Hope for a healthy lawn

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Sean Bush’s lawn hardly looks like it could be in located here in Texas.

It’s a lush green color and filled with colorful plants and shrubs-practically an oasis surrounded by yards that have fallen victim to this seemingly-endless heat wave.

But, as the General Manager for the Central Texas division of TruGreen, having a pristine lawn is almost part of Bush’s job description

The strict water restrictions may have caused you to give up on the idea of having that picture-perfect front yard this summer—leaving you to wonder how does he do it?

Would you be surprised that part of his secret is only watering twice a week?

Bush says that the key to a healthy lawn isn’t how often you water it, but the technique you use.

Think quality not quantity.

He uses a technique called “deep, infrequent watering.”

And says it’s the key to a healthy looking lawn.

The idea is to give your lawn a lot of water each time you water it (without overdoing it) but to space out the frequency of those times as far as possible.

This way, you help to deepen the root system, which is essential for that healthy, lush lawn.

To keep his own lawn looking like a picture in home and garden magazine, Bush sticks to a specific watering schedule.

First, he divides his lawn in to zones.

Then, on Wednesdays and Saturdays he waters each of the zones for an hour minimum.

“What that allows it do to is for the water to penetrate deeply into the soil's surface,” said Bush.

Then, throughout the week he hand waters the grass along the sidewalk and driveway, since those are the areas that tend to get really dry.

It may seem like he’s using a lot of water but Bush says the technique doesn’t actually require an excessive amount of water.

“It doesn't have to be overdone. I believe in properly conserving the moisture for Lake Travis and all the initiatives we have on for water conservation,” said Bush. To do that, TruGreen is working to teach people how to properly water their lawns while also following the current water restrictions.

If you want a lawn like his, it will take some effort. Bush says it’s something you have to enjoy if you are serious about having a healthy looking lawn. But if you do it right, it doesn’t have to take up too much extra time—or “cost and arm and a leg,” said Bush. “You can have your cake and eat it too.” 

Tips and tricks to getting your dream lawn:

Deep and Infrequent watering: Again, it’s the single most important thing you can do to get a healthy looking lawn.

DON’T nip it in the bud: Refrain giving your yard a crew cut; instead, mow nice and tall. The length of the grass blades directly correlates to the depth of the root system. And deep roots are what draws in moisture and keeps your lawn healthy and looking it’s best. Leaving some length also helps to shelter the soil from the sun—which keeps more moisture in the soil.

Let it be: Bush recommends cutting down—or completely eliminating—lawn traffic during the hotter parts of the day.

Wait it out: “Never try to mow your lawn when it’s drought stretched,” said Bush. Instead, wait until it starts to cool off in the evening or early morning. This doesn’t just help the lawn, either. By waiting until it starts to cool off, you don’t have to mow your lawn in the scorching heat with the sun beating down on you. It’s a win-win!

Look for shadows: When your yard needs to be watered, the grass blades will fold in half. That will create a blue or grey shadowing on your lawn. You can use this as a sign when you’re practicing deep, infrequent watering

Keep it natural: In the Austin area, St. Augustine and Bermuda are the most common types of grass. It does really well in these conditions, so, unless you want to go with an extravagant type of grass, Bush recommends just sticking to what’s natural in the area. If your yard has both shaded and sunny spots, using a mix of St. Augustine’s and Bermuda grass can work well.

The Tuna Can Trick: Bush recommends that you give your lawn an inch of water. But how can you figure out how long that takes? Well, all you need is a tuna fish (or cat food) can. Just place the empty can in your yard and turn on your irrigation system. Once it fills up, that means your yard’s gotten about an inch of water.