Lawn Irrigation

Quick Tips:

1. Water early in the morning
2. Water deeply & infrequently
3. Summer Drought - irrigate lightly

Rainfall alone usually sustains a healthy lawn.  However, depending on your grass type and climate conditions, irrigation may be needed.

Water in the Early Morning.

To minimize water loss from evaporation and to allow the sun to dry the leaf blade before disease can set in.

Water Deeply and Infrequently.

Soak the lawn deeply instead of a quick mist.  Frequent lawn watering encourages shallow rooting and may predispose the lawn to increased disease and greater susceptibility to stress injury.  Watering deeply and less frequently improves turf growth and increases water conservation.

Wet the soil to a minimum depth of 4 to 6 inches or about 1 inch of water per week. To help monitor irrigation, instal timers and place a rain gauge or empty cans (tuna or cat food cans work well) under the sprinkler.

Drought-Induced Dormancy

Summer brings the heat.  It can also bring drought conditions when you least expect it.  When a swelter begins to take a toll on your lawn, many grasses will try to survive by entering a dormant stage where they drink less water and stop growing.  Daytime temperatures in the 80’s (F), lawns can survive for 3-4 weeks, whereas climates in the 90’s reduce that survival time frame to 2-3 weeks.  Irrigate lightly, about ½ inch, every 3 weeks to help your lawn get through the hot and dry summer months.  This irrigation will not make a dormant lawn green again.  Greening will start when conditions get cooler and wetter.

Watering New Lawns

Successful germination depends on ample moisture at the soil surface. Keep the seeded area moist until the seed emerges.  The seedlings need frequent, gentle watering until they are ½ to 1 inch tall.  When climatic conditions allow, reduce watering to several times a week at a depth of 1 to 2 inches.  Decrease frequency and increase depth of watering as seedlings mature.