How to Keep Your Plano, TX Lawn Green and Healthy During Droughts

When drought hits Plano, TX, keeping a lush, healthy lawn becomes a real challenge. But with the right strategies, you can protect your turf, conserve water, and maintain curb appeal—even when nature isn't cooperating. In this guide, we'll walk you through proven tips and techniques tailored to North Texas conditions, shared by the team at Efficient Irrigation Systems (EIS).

1. Understand the Local Climate & Soil in Plano

Before diving into tactics, it helps to know what you're up against:

• Hot summers, sporadic rainfall: Plano's weather often brings long, hot, dry spells interspersed with heavy downpours. Your lawn must be drought-resilient.
• Clay / compacted soils: Many subdivisions here have clay or dense soils, which resist absorption and promote runoff.
• Native turf grasses: Varieties like Bermuda, Zoysia, and Buffalo grass are more drought-tolerant. Knowing your grass type helps tailor your care.

Because of these conditions, your irrigation and drainage systems must work smart—not just harder.

2. Irrigation Best Practices: Efficiency Over Volume

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is watering too often or too little. Here's how to do it right:

a) Water deeply but infrequently

• Aim for 0.5 to 1 inch of water per session, rather than small amounts daily. Deep watering encourages roots to grow deeper, which helps the lawn survive drought stress.
• Use a rain gauge or even upside-down tuna cans to measure.

b) Water early morning only

• Between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. is ideal. Less water evaporates and the turf is hydrated before heat builds.
• Avoid watering in midday (too much loss to heat) or evening (too much moisture overnight leads to disease).

c) Use a smart controller or weather sensor

• Modern irrigation controllers adjust based on rainfall, temperature, and soil moisture. This helps avoid overwatering during wet spells and under-watering during dry ones.
• At EIS, we install controllers (e.g. Hunter, Rain Bird) with weather-based adjustment.

d) Zone your system appropriately

• Group zones by plant type, sun vs shade, and soil type. Don't water flowerbeds and turf the same.
• Each zone should run long enough to soak but not flood surfaces.

e) Check for leaks and inefficiencies

• Broken heads, cracked pipes, misaligned nozzles—all waste water.
• Once or twice a year, inspect your system, especially after winter freeze or heavy rains.

3. Adjust Your Mowing, Fertilizing & Aeration Regimen

Even with perfect irrigation, your lawn still needs smart cultural practices:

• Raise your mowing height: During drought, keep grass blades longer (e.g. 3-4 inches). Longer blades shade soil, slow evaporation, and root more deeply.
• Sharpen mower blades: Clean cuts heal faster, reducing stress.
• Avoid heavy fertilizing: During dry spells, too much nitrogen pushes growth unsustainable for roots. Use slow-release fertilizers during growing season only.
• Core aeration helps: Aerate in late spring or early fall to break up compaction, allowing water to penetrate clay soils.
• Overseeding with drought-tolerant grasses: In thin areas, use mixes suited for Texas heat (e.g. Bermuda, Zoysia).

4. Manage Drainage and Grading to Prevent Water Stress

Everything above is only as good as your land's ability to handle water—too much or too little:

• Surface grading: The lawn must slope away from your home to avoid foundation seepage and puddling.
• French drains / channel drains: For low spots or heavy rainfall zones, these help divert excess water safely.
• Sump pumps and catch basins: Useful in problematic zones; they prevent water from pooling and creating soggy soil conditions.
• Mulch and organic amendments: In garden beds, use mulch to slow evaporation and retain moisture.

At EIS, we design and install french drainage systems (French drains, channel drains) that integrate with your irrigation footprint.

5. Use Water-Conserving Techniques & Upgrades

During drought, even good watering must stretch further. Here are advanced techniques that set you apart:

• Drip irrigation for shrubs and beds: Less waste than spray; delivers water directly to roots.
• Soil wetting agents / surfactants: Break up water-repellent soil, improving infiltration.
• Rain barrels or rain harvesting: Capture roof runoff for supplemental use.
• Smart sprinklers & moisture sensors: Shut down zones if recent rainfall is sufficient.
• Mulching and ground covers: Reduce exposed soil and evaporation.

These are precisely the kinds of upgrades we install in Collin & Grayson County.

6. Monitor, Adjust & Stay Proactive

A drought-resilient lawn is never "set and forget." Here's how to stay ahead:

• Regular soil moisture checks: Use a soil probe or simple screwdriver. If it doesn't penetrate deeply, you're underwatering.
• Visual observations: Grass that turns bluish-gray or thatch matting suggests drought stress.
• Seasonal system tweaks: Adjust your watering schedule 2-3 times per summer as conditions change.
• Routine maintenance schedule: Quarterly or seasonal inspections help catch issues early.

7. When to Call the Pros (Hint: Sooner Than You Think)

If you see pooling, soggy spots, brown patches that don't recover, or system malfunctions—call a pro.

At Efficient Irrigation Systems (EIS), we do:

• Full system audits
• Repairs to heads, valves, pipe leaks
• Upgrades: smart controllers, sensors
• Drainage installation: French drains, channel drains, sump pumps
• Landscape lighting integration for aesthetics & function

Our goal: reduce water waste, boost plant health, and keep your lawn in top shape, drought or not.

Keeping your Plano (or nearby Collin / Grayson County) lawn green during drought isn't magic—it's the right strategy: deep watering, correct mowing, smart drainage, water-saving upgrades, and periodic checkups.

If you'd like a professional assessment, system tune-up, or drought-proof upgrade, call Efficient Irrigation Systems today.

Let us help your lawn not just survive drought—but thrive through it.

 

Published 10/09/25