Watering during Drought

Periods of drought are naturally expected in Texas as a part of our climate.  Lack of water is stressful for plants, animals, and people.  Fortunately, gardeners and homeowners can help lesson the impact that drought has upon their landscapes by learning how to water wisely, mow smartly, and conserve moisture in the soil.

Watering wisely is to water early in the morning when you get the most out of the water you are applying.  This promotes deep extensive root systems by water deeply which is about 1 inch of water.  This soaks the soil to a depth of 6 to 12 inches which is enough for established grass, perennials, shrubs, and trees.

Extend the number of days or weeks between water applications to the longest possible interval.  Grass blades, perennials and annuals will curl and wilt showing signs that it is time for another deep watering.  Trees and shrubs may simply drop leaves to show their need for water.

Mow smartly by mowing less frequently and raising the height of your mower.  These adjustments will reduce the water loss from the leaves of the grass and will also help it to develop deeper root systems.  The grass will be able to become more drought tolerant and to make the most out of the water you apply.  One more tip is to keep your mower blade sharp for less plant stress.

Conserve moisture in the soil by keeping 2 to 3 inches of mulch on all flower beds, shrubs, and trees.  Applying mulch is a way to prepare your garden to successfully handle the stress of drought.  Mulching will reduce the amount of water you have to apply, moderate soil temperature, and protect the root systems of plants.  A bonus is that mulching helps to control weeds.

Finally, don’t fertilize during drought, because it increases the need for water in your landscape.  Learning how to adapt your landscape successfully to drought conditions will protect your plants, save money on water utilities, and help maintain an attractive yard. 

Rockwall Master Gardeners

Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. More importantly they volunteer to share that information with you. They do that in conjunction with the Texas Cooperative Extension.

What really sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture. In exchange for their training, persons who become Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through their cooperative Extension office to provide horticultural-related information to their communities.

Our website is here to provide help for your gardening and horticulture projects. We have a common questions and answer page to get you started or where you can email a Master Gardener directly. We also have high quality links to websites devoted to Texas plants, problems and pests.

We also like to showcase the community projects we have done and tell you about the projects we hope to do. If it all seems interesting see our page on How to Become a Texas Master Gardener.

The website is an ongoing project which is always under construction and may never be finished. Check back every so often and we're sure there will be even more for you to view

 

The Bee Hive Question & Answer Ask a Texas Master Gardener!