As the wintery weather warms, resist the temptation to wake your still-hibernating lawn too soon.
Recent freezing precipitation provides a timely reminder: winter is the perfect time to let your irrigation slumber. After all, your landscape and your summer lawn grass are snoozing too. And that’s a good thing because we’ve started yet another new year still under Stage 3 watering rules.
While it has rained some, it hasn’t been enough to put an end to the ongoing drought. The Edwards Aquifer level began the year at 629.1 feet — a measure of how deep of a deficit we’ve been in after back-to-back years of record heat and dry weather. For SAWS customers, that means Stage 3 watering rules — and enforcement of them — are still in effect.
The Edwards Aquifer J-17 is the primary index well for the San Antonio pool of the aquifer and is used to monitor the water level. The basis for water planning in Texas has historically been the 1950s drought of record – the worst drought in state history in terms of duration and intensity. The current drought’s impact in San Antonio is here plotted in comparison to the drought of record.
As a reminder, during Stage 3 landscape watering with a sprinkler, irrigation system or soaker hose is allowed only from 5-10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight one day a week, based on the last number of your street address. (Drip irrigation may be used Monday and Friday only during the same hours). You can still hand-water with a hose-end nozzle any time.
SAWS enforcement officers continue to patrol neighborhoods, including gated communities — so always make sure your irrigation system is set to water at the correct time on your day.
Even better, in winter: just turn off your irrigation system and run it manually once a month, and only if it hasn’t rained. Your landscape doesn’t need extra water this time of year anyway. Especially with freezing precipitation in the weekly weather mix.
Visit GardenStyleSA.com for weekly watering advice and landscaping tips to keep your yard thriving — even in the ongoing drought.
