How to Maintain Your Lawn During Water Restrictions: A Homeowner's Guide

Facing water restrictions doesn't mean your lawn is doomed. With proper strategies, you can keep your grass healthy and avoid penalties. Water restrictions, rules limiting irrigation to conserve water, are increasingly common due to drought or infrastructure issues. Key takeaways include allowing grass to enter a dormant state, deep but infrequent watering when permitted, and adopting lawn care practices that reduce water needs. This guide explains the rules and provides actionable steps to protect your landscape investment.

What Are Common Lawn Watering Restrictions?

Water restrictions are typically enacted by local governments or Homeowners Associations (HOAs), which are organizations that manage community rules and amenities. These rules can be more specific and stringent than city ordinances. According to industry experts, restrictions often dictate:

• Irrigation Frequency: How many days per week you can water.
• Time-of-Day Watering: Specific hours, often early morning or late evening, to reduce evaporation.
• Type of Landscaping: Sometimes prohibiting watering for ornamental turf. During severe droughts, a complete ban on watering may be enforced. Penalties for non-compliance escalate and can include fines, liens on your property, and even the installation of a flow restrictor, a device that limits water volume to your home.

How Long Can Your Lawn Survive Without Water?

Understanding your grass's limits is crucial for making informed decisions. On average, most grasses can survive three to four weeks without water, turning brown as they enter a dormant state to conserve energy.

• Warm-season grasses (like Bermuda or Zoysia) can last up to six weeks, with some varieties surviving 90 days.
• Cool-season grasses may persist for about eight weeks. Based on our experience assessment, exact longevity depends on soil type, temperature, and the lawn's health before the drought. However, grass begins to stress after approximately one week without water. Permanent thinning or die-off can occur if the drought persists too long.

Is Brown Grass Dead or Just Dormant?

Before taking drastic measures, determine if your grass is dead or dormant. Dormant grass is a survival state where growth halts and blades turn brown, but the crown and roots remain alive. You can perform a simple test: examine the base of the grass blades. A hint of green indicates the grass is dormant and will likely recover with the return of regular irrigation. Alternatively, gently tug on the grass; dead grass pulls up easily from the soil, while dormant grass will resist. If the grass is truly dead, the solution is reseeding and sodding, which are processes for establishing new grass from seed or pre-grown turf. Before replanting, conduct a soil test and consider switching to a more drought-tolerant grass variety.

What Are the Best Lawn Care Practices During a Drought?

When watering is limited, your lawn care routine should focus on moisture retention and root health.

• Mow Higher: Set your mower blade to leave grass longer. Longer blades shade the soil, slowing evaporation and helping retain moisture. Reduce mowing frequency to minimize stress on the grass.
• Water Deeply and Infrequently: When you are allowed to water, do so thoroughly. This encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil, where moisture lasts longer, instead of staying shallow.
• Avoid Fertilizer: Fertilizer stimulates growth that the root system cannot support without adequate water, potentially causing more harm than good.
• Aerate the Lawn: Using a garden fork or aerator, a tool that creates holes in the soil, improves water infiltration and allows roots to access deeper moisture.
• Use Grass Clippings as Mulch: Leaving mulched clippings on the lawn after mowing helps lock in soil moisture and adds nutrients naturally.

To protect your lawn during water restrictions, focus on practices that promote deep root growth and moisture retention. Adjust your mowing habits, water deeply when possible, and avoid fertilizing. If your grass turns brown, check for signs of life before assuming it's dead, as dormancy is a natural survival mechanism.