friday

Stages 1, 3 and 4 in Austin adjust restrictions as needed, so it is best practice to regularly check online at Austin Water for drought status and responses.

Experts say 1 inch of water per week is necessary in central Texas - that includes rainfall. Smart irrigation controllers with weather monitoring software can calculate how much rain is expected throughout the week and will compensate for the remaining amount of water needed from your sprinklers. You can set your smart system to water the necessary amount within the Austin watering day(s) and time restrictions and make changes as needed.

 

Best Grass Types for Austin

There are three most popular grass types in Austin. Due to the climate in Texas, most homeowners choose to plant warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bermuda.

Warm-season grasses are species that do well in hot climates. They maintain color in both direct sunlight and mildly shady spaces. Warm-season grasses are deep rooted, so sprinklers with heavy, high velocity water streams and controlled application like Irrigreen precision sprinklers can healthy growth. Choosing St. Augustine, Zoysia, or Bermuda grass will give you a lush, bright green landscape to enjoy all year in a warm-weathered environment.

St. Augustine requires moderate maintenance. Mowing once a week or so will prevent thatch buildup. St. Augustine grass does not provide viable commercial seed available for purchase by homeowners, so you will need to propagate with plugs or sod.

Zoysia grows slower than other types of grass, so less mowing and fertilization is required than with St. Augustine grass. This seed takes between 2 to 3 weeks to germinate in the spring growing season. Once established, it’s best to keep a Zoysia lawn at 1 to 2 inches in height when mowing.

Bermuda grass is one of the most common grass types across the southern US. This grass is a beautiful bright green, but demands a bit more maintenance than other popular warm-season grasses. Experts recommend fertilizing once per month in the summer and mowing at least once per week as Bermuda grass is prone to thatch build up. Putting in the work has a great payout with a stunning yard! 

 

Soil in Austin

Central Texas is home to black and reddish clay soils. Clay soils absorb water slowly and stay moist due to its texture. This compliments the hot, sunny weather in Austin nicely! Only watering once per week is just enough to regularly hydrate the soil without risking fungal growth, or on the other hand, leaving your grass too dry for healthy growth. 

 

The Lawn Care Season in Austin: Year Round Watering and Maintenance

Summertime in Austin heats up fast. It is difficult to plant grass seed in the heat of the summer, so planting new grass either with seed, plugs, or sod during the spring is best.

Starting in March, new seed has enough time to healthily grow deep roots with nutrient-rich fertilizer. Dormant grass begins to turn green again, which is the right time to dethatch a layer of built up leaves, dead grass, or debris. With regularly mowing and watering throughout the spring, your lawn is given a few months of growing before beginning your summer routine.

As the temperatures cool off in the fall and winter months, your lawn will go dormant. Don’t take this as a sign to stop watering altogether, however. Continuing to lightly water dormant grass once every two weeks can help transition into a dormant period without killing the grass and encourages healthy future growth.

Winterizing your sprinkler system is encouraged if the temperatures are expected to dip below freezing - 32 degrees fahrenheit. Raking and mowing during the winter reduces the amount of dethatching needed in the springtime. 

 

Key Takeaways

Knowing how much to water, when to water, and the seasonality of lawn maintenance are dependent on local weather patterns, soil type, grass type, and changes in city-wide watering restrictions. In Austin, these tips and overview of the water usage regulations will help you maintain a green and healthy lawn all year long! You can step-up your watering game with smart systems like Irrigreen with digital water spray patterns and weather monitoring software, all controlled from the ease of your smartphone.