Caring for a Home in a Drought

Living in a semi-arid region of Texas, Austin has been known to experience some pretty serious droughts. Because of their regularity, they’re almost expected in the region, and knowing how to care for one’s home in drought conditions can be very important.

The first thing to remember is that watering one’s flowers should not be the top priority. Every drop of water that is spent on a flower is a drop that, most likely, will not be available to put out a fire should one occur. If the thought of neglected flowers makes a person really sad, it would be best to plant plants that are native to the area and able to withstand droughts.

The lawn is in the same situation. Very dry grass can spread fires rapidly and even catch fire easily so there is a slight benefit to keeping the lawn at least damp. This does not mean drenching the lawn in water on a daily basis to keep it green. Rather, it should be watered when the rationing says it is ok to water the lawn.

The best thing to do for one’s property in a drought is water the foundation of the home. As the soil dries out around the house, the moisture in the soil under the house will also begin to leave the area. This makes the foundation more likely to settle faster as well as increasing the chances of the foundation cracking. Watering the foundation will keep the soil under the home moist which will slow settling and prevent the foundation from cracking.

Contact an Austin Real Estate Agent

For more information on the climate of Austin or for tips on keeping a house looking great even in a drought, contact the Austin real estate agents of The Carvajal Group at 512-419-7770.