Best Time To Water St. Augustine Grass In Texas – Ultimate Guide (2023)

Last Updated on April 9, 2023 by Mattias

Most popular for cultivation in tropical and sub-tropical areas, st. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a grass species that belongs to the Poaceae family group. It is a warm-season grass that, despite not being native to Texas, is perfect for that region.

If you are a Texan and these species surround your lawn, you must be wondering when is the best time to water st. augustine grass in Texas.

Keep reading this article to find out

Best Time To Water St. Augustine grass In Texas

Early morning is undoubtedly the best time to water St. Augustine lawn grass in Texas. Hours between 1:00 am – 3:00 am are considered to be specially superior, but generally, an inch of water anytime before 9:00 am will be effective for the grass.

This time is promising and delivers the best results because the temperature and air pressure are most suitable in the early hours, and grass has plenty of time to soak up the water and prepare for the long day ahead. Late afternoon is also a good time if you skip your early watering session.

Lawn care is extremely important, and proper watering is a huge part. Now that you have the standard answer, let’s dig into some more details and explore why these are considered the best times to water st augustine grass in Texas. 

Factors That Influence Best Time To Water St. Augustine grass In Texas

Temperature 

Texas, located near a huge body of water, is known for its sub-tropical climate and high summer temperatures. Unsurprisingly, this factor influences when you should water the grass. 

When the temperature is too high, watering the grass essentially becomes useless. That’s because the sun will evaporate most of the water and your st.

Augustine grass will remain dehydrated. You would think that the necessary water supply is provided, and then you would not bother watering again while the grass is under stress. You need to water the grass at a time when the temperature isn’t too high. 

The Middle of the day is usually the hottest part of the day because the full sun is at its peak and the heat level is extremely high, so avoid watering at this time.

Air pressure

Apart from the high temperature, Texas is known for its occasional droughts and dry breezes. Due to its flat landscape, Texas is one of the country’s windiest regions.

We recommend you not water your lawn grass when the weather is windy because, much like heat, wind can also dry out the water quickly.

Roots typically take a long time to absorb the water and soak it in slowly. When winds blow, grass loses the water content and begins to lose nutrients.

Why Is Early Morning The Best Time To Water St. Augustine Grass?

You may have often heard that morning is the best time to water plants. This rule applies to lawn grasses as well, and here’s why.

The temperature is moderate during the early morning, which means it is neither too warm nor too cold. The sun is present but not at its peak; thus, the heat intensity is also low.

Since the temperature isn’t too high in the early morning, St. Augustine grass will have plenty of time to soak in the water before the heat starts stealing it. The temperature isn’t too chill, so the grass will not stand on the waterlogged soil surface for long.

As the day advances, the temperature increases as well, especially during mid-day when your grass is brutally exposed to the sharp heat. When you water your st. augustine grass during that time, water begins to evaporate before the grass even gets a chance to absorb the necessary moisture.

Simply put, if you water the grass in the early morning, the water will evaporate at an acceptable rate. Not too quick to cause dryness and not too slow to cause waterlogging.

Early morning is also considered the best time to water grass because you’ll prepare it to survive the day’s heat and humidity.

The grass can get stressed when it has to stay in brutal heat all day long. Hydrate it first thing in the morning; hopefully, it will remain at a relatively cooler temperature for the rest of the day.

Why Is Late Afternoon The Best Time To Water St. Augustine Grass?

If you are one of those people who find it difficult to wake up early to water your grass, then we have a great alternative for you. 

Late afternoon watering is just as beneficial as early morning. Suppose you miss your early watering session because of an emergency. There is no need to worry because even though this time comes second to the early morning, it can definitely be adopted.

The temperature decreases gradually as mid-day passes, and the sun isn’t too sharp during late afternoon either. It is considered the best time to water st. augustine grass because, unlike morning time, this routine is much easier to stick to and not too hard on your routine either.

Since Texas airflow is imbalanced and winds are too breezy, you need to set a time adjusted with heat intensity and dry winds. Late afternoon is good because the weather won’t be as breezy, and water will not be lost to the winds. This means that your grass will get a chance to get properly hydrated.

However, if you want to stick to early morning watering, set up a sprinkler system according to a timetable. Sprinkler heads will go off according to the adjusted time, and your grass will be watered steadily. 

Why Should You Not Water St. Augustine Grass At Night?

No matter what you hear, watering st. Augustine grass at night is unquestionably the worst time to water your grass. You must be wondering why that is.

When you water the grass at night, there is no sun exposure, and the grass has no way to dry off. Even on a Texas lawn, water will not drain properly.

In fact, your grass will sit in saturated soil for a long time, and various weed problems and lawn diseases will be attracted.

Most overwatering signs will occur, and your grass will be damaged, causing the entire lawn to look like a patchy eyesore.

Excess water will sit on the grass, attracting pests all around, and you’ll need to invest in weed control.

Why is St. Augustine Grass Good For Texas Lawns?

Now that we have covered the main subject at hand. Here is why st. Augustine grass is best for Texas lawns. As you must know, Texas’s hot weather is typically even warmer than most of the regions, and its temperature is definitely incomparable.

St augustine grass is perfect for this environment because of its good shade tolerance to heat and humidity. This grass is also drought-resistant, meaning it will survive the rare but potential periods of drought in Texas.

Its blue-green leaves blade establishes quickly, and its deep root system adjusts well to the high humidity. All these characteristics collectively make this turfgrass a perfect fit for your lawn.

How Long To Water St. Augustine Grass in Texas?

We have settled that early morning is the best time to water St. Augustine grass in Texas, but you definitely don’t want to do it wrong. Remember that the right amount of water is just as important as the time of the day. 

Since st. augustine grass grows through above-ground roots known as stolons; you’ll need to water generously to ensure the soil’s moisture and healthy grass growth whether you have in-ground irrigation systems or sprinklers for your st. Augustine grass plots, the simplest way to determine how long to water your lawn is by observing the water run-off. 

The time may range from 30 minutes to 1 hour, but as soon as the water starts running off into streets or gutters, that’s your cue to stop.

A good rule of thumb is to note down the time it took for the run-off to occur; that will be the maximum time you need to water your garden for the next time.

How Often Should St. Augustine Grass Be Watered in Texas?

St augustine grass requires at least 1-2 inches of water every week to support healthy growth, but like the factors influencing the best time, air pressure, heat, and humidity will also change your regular watering schedule.

The best way is to water the grass as generously as possible and wait until moisture loss is prominent to water again.

You can always perform a soil test to determine whether the grass needs water.

How Do You Know If You’re Overwatering St. Augustine Grass?

As unbelievable as it may sound, it is quite common to overwater your lawn turf in a location such as Texas. You must wonder how that’s possible when the temperature is high enough to dry out the grass. 

Home growers often misjudge their lawn’s watering needs, and under the paranoia that the heat is stealing all the water, they keep overdoing it.

You definitely want to avoid making the same mistakes. Take a look at some of the most noticeable overwatering signs below and if they are occurring in your st. Augustine turf then takes necessary measures to stop it.

• Grayish-blue grass blades instead of deep green
• Fungal diseases
• Brown patch
• Your feet will leave matted footprints on the grass
• Curled leaves

How Do You Know If You’re Underwatering St. Augustine Grass?

Little water is just as dangerous and threatens your lawn’s well-being as too much water. If st. augustine grass isn’t given enough water. It will result in a lifeless-looking lawn.

The lawn turf will show clear and vivid signs of drought stress, and you’ll be able to tell that the grass immediately needs water. You may notice that some of the signs listed below are the same as overwatered st. augustine grass, but remember that dry spots are extremely evident and hard to miss.

If dry patches on the lawn accompany the signs listed below, they result from underwatering rather than overwatering.

• Persistent footprints 
• Leaves turning grey
• Yellow and brown leaves
• Dried up leaves
• Chinch bugs
• Crispy lawn grass
• Evidently crunchy

FAQ – St. Augustine Grass

Is st augustine grass native to Texas?

Augustine grass is not native to Texas. It’s the most planted turfgrass specie and really thrives in the heat.

When does st augustine grass go dormant in Texas?

St augustine grass usually goes dormant in the winter months when the soil temperatures go down to 55℉ (12℃)

Which st augustine grass is best for shade?

There are eleven different varieties of st augustine grass. Seville, Sapphire, Palmetto, and Bitter Blue are the most shade tolerant.

Best Time To Water St. Augustine Grass In Texas Summary

Texas’s extreme weather conditions make it difficult to take care of turfgrass, lawns, and even plants. Along with correct water frequency and amount, watering at the right time is crucial to ensure a vibrant green lawn. 

Since the hot summer months are insufferable and winters are too dry and cold. You must take extra care of your lawn grass; the easiest way to do that is by ensuring that your timing is right.

In this article, we discussed the best time to water st. Augustine grass in Texas, along with the factors that determine it. 

We also answered some of the most common questions regarding St Augustine lawn and shared additional information for your grass in Texas.

After this precise guide, we hope you see a vibrant lawn throughout the year. 

Share this with your friends and help them maintain a healthy lawn.