Monthly Tips

July in a Central Texas Landscape: Don't Let the Heat Win

  Well now...July has officially arrived in Central Texas. The sun has settled in like an uninvited cousin at a family barbecue, the grass is starting to squint, and if you can walk barefoot across your driveway, you probably ought to buy a lottery ticket.

  Every year folks ask the same question:

"Should I be watering more?"

The answer is, water smarter—not necessarily more.

Your Lawn Doesn't Need a Sip. It Needs a Good Drink.

Think of your lawn like a cowboy after working cattle all day. He doesn't want someone handing him a teaspoon of water every hour. He wants a tall glass and enough time to enjoy it.

Your lawn is the same way.

Water deeply so moisture reaches **6–8 inches into the soil.** That encourages roots to chase the water downward, making your grass much tougher when August decides to show everyone who's boss.

  A good rule of thumb is:

* Water no more than twice a per week if rainfall doesn't do the job.

* Aim for about 1 inch of water per week between rain and irrigation.

* Water before 6:00 a.m.  After that, you're mostly watering the atmosphere and helping the sun make steam.

 Watch for the Warning Signs

Not every brown blade means your lawn is waving the white flag.

  Grass that's simply drought stressed often:

* Takes on a bluish-gray color.

* Leaves footprints that stay visible after you walk across it.

* Begins curling its blades to conserve moisture.

If you see those signs, it's time to water.

If the grass is crispy brown and doesn't recover after watering, there may be another issue worth investigating.

Raise That Mower

One of the best things you can do costs absolutely nothing.

Raise your mower.

Longer grass shades the soil, keeps roots cooler, and helps hold precious moisture.

Scalping your lawn in July is about like shaving a sheep in the middle of a Texas heat wave. Nobody comes out ahead.

And better yet, lets start getting rid of the lawn.

 Now's the Time to Plan

While you're trying to stay cool, your landscape is quietly teaching you something.

Walk around your yard and notice:

* Where the afternoon sun is absolutely brutal.

* Which plants look like they're on vacation and which ones look like they're writing goodbye letters.

* Areas where water runs off instead of soaking in.

* Spots that seem to need watering every other day just to survive.

These are clues for your future landscape plans.

Maybe that thirsty patch of turf would make a beautiful native planting bed.

Maybe that scorching west side is begging for a shade tree.

Maybe it's time to add a dry creek bed, larger mulch areas, or colorful Texas natives that laugh at July instead of crying through it.

The hottest month of the year often gives us the best blueprint for improving our landscapes.

 Think Long-Term, Not Just This Weekend

A well-designed Central Texas landscape shouldn't fight Mother Nature—it ought to work with her.

Native and adapted plants can provide months of color while using far less water than traditional landscapes. Add quality mulch, improve your soil, group plants with similar water needs, and you'll spend less time dragging hoses around and more time enjoying your yard.

Because let's be honest...

There's a whole lot better way to spend a July evening than arguing with a sprinkler.

If you're wondering what your landscape could become, stop by Grizzly's Hidden Falls Nursery & Landscaping.  We'll help you choose plants that thrive in Central Texas, save water, attract pollinators, and make your yard look like it belongs here—not like it's trying to survive here.

Y'all stay cool, keep those sprinklers honest, and remember...

In Texas, we don't measure summer by the calendar—we measure it by how fast the steering wheel brands your hand.