How to Keep Your Lawn Green During Drought Conditions

Texas summers can be brutal on your lawn. With long stretches of heat and little rainfall, it’s easy for grass to dry out, turn brown, and go dormant. But with the right care and strategy, it’s possible to maintain a healthy, green lawn—even during drought conditions.

At Anointed Lawn Care, we specialize in helping homeowners protect their lawns through advanced moisture management, soil conditioning, and watering efficiency techniques.

Here’s how to help your lawn thrive when water is limited.

1. Understand What Drought Does to Your Lawn

When grass doesn’t get enough water, it goes into survival mode. The blades may brown, but the roots remain alive. However, prolonged drought without proper care can cause permanent damage.

Maintaining your lawn’s health during drought is about more than watering—it’s about strengthening the root system and improving the soil’s ability to retain moisture.

2. Water Deeply, Not Frequently

One of the biggest drought mistakes homeowners make is watering too often but too shallowly. Shallow watering encourages weak roots that can’t access deeper moisture.

The fix:

• Water 1 inch once or twice per week instead of small daily amounts.
• Water early in the morning (before 9 AM) to minimize evaporation.
• Use a rain gauge or moisture sensor to track water levels accurately.

Deep watering helps roots grow downward, building drought resistance naturally.

3. Use Professional Moisture Management Treatments

Anointed Lawn Care’s Moisture Management Service uses LESCO® Moisture Manager, a premium soil treatment that helps your lawn retain water longer.

It works by:

• Reducing water loss through evaporation
• Helping soil absorb and hold water more efficiently
• Supporting stronger seed germination and root growth

This means you can use less water while keeping your grass hydrated and healthy—even during watering restrictions.

4. Mow at the Right Height

Cutting your grass too short during drought can cause even more stress. Taller grass shades the soil, reducing evaporation and keeping roots cooler.

The fix:

• Raise your mower blade to about 3–4 inches.
• Keep mower blades sharp to avoid tearing grass.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn as a natural mulch layer.

A slightly higher cut helps protect your lawn from heat damage.

5. Aerate to Improve Water Absorption

When soil becomes compacted, water can’t reach the roots where it’s needed most. Core aeration relieves compaction and improves moisture penetration.

By removing small plugs of soil, aeration allows air, water, and nutrients to travel freely—helping your lawn absorb every drop of available water more effectively.

6. Use Soil Conditioners and Amendments

Healthy soil holds moisture longer. Anointed Lawn Care’s soil conditioning treatments improve structure, pH balance, and nutrient levels so your grass can thrive even in dry conditions.

These amendments boost water retention and strengthen roots to handle heat stress better.

7. Avoid Fertilizing During Extreme Heat

While fertilization is essential, applying it during a drought can do more harm than good. Fertilizers stimulate growth, which increases your lawn’s water needs.

The fix: Wait until temperatures moderate or rainfall resumes before applying fertilizer. During dry spells, focus on soil conditioning and moisture management instead.

8. Manage Weeds Carefully

Weeds compete with your grass for precious water and nutrients. During a drought, this competition intensifies.

Professional pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control from Anointed Lawn Care ensures your grass doesn’t have to fight for limited resources.

9. Minimize Foot Traffic

Dry grass is fragile and easily damaged. Try to limit activity on your lawn until conditions improve. This helps avoid soil compaction and prevents additional stress on your grass.

If you have pets or children, create a designated area to reduce damage across the entire lawn.

10. Be Patient—Recovery Takes Time

Even with proper care, your lawn may not stay bright green all season. Some grasses naturally enter dormancy to survive drought, but they will recover when conditions improve.

By protecting the root system and maintaining healthy soil, you’re ensuring a faster, fuller comeback once the rain returns.

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