Techniques for Watering Grass

The obvious objective for lawn watering is to provide the maximum amount of moisture to enable the plant root system to thrive. Too little water is stressful to the grass and too much is wasting a valuable resource.

Here are a few simple lawn watering techniques. An in-ground sprinkler system if managed properly is one of the best ways to accomplish lawn watering to maximize growth and reduce water usage, however the expense of installing the system is high and most people use above ground sprinklers. This article is oriented to the use of above ground sprinklers.

There are several types of above ground sprinklers available. Basically they are the rotary type which covers a circular pattern, the oscillating type the moves back and forth or the soaker hose type that delivers water about three feet on each side of the line where the hose is laid. For a yard that is relatively square the oscillating sprinkler or soaker hose might deliver the best performance. For irregular shaped lawns the rotary type sprayer may be the most effective. In many cases a combination of the three will probably be best to insure that adequate moisture is delivered to the turf.

One has to experiment with location of sprinklers to achieve the maximum benefit. One way to insure that adequate water is being delivered is to place a few small cans (tuna fish or cat food), in different locations under the watering pattern and monitor how long it takes for the can to collect about a ½ inch of water. Grass generally requires about one inch per week of water to maintain a healthy root system and appearance. The edges of the spray pattern is where the least amount of water is generally delivered, so this is the area that requires special attention and may require some experimentation to insure effectiveness. When possible, one should insure that the water is sprayed in the lowest arc possible to minimize evaporation or the possibility of wind drift that will not benefit the area being watered. Watering in the early morning hours is best for this reason and a myriad of other reasons to promote a healthy lawn.

Taking a few minutes in the early spring to develop the best pattern for delivering adequate supplies of water to a lawn will reduce the effort involved and will reward the homeowner with a healthy and good looking lawn.

Water Your Grass Less

Selecting the appropriate type of grass to grow in your yard will make a significant difference in the amount of water that is necessary for lush growth. Warm season and cool season grasses require differing amounts of water to remain healthy. The far North and far South don’t provide many viable choices as one is virtually required to select a warm or cool season grass, however much of the United States is located in zones where either can thrive. Warm season grasses can be grown as far north as Southern New England, likewise cooler season grasses can be grown as far south as Georgia. Warmer season grasses generally require less water than the cool season grasses.

Lawns that require the least amount of water are affected by the particular type of grass grown and seed and sod producers are propagating many varieties that require relatively low soil moisture content to thrive and provide the lush lawn that is desirable by most home owners.

A couple of rules must be observed to reduce water requirements for healthy and lush turf.

1. Determine if a warm season grass (examples include Bermuda, Bahia, Zoysia, Buffalo) or cool season grass (Rye, Fescues, Bluegrass) will provide the best results.
2. Next one should should examine the different varieties that are available to insure that one or possibly a combination or grasses is selected that will stand up to the expected use ie. heavy use by children or pets or very light use.
3. Within each variety of grass there are some which are particularly adapted to tolerate drought or low water requirements. It is in this selection that will prove the most beneficial in the quest to minimize water usage. Some of the cool season grasses have particular characteristics that reduce water usage. One of the varieties called Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (RTF) requires considerably less water than other Fescues and in fact has been labeled as a “water saver”.
4. Warm season grasses tolerate drought much better than the cool season grasses and among those Zoysia seems to be the least demanding of water and if it starts to “brown” because of water deficiency, it will quickly respond to watering and green up quickly.
5. Be cognizant of shady area that require less water and adjust your watering pattern to conserve.
6. Water as early as possible during the day to achieve the maximum benefit and reduce evaporation.
7. Insure that thatch from lawn mowing does not build up to excessive levels as this will prevent water from reaching the root systems of your grass.
8. Consider using rain water catchment systems. This is especially effective for smaller lawns and the expense of establishment will often be off-set by reduced water bills as well as the satisfaction of knowing that you are being environmentally friendly.
9. Insure that run-off is eliminated by observing how the soil is soaking up the moisture. Stop watering if run-off is occurring and restart when the run-off recedes.
10. Don’t automatically water every 1-3 days if recent rain has produced adequate moisture.
11. Watering less frequently and more thoroughly will save water. Frequent light spraying is never an effective method as evaporation uses most of the water and root systems will become shallow and subject to disease, insects and stress.

Selecting the right grass for the right climate and applying a few simple common-sense rules will reduce lawn water requirements and produce a thick, healthy lawn.

How Much Water Does My Grass Need?

Here again there are several variables in play for successful lawn maintenance. The type of grasses being grown, the type of soil involved and local climatic conditions will dictate the amount of water that will be needed for a lawn to thrive.

During the summer months warm season grasses (examples include Bermuda, Bahia, Zoysia, Buffalo) will require less water than the cooler season grasses (Rye, Fescues, Bluegrass). During the cool months the warm season grasses have little need for water as they are dormant and the cool season grasses will only require water if a severe drought is occurring.

Essentially, during the summer months the root zones for cool season grasses should be moist to a level of 8-10 inches where the moisture level for warm season grasses may only extend 6-8 inches. One can determine the degree of moisture in the ground by digging a small hole or by inserting a probe in the ground. In most soils, a large screwdriver can be easily inserted into the ground to the desired depth to insure the soil is moist. If it is difficult to insert the screwdriver, it indicates that the soil has dried out and needs water. One should conduct this test in the Spring and then insure that the same degree of moisture is maintained throughout the summer months.

Maintaining a consistent moisture level will insure healthy turf. Don’t wait until the soil has completely dried out before beginning a watering program. Watering should begin as the warm months approach and remain consistent throughout the growing season. This will conserve water in the long run.

Watering should be scheduled every 2-3 days depending on the soil conditions, the amount of rain and the particular climate in the growing area. Watering should result in a thorough soaking (stop for about an hour and let the water soak in if run-off is occurring). Normally about ¼ to ¾ inch of water applied during each watering cycle will be sufficient to maintain the soil moisture to the desired depth. This moisture level should be tested periodically to insure that sufficient water in being applied. One can measure the amount of water being applied by simple placing a rain gage in the area being watered and monitoring the amount of time it takes to achieve ¼ to ¾ inch. Once the appropriate watering cycle is determined, it will require little or no monitoring.

If one has chosen a grass type that requires significant watering, it may be worthwhile to consider a grass type that requires less. There are both warm season and cool season grasses that that thrive on minimal amounts of water. A visit to the local golf course may provide a hint on the type of grass to grow in your particular area.

Best Time of Day to Water Grass

The best time to water grass, like so many things in life is dependent on circumstances. For established lawns the best time of day to water grass is in the early morning hours, preferably just before sunrise. This enables the water to soak through the soil and completely nourish the plant’s root system. Watering in the morning also minimizes the loss of moisture due to the higher temperatures during daylight hours and takes advantage of the normal morning calm from wind that may cause water to drift away from the target area. Evaporation is also minimized and morning watering enables the homeowner to take advantage of the effects of morning dew that already exists on grass blades. The natural ground shade afforded by the grass will enable the soil to dry out slowly throughout the day. Without an automatic sprinkler system this early morning watering may present a challenge. The point is that the earlier one waters, the better it is for the lawn. Under all circumstances, watering in the evenings should be avoided. Evening watering causes the ground to remain moist and gives rise to a number of diseases that will weaken root systems and cause premature browning or even loss of plants. Perhaps the most prevalent example of available to most home owners of good turf maintenance is demonstrated
by the grounds keepers on golf courses throughout the country. They have immense sums of money invested in maintaining healthy turf and one can readily note that they water their established turf exclusively in the morning.

There is always an exception to the rule and certainly there is one for those that are just beginning to establish a lawn or have areas where seeding is being done. Under these circumstances it is preferable to water newly seeded areas several times a day for best results. Seedlings need to remain moist for germination to occur. It is critical to keep the seeds or early sprouts moist. One should attempt to control “puddling” as it will often cause seeds to wash away and result in bare spots. Additionally, the goal is to keep the seeds mouist and it will waste water to apply too much.

The objective of water established lawns is to insure the water is available for the root systems , while the objective of watering newly seeded areas is to keep the seed moist. Therefor a considerable less quantity of water should be used for newly seeded areas.