Mulch slows water evaporation from the soil, allowing water to infiltrate the soil efficiently, moderates the soil temperature, and breaks down into plant nutrients. You should maintain 2 to 4 inches of mulch in all planted beds. You can also use mulch in containers.
If your irrigation system is not working properly, no matter how much you water, the
landscape suffers, and water is wasted. Check for pipe and valve leaks (indicated by greener aster growing grass), breaks, clogged heads, sprinkler heads not working, misaligned heads, misting versus spraying due to too much pressure, water spraying onto hard surfaces, and runoff into the street.
Besides checking for leaks and other malfunctions, knowing how much water you are applying to your lawn and landscape is important. A catch can test used to determine how long to run an irrigation system or hose-end sprinkler and how well the water is distributed over the landscape. To determine the runtime of your irrigation system:
1. Place 5 to 9 catch cans (tuna or cat food cans work great) in each irrigation zone or station.
2. Run each zone for 3 minutes to determine how much water is applied in each zone by measuring the water in each catch can. (some stations may need to be run for 15 minutes to accumulate a measurable amount of water)
3. To determine the run time (time each station should run), use this example: if there is one/fourth an inch of water in each catch can after running for 3 minutes, apply 1 inch of water and set the run time for 12 minutes (This is an example, your measurements could vary greatly).
4. If the water levels in the catch cans are equal or near equal, your irrigation system works efficiently (distributing water evenly).
5. Test each zone. Water application and distribution can vary by zone.
Adjust the height setting on your mower up one or two notches. Taller grass will create shade, reducing the evaporation of water from the soil and protecting the roots from excessive heat.
Plant growth naturally slows down or remains dormant during a lengthy drought or hot weather. Do not encourage new growth by fertilizing. This only adds more stress to the plant.
Install drip irrigation (many existing irrigation systems can be converted to drip irrigation). Drip irrigation is 90% efficient compared to spray irrigation which is about 65% efficient if designed, installed, and maintained properly. There is now sub-surface drip tubing available for lawn areas. Drip irrigation tubing is available for you to do it yourself or hire a licensed irrigator.
Utilizing native and adaptive drought-tolerant plants reduces the amount of landscape water needed. However, changes should not be made to your landscape during a drought. Could you wait until drought conditions and watering restrictions have been lifted before making any changes? The best time to plant is fall, winter, or early spring. Texas A&M University Horticulture Department also has an Earth Kind website full of information and a plant search database at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/. And do not forget the Texas Superstar® plants at https://texassuperstar.com/.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it with others. 
items