Lawn Watering Tips for Houston

Maintaining a healthy, luscious lawn can be difficult to navigate in hot and humid climates such as Houston. Particularly sunny regions can influence a variety of factors homeowners need to consider in creating a lawn care plan for their property. These factors include soil conditions, grass type, and seasonal weather patterns. Add watering restrictions to the mix and the right lawn care routine can feel overly complicated. With these tips, we’ll simplify the process and share all the information needed to grow your dream lawn in the Houston area.

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

Houston weather is notorious for being hot and humid much of the year. On top of battling the heat, the Houston area is the 4th most populated location in the US. In highly populated areas, water conservation efforts are prioritized each year. Smart irrigation systems like Irrigreen are committed to reducing excess water usage while automating the watering process. With real-time weather monitoring and making adjustments to get your lawn the right amount of water needed, calculating the best time of day each season, grass will remain properly hydrated no matter the weather conditions. 

As a reminder, be sure to stay informed with any local watering restrictions enacted throughout the year.

Best Time of Day to Water Grass in Houston

A key factor to constructing a lawn care routine is the time of day to start your watering schedule. In Houston, temperatures rise quickly, leading to warm days year-round. It is best practice to water when the temperatures are cooler, before the sunrise. Between 5am and 9am is the best time of day to water your lawn because the grass has enough time to soak into the roots preventing quick evaporation. Throughout the day, your soil has enough time to dry, preventing the growth of fungus or weeds. Allowing water to fully absorb into the soil, quenching grass, having a sufficient period of time to dry out before watering again encourages a healthy growth cycle for any type of grass. 

Worst Time of Day to Water Grass in Houston

For the most efficient watering schedule, avoid watering during the sunniest, hottest time of day – typically 1pm to 3pm. Under direct sunlight, rapid evaporation can occur, preventing proper absorption of water and requiring an increase of water usage. Watering after the sun goes down may prevent evaporation, but soil needs some time to dry. Watering at night can lead to an oversaturation of the soil causing weeds, fungal diseases and damaging pests. 

How Long to Water a Lawn in Houston

Local climate doesn’t only contribute to the best and worst times to water grass, local climate also determines how to water for. You should also consider the condition of the soil, grass type, and seasonal weather patterns when deciding how much water you need to use on your lawn. In Houston, most lawns are one of many species of warm-season grasses. Warm-season grasses need an average of 1 inch of water a week. In the fall and winter, this can be as little as .75 inch or as much as 1.5 inches. Rain gauges, soil moisture sensors, and smart irrigation controllers are tools that can help calculate how much water is needed each week depending on any changes in the yard.

Regularly check water conversation updates for the city of Houston and stay informed when under restrictions. According to Houston Public Works, if the area is currently experiencing drought conditions, the following stages of restrictions will take effect depending on the severity of the drought:

Stage One:

• Voluntary 5% water use reduction goal
• Water only between the hours of 7pm and 5am, twice per week or less
• Check for and repair leaks
• Check for and prevent runoff

Stage Two:

• Mandatory 10% water use reduction goal
• Water only between the hours of 7pm and 5am on the designated water day
• Any runoff leaving the property is a violation

Stage Three and Four:

• An outdoor water use is a violation

Grass Types for Houston

The best grass types for Houston are Zoysia and Bermuda. 

Zoysia grass and Bermuda grass are warm-season grasses that do well in hot climates and 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 can provide the proper irrigation technique for healthy growth. These species of grass are tolerant of heavy foot traffic, perfect for the kids and dogs to enjoy while playing outside. Zoysia and Bermuda grasses alike provide a bright green, thick lawn with major curb appeal. 

A third option to consider is Buffalograss, although this species requires a more conservative watering schedule than other warm-season grass types. No shade? No problem! Buffalograss performs well with 6+ hours of direct sunlight, is drought-tolerant, and is native to North America. This grass only needs an average of 1-2 inches of water every 14 days. The low water requirements makes Buffalograss a good choice for those looking to reduce water usage. After a brief weeding period, Buffalograss is low maintenance and suitable for a light green, natural look. 

Water According to Your Soil Type

Naturally, soil in the Houston area is clay soil. The most common type of soils is known as “Houston Black” with high clay content. It is dark, sticky, and holds a high amount of water. Due to the thickness of Houston Black, it is very rich in nutrients but dries slowly. Watering in the early morning twice per week is best because the soil has enough time to absorb water and nutrients, dry out, and become ready for the next watering session.

Lawn Care Season: When to Start Watering and When to Stop Watering in Houston

In a hot, sunny climate such as Houston, the lawn care season differs from other regions in the country. It’s difficult to plant grass seed in the heat of the summer, so starting your annual lawn care routine in the early 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 beating the heat.

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. Watering once per week 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 occasional mowing during the winter reduces the amount of dethatching needed in the springtime.

Conclusion and Takeaway

Creating the best lawn care routine in a hot, sunny climate like Houston can seem complicated when considering all the factors that contribute to a healthy lawn. By following these tips and guidelines based on grass and soil types, maintaining a brag-worthy lawn is simple. With smart Irrigation systems and precision sprinklers, like Irrigreen, achieving your dream lawn is even easier.