How often should I water?
Your watering schedule depends upon many factors.
This guide offers cultural practices that will not only reduce the need for irrigation but will also improve the appearance of your lawn.
The composition of a sturdy, green grass plant may be as much as 85% water by weight. Furthermore, approximately 95% of the plant’s daily take–up of water from the soil is lost through transpiration. This means that grass can remain green and vigorous only if its roots can readily pull water from the soil.
When managed properly, tall Fescue requires 25% less water and Zoysia grass requires 50% less water compared to Kentucky Bluegrass to maintain a green, actively growing lawn in Missouri.
Teamwork
At DOWCO you can count on us to apply the correct fertilizer and control products at the right time of year. In turn we must count on you to properly water your lawn. It’s important that we function as a team. Please read the information we leave at your door. Some applications should be watered in right away; others should not be watered for at least a day.
Quantity
Ideally, a gentle rain would deposit ½ inch of water on our lawns every 1st, 3rd or 5th night (depending upon soil type, sunshine, terrain and drying winds) during the growing season. Since this doesn’t always happen, it is advisable to turn on the sprinkler when nature fails to do the job for us. Deep watering to a soil depth of at least (6) six inches is recommended. Since most of the grass roots are located within this area, applications should be made only to the point of runoff. Light waterings that merely dampen the grass are of little benefit and can produce harmful side affects. As a rule of thumb, St. Louis lawns require 1 to 1 ½ inches of water per week during the summer to remain green and actively growing.
Frequency
Water when the plant tells you to. Foot prints that stay; wilting and rolled leaves are signs that lawns should be thoroughly watered. Start summer watering prior to the lawn going dormant. Deep watering, 2 to 4 times per week, will cause grass roots to extend downward resulting in a healthier plant. A screwdriver pushed into the ground in several locations will give a quick assessment of the moisture condition of the soil.
Best time
Early morning is ideal. The disruption of the water pattern from wind is low, and water lost to the atmosphere by evaporation is negligible. Early morning watering also has the advantage of reducing the chance of turf diseases that thrive on extended periods of leaf moisture.
Mowing
Mow grass as tall and as frequently as possible with a properly sharpened blade. Taller grass has deeper roots drawing moisture from a larger volume of soil, thereby requiring less supplemental irrigation.
Dormancy
If high temperatures and dry conditions continue the above–ground portion of grasses turn brown and die. Grasses are said to be dormant during this browned–out stage since the lower portion of the plant usually remains alive but not growing. Thorough watering will bring the lawn out of dormancy and new growth will resume from the below–ground base of grass plants. Summer dormancy is a mechanism that help a lawn survive, but it does not guarantee that a lawn will fully recover from the browned–out stage.
Dormant lawns should receive 1 inch of water every 2 to 3 weeks during summer to prevent complete turf loss.
Trees & Shrubs
New plantings crave special attention. Water thoroughly upon installation, soaking the root system. Pamper your new plantings with 1 inch of water per week during the growing season. In most conditions a thorough soaking every 1 to 2 weeks should be adequate.
Too much water can be as damaging as too little. Too much water may damage roots, making plants more subject to scorch, leaf drop and die–back during dry weather.
For New Lawns:
Water is the single most important requirement for germinating turf grass seed. Keeping the seed damp, either by rainfall or irrigation will encourage proper seed development. The first watering can be done right away. It should moisten the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches…gently. After the initial watering, irrigate the newly seeded area lightly and frequently; the objective being to keep the seed bed moist until the grass begins to establish and mature. In 3 to 4 weeks the intervals between waterings can be lengthened and the amount applied at any one time increased.
Sod
Sod is a living plant that requires soil contact and moisture to survive. Water your new sod immediately to a soil depth of 4 to 6 inches. Keep moist until it is firmly rooted (about 2 weeks), at which time the intervals between waterings can be lengthened and the amount applied at any one time increased.
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