The rainfall over the last couple weeks has been a blessing in Central Texas after a dry fall and winter.  According to the national drought monitor, 72.19% of Williamson County is abnormally dry right now.  In abnormally dry conditions, producers begin supplemental feeding for livestock, planting is postponed, forage germination is stunted, hay cutting is reduced, and grass fires increase.

I usually like to write about happier topics than drought, but I am concerned about the long-term forecast for a dry summer. Not everyone is a farmer and needs rain to make a crop, but we all use water in our homes and landscapes.  We can all take steps to conserve water.

During the springtime, we typically do not need to water our grass.  You can usually wait to begin watering until June when we do not have much rain and temperatures get hot.  Even then, be sure to run your irrigation system only when your lawn needs water.

The Soil and Crops Sciences Department at Texas A&M University has developed a great Water-Wise checklist for Texas home lawns and turfgrass areas.

• Mow at the upper end of the appropriate mowing height for your grass species. Taller grass means your grass will develop a deeper root system that allows the grass to access water deeper in the soil.  You can find the mowing height for your grass species at http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/.
• Follow the 1/3 rule. Mow frequently enough that you never remove more than 1/3 of the total grass.  Cutting off too much of the grass will stress your grass.  Stressed grass is less tolerant to heat and drought and more vulnerable to pests and diseases.
• Water deeply and infrequently. Try to water to a depth of approximately six inches each time you water.  This means the water should penetrate six inches in the soil.  Watering deeply encourages deeper, denser root growth.
• Wait to water until visual wilt occurs, and water late at night or early in the morning. Watering during the cool hours of early morning or late evening will reduce losses from evaporation and improve water-use efficiency.
• Monitor your irrigation equipment. Broken heads or pipes can waste water and create dry spots in your lawn.  Replace broken heads and consider an irrigation audit by a licensed irrigator.
• Take advantage of rain. We have been blessed with rain, so save water by turning off your irrigation system until the lawn needs to be watered again.

For more information about lawncare or water use, contact Kate Whitney, Williamson County Extension Agent for Horticulture, at 512-943-3300.