A properly designed and maintained commercial irrigation system is one of the highest-ROI investments a Houston property manager can make. Houston’s subtropical heat demands consistent moisture through a 9-month growing season — but rising water rates and periodic drought restrictions make efficiency non-negotiable. Houston Commercial Landscaping installs, repairs, and optimizes commercial irrigation systems across Greater Houston.
All irrigation work is performed by or under the direct supervision of a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) licensed irrigator — a legal requirement for commercial irrigation installation and modification in Texas.
Commercial Irrigation Services We Provide
- New system design and installation — Site survey, hydraulic analysis, zone design, head placement, controller specification, and full installation.
- System inspection and tune-up — Full zone-by-zone run, head adjustment, pressure check, and controller calibration.
- Irrigation repair — Broken heads, stuck valves, leaking laterals, controller failures, and backflow preventer service.
- Smart controller upgrades — Rachio, Hunter Hydrawise, Rain Bird IQ, and Toro EVOLUTION controller installation with weather integration setup.
- High-efficiency nozzle retrofits — Replace standard spray nozzles with high-efficiency rotary nozzles (HERNs) to reduce runoff and water use.
- Backflow preventer testing and certification — Annual testing required by the City of Houston and most Harris County MUDs.
- Drip irrigation installation — Targeted root-zone delivery for planting beds, native plant areas, and tree rings.
Houston Water Restrictions and Your Commercial Irrigation
Houston’s drought restriction schedule limits irrigation to specific days and time windows. Under Stage 1 restrictions, even-addressed properties water on Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-addressed on Thursdays and Sundays — all between midnight and 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. and midnight.
Properties served by Harris County Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) follow district-specific schedules, which may differ from city restrictions. Before assuming city schedules apply, know your water district. Our team is familiar with restriction schedules across Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and other MUD-served markets.
Smart irrigation controllers automatically respect restriction days and adjust for rainfall, eliminating the risk of watering violations and the labor cost of manually reprogramming controllers.
For a full overview of smart irrigation options and ROI, see our commercial irrigation systems guide.
Signs Your Commercial Irrigation System Needs Attention
- Dry or brown patches in irrigated zones — blocked or broken heads
- Soggy areas or pooling — stuck valve, broken lateral, or underground leak
- Water running onto sidewalks or into the street — misaligned heads or pressure issues
- Unexplained spike in your water bill — often the first sign of a slow underground leak
- System won’t shut off — stuck valve or controller failure
- Brown spots near parking lots — heads knocked out of position by vehicles
Early repair is critical. In Houston’s summer heat, a zone left offline for two weeks can cost more in turf replacement than the repair would have.
Commercial Irrigation System Costs in Houston
| Service | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| New system installation | $3,500–$15,000+ |
| Annual inspection and tune-up | $150–$400 |
| Single-zone repair (head replacement) | $75–$200 |
| Smart controller installation | $350–$1,200 |
| Backflow preventer testing | $75–$150 |
| HERN retrofit (per zone) | $150–$400 |
Annual Irrigation Maintenance Schedule
We recommend the following annual schedule for Houston commercial properties:
- March — Full system startup: run all zones, adjust heads, calibrate controller for growing season
- June–August — Mid-season check; adjust run times for peak heat; inspect for storm or mower damage
- October — Annual backflow preventer test (required); winterize controller settings
- November–February — Reduced schedule; inspect after any freeze events
This schedule pairs with our full commercial landscaping maintenance checklist for a complete year-round grounds management plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a TCEQ license required for commercial irrigation work in Texas?
Yes. Any contractor installing, repairing, or modifying a commercial irrigation system in Texas must hold a TCEQ Licensed Irrigator (LI) credential. All Houston Commercial Landscaping irrigation work is performed by or supervised by a TCEQ-licensed irrigator. Ask us for our license number before any irrigation project.
How often should a commercial irrigation system be inspected?
At minimum, a full zone inspection should occur at spring startup and before winter. A mid-summer check is strongly recommended for Houston’s high-demand season.
What is the ROI on a smart irrigation controller upgrade?
Smart controllers typically reduce commercial water use by 15–30% compared to fixed-timer systems. For a property spending $3,000+/month on irrigation water, that’s $450–$900/month in savings — payback on a $600–$1,200 controller installation in under three months.
Do you service all Houston-area MUD districts?
Yes. We are familiar with irrigation requirements and restriction schedules across Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Brazoria County MUDs.
Need commercial irrigation installation, repair, or a smart controller upgrade in Houston? Call (832) 539-4276 or request a free irrigation assessment online.