MYTH: Grass clippings are ugly, and they’re bad for the lawn. Photo: groveb /Getty Images 3 of 4 Mowing often in the winter reduces weeds, or least turns them into a winter lawn. In 2012, the city recommended: -- No … Overseeding with Annual or Perennial Ryegrass in the winter is NOT recommended due to unhealthy competition with the warm season grasses in the spring. Protect Tree Trunks from Damage from Deer. Chemical pre-emergents such as the product “Amaze”, or organic products such as Corn Gluten may be used. Over the course of the fall, you should continue to water your Bermuda grass less frequently. Night or early in the morning are the most effective times to water… Others tend to leave the water running too long, resulting in wasted water. We are so sure that you will like our services and prices, that we will offer you … fall Watering Lawn. If you live in an area that consistently gets snow over the winter seasons then you can stop watering around the end of September or October because at that time your lawn is going into dormancy. This supplement will both fertilize and build healthy soil. … A lawn that is properly watered can compete aggressively with weeds and avoid stress that contributes to lawn diseases. Your grass will love you for it. During a “drought year”, water periodically during the winter- grass roots are still alive and require moisture. If your … Next, dig down in the soil to see to what depth the water reached. If you cut your lawn severely last fall or mow it in winter so that top growth is very short, it will dry out faster. It’s usually warm in Texas well into September and October. She holds a B.S. Early morning is the best time to water your lawn, as that’s when you’re least likely to lose water to evaporation, according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Watering properly is much more an art than a science. In winter, add as much as ? Tips to Follow While Watering Your Lawn … Use pump-type sprayer and be careful of drift-choose a day to spray when the air is still. After the ground freezes, it would be pointless to water grass because the frozen ground would act as a barrier, … Your answers will give you the amount of water needed to wet the soil to a certain depth in half an hour. When you start watering your lawn is integral to lawn maintenance and health. Take the hassle out of lawn maintenance in the Northeast with this helpful seasonal schedule on caring for your lawn. Think of green grass clippings as free … … OCTOBER:  Apply pre-emergent herbicide to prevent cool season weed seeds from germinating. Plug aerators work much better than the spike shoes and are worth every penny in the long run. Once November arrives, water the lawn only once per month. Watering infrequently and deeply is the key to a healthy Texas lawn. However, too much water can cause just as much damage as not enough water. This is the point at which irrigation should be timed. -Water once a week in fall. About half the water used at home is used outside, and most of that is for watering lawns. THEY ARE BROADLEAF WEED KILLERS AND CAN HARM THE TREE AND SHRUB ROOTS GROWING IN YOUR LAWN. Watering in the morning (before 10 a.m.) is the best time for … To reduce stress on your turf (and all your other plants, too) spray 2-4 times per month with liquid seaweed. Most of the time we don’t need to water in winter, … APRIL: Apply fertilizer to lawns after the second or third mowing (of the Lawn, not the weeds!) Another great way to get some organic material into your soil is to top dress with fine compost. Organic forms of nitrogen are “water insoluble”. You don’t want to choke out the grass we are trying to save. If your soil builds up above your sidewalk, it is easy to cut your lawn too short and open up to weeds and stress. Once you have created a little space in your soil, adding much needed air to the root system, top dress with compost (spread it thinly over your yard). SEPT./OCT: Apply fertilizer to lawns to aid in root health for the winter. You will have the best looking landscape on the block all summer long. The following are extremely general guidelines for watering your lawn through the different seasons: -Water once a week in spring. Run the irrigation for the length of time you are used to running it. If picky relatives coming, okay to prune, Avoid pruning shrubs right now unless you see damage, Do not prune oak trees unless you have damage: paint wound immediately, Okay to prune trees other than red oaks and live oaks, Shrubs, roses, trees, evergreen spring-blooming perennials while dormant, Asters and other fall-bloomers which are dormant, Select spots where you want fruit trees, grapes, or berries to plant in January; for now, prep with compost, Mulch cold tender plants like gingers, Esperanza and semi-tropicals. It's no wonder why, as Mary Kay has 47 years of experience in the horticulture field. As you might suspect, the most important thing you can do for your lawn during the hottest times of the year is to water. Last, but not least, try to observe your irrigation system while it is running—the reason for that brown grass may become obvious! The following Texas lawn care tips can help you keep your grass in good shape all summer long. Fortunately, you can keep your yard looking great all year round if you know these basics for watering grass in Texas: Texas lawns thrive when they are watered properly and at the correct time of day of 4 am. Knowing how to pick the right grass that is suited to your climate and knowing the best times to aerate, mow, and water can help you attain a good-looking, easy-to-maintain lawn. Determining frequency of watering is the next step in maintaining a healthy lawn. Remember to raise the mower height in the heat of the summer. While your lawn is preparing now for a winter sleep, the care you give before and during its dormancy is important. “The worst time to water … Continue doing this until the … While reducing irrigation is an essential part of caring for autumn lawns, don’t stop watering abruptly. This stress point is seen in St. Augustine grass as the leaves “folding”, … If 30 minutes yields 3 inches of wet soil … DO NOT APPLY POST-EMERGENT WEED AND FEED PRODUCTS TO YOUR LAWN. inch to the entire lawn. Understanding the water needs of our lawns will ensure greater success with maintaining a healthy lawn. Organic forms of Nitrogen are better            to use in drought conditions, as it provides a slow release of nitrogen. This technique helps plants grow longer, tougher roots that will allow them to access water … Look at the clock and water until the cups are 1 ?” full, then stop. The leaves will shade the soil and conserve moisture. Look at the clock again. Check the amounts of water collected in the cans and calculate the average amount. To demonstrate the beauty and value of the Blackland Prairie, University of Texas at Austin students are seeding the future at the Half-Pint | watch episode →, Half-Pint Urban Prairie + Native Fruit Tress, http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/home-landscape/edible-gardens/growing-vegetables/, Winter annuals, including calendula, snapdragon, pansy, viola, dusty miller, ornamental kale and cabbage, alyssum, stock, cyclamen, dusty miller, flowering kale and cabbage, Avoid planting cold tender plants like Pride of Barbardos, Esperanza, lantana, plumbago, Cilantro transplants, parsley, dill, fennel , chervil, summer savory, borage, rue, chives, Be prepared to cover in case of deep freeze, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides (Central Texas), Prune freeze damaged plants or not? Imagine how you would feel if you were stuck out in the yard all day in August. (annual bluegrass, dandelion, henbit, common chickweed, thistles, etc.) Some lawns tested have even shown toxic levels of phosphorus! When to Stop Watering Plants in Fall. In most Texas lawns, watering between a half-inch to a full inch of water … Rake it in and water it well. NOTE: This is NOT the time to fertilize! Keep that row cover ready! Deeply water new plants; keep new seedlings moist but not drenched. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers as they may contribute to disease problems such as take-all patch. If you are dealing with established turf that is looking a little worse for wear, rent an aerator. … If you have more questions about watering your lawn in North Texas, or you need any other assistance with lawn, yard, and garden care, you can get some great advice and service from our Ryno Lawn Care, LLC lawn experts by calling 214-728-8894. Base analysis on soil tests performed every few years. Turf … SEEDING:  Warm season lawn grasses such as Common Bermuda and Buffalo Grass should be seeded from approx. Normally, this should create enough reserve moisture in the soil that you will not need to water again for two to four days depending upon rainfall amounts if any. Too much of water brings a saturation state for the roots and leads to the root damage. FEB./MARCH:  Apply selective post-emergent herbicide to kill existing weeds in lawns while the lawns are still dormant. Most lawns are most limited in Nitrogen, as it is not “bound” by clay particles in the soil. Start watering your lawn … Remember to check your soil height compared to your walks and foundation. REMEMBER, TREE ROOTS CAN GROW 1-1 1/2 TIMES THE HEIGHT OF THE TREE OUT FROM THE TRUNK! This stress point is seen in St. Augustine grass as the leaves “folding”, and in Bermuda and Zoysia grasses as when a footprint does not “bounce” back. Soil temperature must be warm enough for the seed to germinate in the spring, and the lawn should have time to establish before cold weather in the fall. Use a Water “Yardstick.” An easy way to measure how much water is going on your grass is to place … Even in winter, it’s best to leave our grass tall. That is just what is happening to your lawn. This is one of the few treatments you can put in a hose end sprayer and just go crazy with. Many homeowners irrigate too often and for too short a period to meet lawn and especially landscaping (tree and shrub) needs. Spread at about 1/8″, twice per year. THIS MEANS THAT EVEN YOUR NEIGHBOR’S YARD MAY CONTAIN ROOTS FROM YOUR TREES! Remember to take rain into account. When watering turfgrasses, wet the soil to a three to four-inch depth. Don’t assume anything-get it tested! Watering Your Grass in Fall. Sloped yards may need this amount applied in two time periods, an hour or so apart, in order to slow down run-off on the slope. Raking, fertilizing, pruning, and mulching are just a few of the things you … A soil test every three years or so is recommended. As conditions can vary across the country, follow these general rules for when to stop watering plants in fall weather: Continue to provide supplemental moisture as needed until the ground is frozen. Horticulturist Karen Beaty from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plucks a few for big and small gardens to feed us, the birds, and beneficial pollinators. In spring or fall, 1/8 inch is plenty. Some people may stop watering on the day it rains, but if there has been significant rain it may be enough to stop watering for several days. To calculate the length of time to run irrigation, collect several empty tuna fish cans or cat food cans and set them randomly around the yard. If your lawn is receiving at least one inch of water per week during the autumn months, then you do not have to water it. Watering will change according to seasons and environment. It's not a good idea to abruptly stop watering if you want your lawn to come back strong in the spring. You should not completely stop watering your lawn in the fall until the ground freezes. Son Steve Bartholomew from the Square Foot Gardening Foundation explains why his dad developed the concept, easy steps to make one, and how its global impact conquers hunger. It is best to water a lawn … You need to stay minimal irrigation going all winter long unless your … Frisco has been making irrigation recommendations for three years based on a system tested by the Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service. Organic nitrogen requires microorganisms in the soil to break it down to a usable form for plants, and is not subject to leaching. The wet soil will pierce easily; stop when you hit the resistance of the dry soil. Your lawn will be better able to withstand the stress of water rationing, and your water bills will reflect this “water-wise” approach to irrigation. 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