Keep A Green Lawn In The Hot Colorado Summer
People who arent from Colorado often fail to realize how hot and dry it can be here. The arid climate can make keeping a green lawn tough, especially into the hotter months. With the proper attention to detail, though, you can keep a healthy, green lawn.
Today were going to go over a few tips that will help you in your quest for your neighborhoods best lawn!
What Should I Do To My Soil Before Installing Sod
A basic soil test will help determine fertility requirements. Most soils benefit from the addition of three to five cubic yards of decomposed manure, compost or sphagnum peat moss per 1,000 square-foot area. Spread the organic matter over the soil and till it into the top six to eight inches. Remove large stones or clods that surface during tilling and level until the surface is smooth and firm. At this point, you can install an underground sprinkler system. You can also replace and settle the soil by watering and adding soil before installing sod.
Moisten soil six to eight inches deep several days before sod arrives. Soil should be slightly moist when transplanting sod, but not wet enough to severely compact it.
Ignoring Your Grass Needs
Taking a lawns age into consideration is important. A fully-grown lawn can handle a more powerful spray, whereas newly seeded lawns need a gentler touch. If you only have a small area of newly planted seeds, a Stationary Square Sprinkler works well for gentle spot-watering, while an Adjustable Length Wind-Resistant Rectangular Sprinkler can cover a bigger area.
For a sprinkler that will grow along with the grass, try the Circular Sprinkler Spike with on/off switch. The diffuser pin allows for a customized force of spray, from a steady shower for new grass to a more powerful stream for mature lawns.
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Best Time To Water New Grass Seed
The best time to water grass seed is in the morning and evening. These are the coolest parts of the day, which allows water to absorb into the ground instead of evaporating. A water timer can simplify the process of when to water grass seeds, so you can easily and efficiently water your newly seeded lawn with no hassle at all.
How to water new grass seed depends on the area youve seeded. Large areas can benefit from the use of a quality rectangular sprinkler. Use a small spot sprinkler for smaller seeded areas.
What Is Proper Watering
How much do you need to water your lawn in Denver? Watering your lawn correctly will help keep it looking fantastic while saving you money and time.
Most lawn owners in the Denver or Littleton areas in Colorado have sprinkler systems. Sprinkler system companies often lead you to believe that you must water every day.
But watering too little too often can waste water and does not provide what the grass needs most: Water that is allowed to travel further into the soil to create a deeper root system. This gives you a more resilient lawn that will better survive drought and is healthy enough to have a chance against lawn pests that might try to take up residence there.
It is also important to allow the soil to dry out before watering again. This aids in growing a deeper root base.
In fact, according to Denver Water, which services 1.4 million customers in the Denver metro area, residents are not allowed to water more than three times a week; or between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm. More information on watering restrictions can be found here.
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Watering Different Lawn Types
How long to water lawn varieties and how to care for the different types will depend on several factors, including the season, the zone you are in and most importantly the type of grass you are growing. Different lawn types will have different watering and overall care needs, so it is important to pay attention to the type of lawn that is growing. Once you know how much to water a specific lawn type, it is easy to set a schedule that will give thirsty lawns the perfect amount of water all season long.
Warm-Season Grasses Warm-season grasses such as zoysia and bermuda grass grow best when the air temperature is above 80 degrees. They slow down when daytime temperatures start to drop, but they still need moisture to remain healthy. Continue to water them as long as the grass is growing and needs regular mowing. Fall is not the time to fertilize warm-season lawns. Wait until spring, when the active growing season begins.
Cool Season Grasses Cool-season grasses, such as bluegrass, fescue and rye, are actively growing in the fall, recovering from summer dormancy. Cool fall temperatures keep evaporation rates low, but these grasses still need an inch to an inch and a half of water every week until frost ends the growing season. Cool-season grasses are also typically fertilized in the fall, and watering after fertilizing is important to wash the fertilizer off the blades of grass and down into the soil.
How Often To Water Your Lawn
Watering grass daily will result in a shallow root system. And shallow root systems dry out fast, weakening lawns. Infrequent, deep watering encourages grass roots to run deep, developing strong systems below-ground. This allows lawns to be more resilient to changing weather while becoming hardier and disease resistant.
The average lawn needs to be watered three times per week during warm months, providing a total of about one inch of water over the course of the week. Lawns can be watered as little as one to two times per week to achieve the same goal in cooler seasons, when there is naturally less evaporation and a higher chance of rainfall.
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How Long Should You Water Your Lawn In Colorado
Most diseases of turf occur when grass blades are wet for longer than 14 consecutive hours. Watering before 10 p.m. or after 6 a.m. extends the natural wetness period and increases disease problems.
People Also Asked, How do i water my lawn in colorado?
Accordingly, how do I water my lawn in Colorado?You only need to water 1-2 times a week. Proper lawn watering is critical to your lawns health and vigor. Deep and infrequent watering is the best practice. This means wetting the soil to a depth of 3-5 inches per irrigation.
Also know, how many minutes should you water lawn? 30 minutes
Contents
Daily Lawn Watering Guide#
The daily Lawn Watering Guide is designed to help you determine the right amount of water for your lawn. The guide lists how many minutes of watering your lawn needs and is posted from May to October.
The forecast is expecting possible light rain on Monday.
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* Cycle-soak watering: multiple applications with one-hour breaks in between to allow for better absorption
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$7 Off A Dramm Touch N’ Flow Revolve Watering Tool
Stop by Tagawa Gardens before 7-5-17 and receive $7 OFF This wonderful watering tool which has soaker, jet, mist and other settings. Great for summer watering!
As the weather heats up and stays hot we need to think about water. ;Two points in particular. ;First: ;the Front Range of Colorado averages about 17 of moisture a year. Were not a desert, but were not that far from it. Second: ;55%;of the water we use goes on our lawns and gardens. ;Fifty-five percent!
Bottom line: ;we need to make our water count. ;So now seems like a good time to look at how we can keep our landscapes healthy and make the most efficient use of water at the same time.
Tip #: Get On The Right Watering Schedule
While we put quite a bit of emphasis on watering your lawn, especially after installing new sod, its important to not water too frequently if your grass is well-established. To avoid overwatering and faint-worthy water bills, hold off on running the sprinkler system until the blades start to wilt.
This might seem a little contrary to instinct, but trust us on this one. Water-logged soil doesnt get enough oxygen to foster appropriate root growth, and you already heard what we had to say about diseases caused by too much water. To be on the safe side, monitor your lawn for signs of wilting before switching on the sprinkler.
As always, the All Terrain crew is happy to help you attain the healthiest lawn possible. Give us a call at 304-1183 to get started today.
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What Are Successful Aeration Techniques
Aeration is most effective when actual cores or plugs of soil are pulled from the lawn. Holes should be two to three inches deep and no more than two to four inches apart. Lawns should be thoroughly watered the day before aerating so plugs can be pulled more deeply and easily. Mark all sprinkler heads, shallow irrigation lines and cable TV lines before aerating so those lines will not be damaged.
Audit Your Sprinkler System
More than 50 percent of an average households annual water consumption is from watering outside. Auditing your sprinkler system, and fine-tuning its performance, can help save water. Thoroughly check your system each spring when you first turn it on. After each mowing, check to make sure sprinkler heads havent been broken or knocked out of alignment.
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Monitoring Moisture In Pots And Containers
Growing flowers and veggies in containers is enormously popular. ;It makes sense for a lot of people who dont have the time or space for gardening in the ground. ;But container gardening can be challenging in 90 degree heat. ;This is especially true for hanging baskets that are up there in the wind and heat.
Start by watering your containers deeply, meaning until you just begin to see water coming out the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. ;Wait until the top layer of soil two or three inches in large pots ;begins to dry out a bit and then water again,;thoroughly.;
You can monitor your container gardens water needs with a moisture meter from Tagawas. ;Inserting the probe a few inches into your flower or veggie pots will tell you how much moisture is in the soil and whether its time to water.
Be on guard for a little trick that the summer heat plays on soil in containers. ;As the weather heats up day after day, the soil inside the containers can shrink and pull away from the sides of the pots. ;The water youre applying so thoroughly may simply be draining down the gap between the soil and the pot and missing the roots altogether. Its a common problem thats easily overlooked until your plants start hollering for help!
Lawn Watering In The Heat Of Summer
Our lawns use more water than any other part of our landscape. ;So along with the practice of watering deeply but as infrequently as needed to keep the turf healthy, lets look at other steps we can take to keep our grass thriving.
Dont mow your lawn shorter than three inches. The longer blades of grass will help to shade the roots and keep the soil surface from drying out as quickly.
And remember that a properly-fertilized lawn is going to stand up to heat stress better than a lawn thats starving. ;If you have questions about when and how to;feed your lawn, check with our garden advisers at Dicks Corner. ;Keeping your lawn healthy is the best defense against summer stress. Spring and fall lawn aeration and regular use of Granular Humate help condition your lawns soil, which helps keep your grass healthy. If your turf is not looking its best, take pictures on your smart phone and bring them in to help our staff better understand any problems you might be having. ;Youre also welcome to bring in a bagged sample of turf thats showing problems. Be sure the sample includes some turf thats still alive. ;The folks at Dicks Corner need to see the condition in action, not just the dead results.
Expect them to ask you how much water youre putting on your lawn. ;If you dont know , do your homework! ;Set out several small, straight-sided cans , and water your lawn as you normally do. ;Then measure how much water your sprinklers are delivering in a given amount of time.
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How Long To Water Your Lawn
It is ideal to water lawns about one inch of water per week. To determine how long you need to water to get one inch, place a plastic container in your yard and set a timer. On average, it will take 30 minutes to get a half inch of water. So, 20 minutes, three times per week will give a lawn about an inch of water.
This formula works best with healthy, well-cultivated soil. Healthy soil provides excellent drainage while also providing just the right amount of water retention at the root zone, where grass needs it most. Poor soil with inadequate drainage will cause soil to become waterlogged, while soil devoid of organic matter will cause water to drain, leaving soil unnecessarily dry.
Lawn Care Ideas And Resources#
- Aerate your lawn at least once a year.
- Use fertilizer sparingly, since it encourages grass growth that requires more water and mowing. Lightly fertilize bluegrass in the spring and fall. Learn more about Fertilizing your Lawn and Garden.
- Replace some bluegrass with planting beds or water-wise grasses. Many species provide seasonal colors and textures to ensure year-round beauty. Learn more about the Basics of Drip Irrigation.
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Resources From The City Of Fort Collins
Free Sprinkler Audit A sprinkler audit shows you how to use your sprinkler system more effectively. An audit can help you learn about your sprinkler system, identify a leak, keep plants/trees alive and water more efficiently.
Daily Lawn Watering Guide The daily Lawn Watering Guide is designed to help you use the right amount of water on your lawn.
When To Water The Lawn
If you find your lawn has taken on a grayish cast or appears to be dull green, its telling you that it needs water. You can also check your lawn by walking on it: If your footprints dont disappear quickly, its because the grass blades dont have the needed moisture to spring back. While it may seem like you can head out to water your lawn anytime during the day, your lawn actually needs more specific care. Watering in the morning is the best time for your lawn; its cooler and winds tend to be calmer so water can soak into the soil and be absorbed by the grass roots before it can evaporate. If you must water in the evening, try between 4 and 6 p.m. which should give the grass blades time to dry before nightfall. The later you water, the greater chance of disease becoming prevalent in your lawn. Its worth noting, though, that you dont necessarily have to water your lawn. Lawns are resilient. Established and properly cared-for lawns can survive weeks without water by going dormant , then recover once the rain returns.
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How Long To Water New Grass Seed
How long to water new grass seed depends on your soil conditions and your sprinkler setup. In general, ten minutes of watering per session will provide enough water to keep the top couple inches of soil moist.
As your new grass seed grows and flourishes, you can water deeper and less frequently this will encourage established grass roots to extend deeply into the soil. When watering grass seedlings, gradually increase your morning watering sessions over time, while decreasing your evening watering. Eventually, youll want to water between 6 and 10 am, while the weather is still cool. An established lawn typically requires about 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall.
Use the chart below to help you plan out your ideal watering schedule:
When Should I Start Watering My Yard
The recent weather in Colorado Springs makes it seem that spring has arrived. You may be wondering if you should be watering your yard. In fact, it IS important to water your lawn, plants, and trees during the winter months and this is especially important when there has not been much snow. Even in their dormant state, grasses, plants and trees and their root systems need some moisture during the winter to return strong and healthy during the growing season. Additionally, in March and April, your plants and trees are developing new roots, so it is critical to ensure they are getting the proper hydration before spring and summer come.
The current warm weather makes it perfect to water your lawn, as the water is unlikely to freeze . The best time to water your yard is early to mid day, when the temperature of the air and ground will be above 40 degrees, with no snow cover. This will also allow plenty of time for the water to soak in before it has the potential of freezing over night. Remember, the point of winter watering is to make certain the roots are receiving the proper hydration. Because temperatures are still dropping below freezing almost every night it is important to not turn your irrigation system on yet. This will prevent any freeze damage happening to your pipes.
Winter watering doesnt have to consume a lot of time, but it is important to keep your yard thriving through the spring and summer.
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