Lawn Watering Tips for Dallas-Fort Worth

Best watering practices vary from region to region, and depend on a variety of factors like regional weather patterns, grass type, soil type, local water restrictions, and season of the year. With so much complexity to consider, it can be difficult to gauge the frequency and volume of water your lawn needs from one day to the next. Getting it right can be daunting, but we’ll give you all the knowledge you need to create the optimal watering plan for your Dallas-Fort Worth area lawn. 

 

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

No matter where you live, there are a handful of simple tips you can use to instantly improve your watering routine. But as most homeowners know, maintaining a lush lawn can be a constant challenge, especially in the hot Texan climate. Smart irrigation systems like Irrigreen can help automate real-time weather monitoring and make the daily adjustments necessary to ensure your lawn is getting the right amount of water it needs, at precisely the right time, year-round -- all while effortlessly reducing water use and expenses.

 

Best Time of Day to Water Grass in Dallas-Fort Worth

In hot climates like the DFW area, creating your watering plan only according to the amount of water your lawn needs is not enough to ensure your lawn is effectively hydrated. Timing is a key factor in any watering plan. Regions that experience moderate to high midday temperatures experience a higher degree of water evaporation while the sun is out in full force. Evaporation inhibits water reaching the root of the grass, ultimately leading to significant water waste and dehydration, which can throw a wrench in any watering plan that doesn’t properly take time of day or temperature into account. 

 

Watering around sunrise (between 5am and 9am) or sunset (between 6pm and 8pm) can prevent evaporation and easily conserve water, while keeping your lawn healthy and hydrated. It is commonly recommended to water early in the morning rather than the evening to ensure that your grass has enough time to dry during the day, preventing a variety of fungal disease.

 

Worst Time of Day to Water Grass in Dallas-Fort Worth

Under the hot Texas sun, a midday sprinkler run wastes far more water than your grass could hope to retain due to the rapid evaporation caused by direct sunlight and high temperatures. On the other hand, watering just after the sun has gone down or in the middle of the night doesn’t give the roots of your grass a chance to dry in the damp overnight conditions, putting your lawn at risk of disease.

 

How Much to Water a Lawn in Dallas-Fort Worth

An easy way to encourage deeper root growth and make your lawn more drought-resistant is to opt for a deep watering plan over frequent shallow watering. Deep watering in the DFW area is anywhere between 1 inch to 1.5 inches per week, including rainfall-- make sure to monitor local weather conditions and adjust accordingly to avoid over or underwatering. Soil monitoring and rain gauge devices can help determine how much water your lawn needs on a weekly basis.

 

Local water restrictions and regulations vary depending on where you live, and are often influenced by regional drought conditions, seasonality, and local water supply levels. It’s important to be aware of the restrictions in your area as you create your lawn’s watering plan, so as not to violate any regulations in your area. 

 

According to the Dallas Water Conservation Ordinance, residents are restricted to to the below water regulations:

• Maximum twice-weekly watering allowed according to address.
• Don’t water your yard between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. between April 1 and October 31.
• Hand water or use a soaker hose. Both are permitted on any day.
• Maintain your sprinkler system. Repair any broken, missing or misdirected sprinkler heads.
• Automatic sprinkler system owners are required to have rain and freeze sensors installed.
• Don’t water during any form of precipitation.
• Don’t allow your sprinkler system to water driveways, sidewalks and streets.
• Don’t waste water by allowing runoff onto a street or other drainage area when you’re watering.

Always make sure to avoid watering sidewalks, mulch beds, and hardscapes to prevent unnecessary water usage.

 

Watering Different Types of Grass

The DFW climate is perfectly suited for grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia, which require different watering schedules than cool-season grasses. 

 

One key difference between the two types of grass is the dormancy periods of warm-season versus cool-season grasses. This is a crucial difference to note, as when grass enters its dormant season it needs minimal to no water. Warm-season grasses are dormant during late fall to early spring, whereas cool-season grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue are dormant in summer and early fall.

 

Water According to Your Soil Type

The most common soil type in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is clay soil. It is most common to have black clay or Brazos clay in your DFW area yard.

Due to its high clay content, the soil in this region retains moisture well and is generally nutrient-rich, but drains poorly and therefore can be challenging to work with in a high-evaporation climate when planning a watering schedule. It is generally recommended to deep water every 7-10 days, and be cautious of overwatering. Aeration can help improve drainage and prevent hardness due to compaction.

 

When to Start and Stop Watering During the Year

Because warm-season grasses come out of dormancy in the spring, in Dallas it’s a good idea to begin watering your lawn regularly in March as the seasons change and temperatures start to rise. Look for overnight temperatures consistently above freezing and early signs of spring as key indicators that it’s time to turn your sprinklers back on. As always, keep an eye on rainfall and temperature, and adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

 

Though Dallas winters are milder than other regions of the US, freezing temperatures may still occur and can cause costly damage to pipes, valves and other irrigation hardware. So it’s a good idea to winterize your system before the first freeze of the season, or by late-November in Dallas.

 

Conclusion

Best watering practices are highly dependent on local conditions, such as average precipitation, soil type, grass type and citywide water regulations. Keep these tips in mind to ensure your grass is getting the amount of water it needs, when it needs it. Smart irrigation systems like Irrigreen can automate and optimize your watering schedule in real time, saving you effort and water in the process.