Guide to Watering Your Lawn
General rules and tips to keep in mind when watering your North Texas lawn and landscape.
Below are some general rules and tips to keep in mind when watering your North Texas lawn and landscape. These general guidelines only. Always check weather conditions and your system for best results.
Summer/Dry Season
Approximately late June through mid to late September in North Texas.
- When: Water in the early morning (midnight to 8 a.m.)
- Frequency: It is best to soak deeply, less frequenly. This establishes deep, healthy roots.
- Amount: Most lawns require 1 to 1.25 inches of water per week split over two days or more
- Pop-Up Spray Heads: 30 minutes of water onces every 4 days equals 1.25″ rain/week
- Rotary Spray Heads: At least twice as much time as pop-up spray heads
Sample Watering Chart (dry season)
| Start | Duration – Pop Up Heads | Duration – Rotary Heads |
|---|---|---|
| #1: 1:00 a.m. | 10 minutes | 20-30 minutes |
| #2: 4:00 a.m. | 10 minutes | 20-30 minutes |
| #3: 8:00 a.m. | 10 minutes | 20-30 minutes |
Temperature Guide
| Temperature ºF | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 70 | every six days |
| 80 | every five days |
| 90 | every four days* |
| > 90 | increase watering time by 30-50% |
Winter/Rainy Season
Generally, dormant season in North Texas is from November to February. Peak rainfall months are May and October
- When: Turn system off and water manually as needed. Never when freezing
- Frequency: If there is no rain for two weeks, use manual cycle and water as needed.
*Water Restrictions
If you are under restrictions that do not allow for watering more than once per week, then at temperatures of 90 °F or above, increase your watering duration on your assigned day by 30-50% in place of additinoal watering days. You can also run your system through it's full cycle twice on your assigned watering day to ensure a deep enough watering. If your soil can absorb the water you have the second watering start as soon as the first cycle is finished. If you have runoff, meaning your soil isn't absorbing all the water at once, then split the two waterings up between a mornign and early evenign watering. Try to avoid watering overnight as it can encourage fungal diseases in lawns.
