
We face a tough dilemma during a hot, dry summer like this in Central Texas. The plants in our lawns and gardens need water to survive and thrive, but we know that water is a limited resource. My budget is a limited resource, too, which keeps my watering habits in check when I reach to turn on the sprinkler! With this dilemma of plant health and water conservation in mind, there are a few things to know about turfgrass to help you manage your lawn through the drought this summer.
In Central Texas, we grow warm-season grasses in our lawns like Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia. These grasses like full sun and can tolerate our hot summers. Each of these grasses have some plant characteristics that help them to survive drought like developing deep root systems, a high tolerance to tissue dehydration, or reduced leaf area. (more…)