Stage 2 Water Restrictions - They're still on?!?!!? ... Should I just kiss my lawn goodbye? (Austin: for sale, houses)

[passionatearts]

Looks like xeriscaping is going to be the trend for more yards in the Austin area. I plan to get my yard xeriscaped once I have the budget to do so. For now, I'm going to stick with the current watering restrictions and hope for the best.

[centralaustinite]

why are you watering at all right now? We just got more rain in the last two months than in the entire year last year!! 9 inches. Everything is green with just rain water.

[Trainwreck20]

Interesting read, especially for those in rural areas over the Edwards Aquifer, although the ramifications go well beyond:
Texas Supreme Court Recognizes Property Interest in Groundwater in Place

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Austin97

water for 30 minutes once a week. Your grass should do fine. It may be your soil isnt thick enough. Our front yard looked great although our back yard died. You can also handwater whenever you want

That is an extremely high amount of water. You probably don't need to water that much until the summer heat hits.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

why are you watering at all right now? We just got more rain in the last two months than in the entire year last year!! 9 inches. Everything is green with just rain water.

Agreed, I have not started watering yet but I'm monitoring our weekly rainfall closely.

[bld44]

I understand that we're still in a drought and everything, but seriously? We're still doing just 1 day a week this year?

Have you seen the lakes lately? All this rain is doing very little. It has been raining in the wrong places.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

That is an extremely high amount of water. You probably don't need to water that much until the summer heat hits.

thats why I meant, certainly not now.

[cBach]

I've noticed that some of the newer developments are using xeriscaping. The new Randall's shopping center in Steiner is using native grass and shrubs in the medians, along the sidewalks, etc... No grass at all has been planted as of yet. I've also noticed some office buildings that tore out various grass areas and placed rocks and cactus/native plants there. It look very good.

I hope this is a sign of people starting to plant what's appropriate for this environment.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by cBach

I hope this is a sign of people starting to plant what's appropriate for this environment.

Hear, hear!

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by calel

HappyTexan, any recommendations on where to find native bermuda? I'm thinking about doing plugs in the front yard to fill in some really patchy spots where the previous bermuda is failing to fill in. I don't want to fiddle with seeds.

My front yard is mostly bermuda of some kind (fine blades) with the neighbor's portion being St. Augustine. The St. Augustine is verrrry slowly encroaching into my yard, but given my watering habits, probably doesn't stand a chance of taking over.

Sorry I don't have any recommendations. My native bermuda really is native. I bought 6 acres already in native bermuda. Never had to worry about the grass over 15 years.

You might try calling Natural Gardner and asking them for any recommendations.

Plugs fill in pretty quickly though but I think the St Augustine might give you some problems with encroachment.

Buffalo grass is another native that can take a drought with little watering and not die off.