When the Rain Stops and the Heat Doesn't
North Texas drought is not a question of if — it's a question of when. Every few years, our region faces extended periods of extreme heat with little to no rainfall. During these stretches, water restrictions tighten, lawns turn brown, and homeowners face tough decisions about how to allocate their limited water resources.
But drought doesn't have to mean a dead lawn. With the right preparation and maintenance practices, your lawn can survive — and even look decent — through the worst North Texas has to offer.
Build Drought Resistance Year-Round
The best time to prepare for drought is before it arrives. These practices build a lawn that's naturally more resilient:
Deep, infrequent watering: Train your lawn's roots to grow deep by watering 1 inch per week in two sessions rather than light daily sprinkles. Deep roots access moisture that surface roots can't reach during dry spells.
Proper mowing height: Taller grass shades the soil and reduces evaporation. During summer, keep Bermuda at 2 to 2.5 inches and St. Augustine at 3 to 3.5 inches. Never scalp your lawn during drought conditions.
Regular fertilization: A well-fed lawn develops a stronger root system that withstands stress better. However, avoid heavy nitrogen applications during active drought — they push top growth that the roots can't support.
Aeration: Annual aeration breaks up compacted soil, allowing water to penetrate deeper instead of running off the surface. This is one of the most effective drought-preparation steps you can take.
When Drought Hits: Survival Mode
Once water restrictions are in place and your lawn is under active drought stress, shift your approach:
Prioritize high-visibility areas: If you can only water limited areas, focus on the front yard and areas visible from the street. Let less-visible areas go dormant — they'll recover when rain returns.
Let Bermuda go dormant: Bermuda grass is remarkably drought-tolerant. It will turn brown and appear dead, but the crowns and roots remain alive. A healthy Bermuda lawn can survive 4-6 weeks without water and recover fully once moisture returns.
Reduce mowing frequency: Drought-stressed grass grows slowly. Reduce mowing to every 10-14 days, or as needed. When you do mow, raise the height slightly and never remove more than one-third of the blade.
Avoid foot traffic: Dormant grass is fragile. Minimize walking on brown, drought-stressed turf to prevent crown damage that could prevent recovery.
Smart Irrigation During Restrictions
Most North Texas water districts implement staged restrictions during drought. Here's how to maximize your allowed watering:
Water between 6 PM and 10 AM to minimize evaporation. Early morning is ideal because the grass dries before evening, reducing disease risk.
Check your sprinkler efficiency: A poorly maintained system can waste 30-50% of the water it distributes. Fix broken heads, adjust spray patterns to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways, and ensure even coverage.
Use the cycle-and-soak method: Instead of running each zone for 20 continuous minutes, run for 7 minutes, let it soak for 30 minutes, then run again. This prevents runoff on our heavy North Texas clay soils.
Consider smart controllers: WiFi-enabled irrigation controllers adjust watering based on weather data, soil moisture, and local restrictions. They can reduce water usage by 20-40% compared to traditional timers.
Drought-Tolerant Grass Options
If you're tired of fighting drought every few years, consider transitioning to a more drought-tolerant grass variety:
Bermuda grass is already the most drought-tolerant common lawn grass in North Texas. If you have St. Augustine and struggle with drought, converting to Bermuda may be worth considering.
Zoysia grass offers excellent drought tolerance with a finer texture than Bermuda. It's slower to establish but very resilient once mature.
Buffalo grass is a native Texas grass that requires minimal water and maintenance. It's not as lush as Bermuda or Zoysia, but it's virtually drought-proof.
How Go Green Electric Helps During Drought
We adjust our service approach during drought conditions. We raise mowing heights, reduce frequency when appropriate, and monitor your lawn's condition weekly. Our crews are trained to spot early signs of drought stress and communicate with you about what they're seeing.
Our electric equipment also helps — it produces zero heat emissions near the turf, unlike gas mowers that radiate engine heat onto already-stressed grass.
Serving Rockwall, Rowlett, Heath, Sunnyvale, Forney, Garland, and Mesquite through every season — including the dry ones.
