Texas native plants are way tougher than they look. They can withstand brutally hot and dry conditions with very little help.
That means even though you can water once a week, you don’t have to — even if your landscape is brown.
St. Augustine, Bermuda and zoysia grass have been rigorously tested and found to survive without water for three to five weeks. Buffalo and other bunch grasses can go up to 75 days without water. And woody native plants usually scoff at drought.
So once-a-week watering is more than enough, but in most cases totally unnecessary. Brown doesn’t equal dead. Watering just twice a month will ensure plant survival and maybe even modest growth.
Trees and shrubs benefit from a monthly soaker hose application (one quarter turn on the hose bib) around the drip line. But only on your designated watering day.
Try alternating sprinklers and soaker hoses on your watering day. Soaker hoses are inexpensive and easy to place to deliver water right where it’s needed.