Beat the Drought: Low-Water Lawn Care Tips Every Homeowner Needs By Realtor.com

Droughts and water shortages are becoming more common across the U.S., and lawns are often the first thing to suffer. Homeowners may face restrictions for countless reasons with authorities limiting how much—or how often—they can water. 

Danny Karon, an attorney and founder of Your Lovable Lawyer, explains that water restrictions “are put in place because of drought or infrastructure problems, to promote sustainable practices, and to conserve water when levels are low.”

He says that limits may be placed on how often, when, or how you can water your lawn or garden—and homeowners can expect fines (or other penalties) if they don't follow the established water restriction rules.

But does this mean your lawn is doomed to suffer? Depends on whom you ask.

Who can restrict your lawn watering and under what rules?

Ben Michael, an attorney at Michael & Associates in Dallas, says water restrictions can come from various authorities, such as local governments, water suppliers, and HOAs.

Sometimes multiple authorities issue water restrictions at the same time.

“Legally, states and local governments can both enforce rules and restrictions regarding lawn watering. More often than not, the restrictions you’ll end up having to follow are going to be set by your local government,” he says, adding that local governments may have more specific rules for your area.

On top of those local laws, you may be subject to another layer of HOA rules, which Gene Caballero, co-founder of lawn care professionals' platform GreenPal, says “sometimes are stricter and more annoying than city ordinances.”

Common water restrictions

Water restrictions might include irrigation frequency—when during the day you can water— and what types of lawns can be irrigated (e.g., no watering ornamental turfs), says Greg Cuoco, CEO of The Difference Landscapes, a New Hampshire-based landscape design, installation, and lawn maintenance firm.

Caballero says that “during an emergency situation, the outright banning of any sort of watering can be enforced until the conditions improve.”

What penalties could you face?

Karon says water restrictions are important and are often put in place to conserve water for essential needs such as drinking and firefighting. For that reason, there are very real penalties for not following water restrictions.

Caballero says punishment usually involves a fine that increases with repeat offenses, and liens could even be placed on your house if the fines go unpaid. He adds that water utilities can also use a pricing structure and will charge higher rates for excessive usage during droughts. He adds that authorities can install flow restrictors to limit your water supply, if you don’t abide.

Cuoco says shame can also be a factor.

“In times of drought, I've seen residents with HOAs put signs in front of their green lawn indicating that it was irrigated with recycled water,” he says. “I'm guessing a few neighbors asked why their lawn was so lush.”

Cuoco adds that he knows of municipalities that promote household water consumption data, “hoping to shame big consumers into toeing the line." In addition, he says the media can play a part, with some outlets having published a list of the top water users and how much they use. “That’s not a list folks want to be on during a drought,” he says.

How long can grass survive without water before damage sets in?

Of course, you don't want to stop watering altogether if possible, but how long can a lawn last without irrigation?

Cuoco says that, on average, grass can last about three or four weeks without water, turning brown and dormant before permanent damage occurs. But some types of grass can last longer. 

Warm-season grasses can last up to six weeks, he says. Meanwhile, cool-season grasses may hang in there for eight weeks.

“Some varieties such as Bermuda or Zoysia grass can last anywhere from six weeks to 90 days without water,” Cuoco adds. “Exact longevity will depend on the soil type and condition, temperature, humidity levels, and overall grass health before the drought occurred.”

But Caballero says most people shouldn't wait that long to water their lawns. He says grass can survive for weeks without water, but the grass will start to stress after about a week. “Anything after that without any water can cause permanent thinning off or die-off,” he says.

So, water your lawn when you can, even if that means waking up early or staying up late if your community has time-restricted watering.

How can you tell if grass if dead or just brown?

Cuoco says that if your grass has turned brown, don’t panic yet, it could be dormant, rather than dead.

How can you tell? He says that dormant grass will turn green again after irrigation is introduced, while dead grass will not. Plus, there’s a way to test without grabbing the hose. “Examine the base of the grass, if there's a hint of green, the grass is likely dormant and will come back after regular irrigation.”

Caballero says that “dead grass will pull up easily from the soil but dormant grass will resist while tugging and eventually green up once watered again.”

But if the grass is dead, Cuoco says there’s not much to do but reseeding and sodding. “If this occurs, do a soil test to check for nutrient levels and add fertilizer or compost to improve soil health before reseeding/sodding,” he says. “This is also a good time to choose a more drought-tolerant grass type.”

Expert strategies to keep your lawn healthy without much water

Of course, you don’t want your lawn to die during drought or water-restricted times, so what can you do?  

Let your grass grow

Caballero says the first step is to mow your grass higher. “Longer grass blades shade the soil and slow evaporation—helping to retain more moisture,” he explains. Cuoco says that you can also feel free to reduce mowing frequency.

Water deeply, but infrequently

You may not be able to water often, so Caballero says when you do break out the hose, give the roots a good drink. "Watering deeply but less frequently will encourage roots to grow down instead of staying shallow and close to the surface," he says.

Avoid fertilizing

Caballero says fertilizer stimulates growth that the roots can’t support without enough water.

Aerate

Aerating your lawn can help during times of drought. You’ll need a garden fork or a specialized core or spike aerator to make holes in the earth. Caballero explains: “Aerating the lawn allows roots to reach deeper pockets of moisture and improves water infiltration when you irrigate.”

Mulch your grass clippings

Mulching grass clippings (which is easy to do with a mulching mower) helps lock in soil moisture while adding nutrients naturally, says Caballero.

"Call Eli Torres at (832) 430-2107, for your home buying and selling needs."

Source: www.realtor.com