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WATERING YOUR LAWN
Water As Needed: In the hot months of summer you will want to water about every 2-3 days; in the cooler spring and fall months you may water only once every 5-7 days. In winter months, when your grass is dormant, you will still want to water about half an inch every other week to keep the roots healthy and prevent your ground from cracking.>
Water Distribution: To promote deep root growth and a healthier lawn, it is best to water to the point of saturation (usually about one inch.) Shallow watering is a potential threat to your grass. Attempt to perform your watering in the morning, preferably around dawn. Watering in the afternoon will often result in the evaporation of water, instead of ingestion into the root system. Watering in the evening leaves your ground moist overnight, and is therefore subject to disease and fungus.
Watering Management: It is easy to measure the amount of water you are dispersing, even if you don't have a gauge. All you need is an empty tuna can. Simply place it in your lawn, turn on your sprinklers, and record the time required to fill the can to one inch. This is the amount of time you want to water your lawn.
For better saturation, especially with the density of the rich North Texas clay soil, you may need to water in two or three settings. i.e.: If it takes 30 minutes for your sprinklers to put out one inch of water you could set your sprinklers to go off for ten minutes at 4:00 AM, then another ten minutes at 6:00 AM, and then a final ten minutes at 8:00 AM.
LAWN FERTILIZATION
Four annual fertilizations are recommended: late March, late May, mid-to-late July, and
mid-September.
Source: Neil Sperry’s Complete Guide to Texas Gardening, 1982, Taylor Publishing, Dallas.
MULCHING
Mulch preserves moisture, eliminates weeds and keeps the soil surface cooler which benefits earthworms, microorganisms and plant roots. The best mulch in the world is shredded native tree trimmings from local trees. Shredded hardwood bark is the second best mulch, partially completed compost is next. Pine bark is the worst choice. It breaks down into a mucky material, if it stays in place - a rarity; it usually washes and blows out. Nature doesn't allow bare soil and neither should we. 2-4 inches of mulch is recommended in all bed / bold earth areas.
LAWN SCALPING
Should you have your lawn scalped in the spring? Serious lawn care professionals no longer recommend this practice. The antiquated procedure of scalping, bagging the clipping, placing them at the curb to be taken to the landfill is a waste of time, a waste of money and poor horticulture on any home yard. Scalping also removes valuable organic matter, which is the best fertilizer of all. As an alternative, we recommend your first mowing be done at its regular height and bagging as a winter clean up. This removes the top layer of dead winter debris while leaving lower level organic material. We then mow with a mulching mower for the remainder of the season (not bagging it).
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