Saving Your Lawn During This Summer's Texas Drought

The experts are predicting at least a few more months of drought for most areas of the country including North Texas. Help your lawn survive the summer drought- even if (or likely when) water restrictions take effect in your area.

7 Tips For Saving Your Lawn in A Summer Drought

1. Water well around foundations (be sure to water at a minimum of ten foot around foundations as some moisture will be absorbed by surrounding vegetation.) Water your foundation at a minimum once per week. Use a Soaker hose for this technique. This releases the water gradually and the ground can absorb more making use of this process.

2. Mulch your flower beds (this will hold moisture for your plants and foundation.) Use at a minimum two inches of mulch (three would be ideal) - Your choices are pine bark , hardwood, or cypress mulch. Which mulch you decide to use is a personal decision due to look & color. We recommend you utilize a shredded mulch since the mulch will pack tighter and hold far more moisture over a longer period of time.

3. Cut the grase often & at an increased height ( this will put less stress on your turf by leaving as much blade on the plant as feasible) The blade provides a canopy that shades the ground, and this slows the ground from losing moisture and drying out. The blade also converts food through photosynthesis and gives your turf its color. Shading the ground aids in reducing the growth of weeds.

4. Water your grass as frequently as you are permitted this spring. There is a real possibility the north Texas water board, for instance, will implement stage 4 watering restrictions by April 1, 2012. The better your lawn is heading into the summer months the more likely it will survive the drought.

5. Apply surfactants to the yard and plants to reduce moisture lost in the ground. This application will, in most cases, help retain the water for up to three months. Retaining water in turf areas could be the very item that helps save your lawn & trees and shrubs during the summer months. It also has additional value in providing additional water to your house's foundation.

6. Deep root fertilize trees and shrubs in the early spring and utilize a deep root feeder to water trees and shrubs during the spring season. (This will also reduce moisture lost because you are injecting the water directly into the soil.) Watering the landscaping should be done as frequently as you are permitted. Recall the feeder roots on landscaping are not at the base of the tree or shrub. They are 1/3 the distance in from the drip line and one third the distance out from the drip line.

7. Use slow release fertilizers to limit rapid surge growth on the grass regions. This also limits the water requirements for grass. Using low cost fertilizers that are all water soluble nitrogen will encourage a surge in growth and require larger amounts of water and will also increase the frequency of the mowing cycle.

The experts are predicting at least 9 more months of drought for North Texas. Granulawn can help your lawn survive the Texas summer drought- even if (or likely when) water restrictions take effect.

Introducing Aquatrol:

What is Aquatrol?

Aquatrol is a surfactant that stimulates the ground to absorb up to 30% more water. Aquatrol is effective regardless of turf type, environmental or climate stress conditions. This helps your soil retain moisture longer and results in a water bill reduction of up to 20%. This could be just the treatment you need to help your lawn survive our continued drought and restricted watering conditions for this 2012 season.

How does this help my lawn?

Care and save your lawn during the Texas summer droughtThis product helps to hold moisture in your turf/ flower bed area's to reduce and eliminate dry spots and hold more moisture in the soil and bed area's around your foundation.

How long does it last and when should I do it?

This application is effective for up to 90 days. We recommend, and will begin this treatment in March of 2012. Making this application in March will ensure you have time to water in the product before Stage 4 watering restrictions begin in the month of April, therefore maximizing the effectiveness of this product. A second application is recommended after 90 days at only 1/2 the application rate to extend the product's life another 60 days.

What is the cost of Granulawn's Aquatrol Program and is it cost effective?

The cost of the first Aquatrol application for up to a 5,000 sqft lawn is only $99 plus tax. The follow up application, since applied at a half rate will only cost $59 plus tax. The average cost of replacing a 5,000 square foot lawn is $2,500 for a Bermuda-tiff lawn and $3,000 for a St. Augustine lawn. These estimated replacement prices are extremely low and will vary depending on price and availability of sod. This estimate also does not include the cost of the additional watering required the first three weeks to establish the lawn. For program pricing on lawn's over 5,000 sqft, please call the office at (972) 418-0037.

What exactly does this program include?

First, we spray Aquatrol on your entire lawn (including your flower beds). Next we apply Aquatrol granular and around your foundation up to 5 feet out. This will boost the rate of absorption in these soil areas.