Watering Cool Vs Warm Season Grasses
You need to care for different grass types in different ways to keep them at their healthiest and hardiest.
Cool Season Grasses
These types of grasses, like fescue, rye, and bluegrass, grow actively in the fall. Theyll need about 1-1.5 inches every week until the growing season ends, roughly when the first frost sets in. If you dont water cool season grasses during a drought, they will go dormant but re-green when it starts raining again.
Warm Season Grasses
Warm season grasses, including bermuda, St. Augustine, zoysia, and centipede grass, do most of their growing in the summertime. Overall, they require less water than cool season grasses, but even they need extra water in the dead heat.
Save On Your Monthly Utility Bill
During fall clean-up remember your rain barrel so it stays in good condition for next spring:
Free gardening webinars
The Region partnered with Reep Green Solutions to offer three free webinars in May 2021 to help gardeners produce landscapes that are beautiful, sustainable and easy to maintain without much water. Topics and speakers were:
- “Fusion Gardening” with Sean James
- “Keeping Your Trees Alive and Thriving: Avoid Common Mistakes and Embrace Good Tree Care” with Sarah Taslimi
- “Ready, Set, Grow” with Nicola Thomas
You can also watch some of our 2020 Naturescaping Webinars anytime on the Region’s YouTube page.
Tips for lawns and gardens
Remember, outdoor water use can quickly increase your water consumption and your water bill. Did you know? Watering 10 minutes every day with a hose nozzle uses 4,500 litres of water per month and adds about $25 to your monthly bill. Check out this tips sheet to learn how you can conserve water outdoors this summer.
The following links have more tips on reducing water use in your yard and gardens:
Toilet Replacement Program
Do you own or manage an apartment building? A condo building? Student housing? Or a duplex or triplex? We help all types of multi-unit residential properties improve their water efficiency so they can cut waste and save money.
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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Are There Any Other Types Of Variances Being Considered
There may be other situations where the watering schedule may not be manageable. Types of variances and forms can be found on the Variance webpage.
Exceptions to the watering schedule are also made for irrigation professionals working on or checking on irrigation systems. Irrigation professionals must be on site for there to be an exemption from day of week or time of day restrictions. Commercial nurseries are also exempt from the watering schedule and time of day requirements.
How Do I Know If My Grass Has Enough Water
There are a few ways you can tell if youve given your lawn enough to drink:
- Check the soil every 15 minutes during your first watering to see how long it takes to get soaked. Use a shovel or screwdriver to get a measurement, and when youve determined the water has gone six inches deep, note the time. Thats how long it should take in the future.
- If you have a sprinkler system, find out its flow rate from the manufacturer. Multiply the square footage of your lawn by 0.62 gallons then divide that figure by the flow rate. The result will tell you how many minutes to run your sprinkler.
- Place empty tuna cans around the lawn and measure how long it takes for the sprinkler to fill each can with an inch of water. The sprinkler coverage will vary, so use the average time it takes to fill the cans.
If youre not sure of the best way to water your lawn, turn to Realty Landscaping. Our PA landscape construction experts have spent years helping homeowners and business owners around the Philadelphia area keep their lawns looking green.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can give you a healthy lawn this summer.
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Applying Water Too Late
Its best to water your lawn in the early morning, before the sun heats up the day and causes more of your water to evaporate. If you must water later in the day, be sure to finish at least half an hour before sunset. That way, the grass can dry before the sun goes down, as damp grass and cooler air is the perfect combination for diseases and fungi to attack your lawn.
If youd like more advice on best practices for watering your lawn, call the lawn care experts at Clean Energy Maintenance at . We also install custom-designed automatic irrigation systems, which can include programmable schedules and rain sensors so your yard gets the precise amount of water it needs.
Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Principles of Turfgrass Irrigation
Penn State Extension, Lackawanna County, Proper Water
Plant Florida Friendly Plants
Landscaping with native and tolerant plants can also reduce the need to irrigate. According to Florida Friendly Landscape, planting zones for the state can be divided into North, Central and South Florida. In each area, different kinds of plants do well. The plants sold at your local greenhouse may not actually be the best fit for your yard. Go to the Florida-friendly plant database and enter your local information along with the kind of plants you are looking for. You can then locate and purchase the correct plants for your landscaping needs.
In most of Florida, handwatering lawns and gardens is still okay on any day of the week.
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How To Care For Your Florida Lawn
Some grasses are more tolerant of the extremes in weather and the poor Florida soil. Researching drought-tolerant and tough grasses may make your lawn care less of a chore.
According to the University of Florida, Bahia and Centipede grass are tough and drought resistant. These grasses also require only one or two fertilizer applications a year. Mowing grass at a higher height can also help to preserve your lawn
St. Augustine grass is the most popular type of grass in many parts of Florida. Yet, despite its name, it is not drought friendly and can be hard to maintain with the new watering restrictions and in times of drought.
Weekly Lawn Watering Guide
Thank you to all who followed the Weekly Lawn Water Guide this past summer! Water-saving actions made a difference and helped stretch the water supply during this extreme drought. The guide will be back next spring when its time for outdoor watering. In the meantime, look for ways to save water indoors. Find water-saving tips at: SlowTheFlow.org
Find more drought info at: Drought.utah.gov
60% of residential water use is used for outdoor irrigation. Eliminating just one watering can save about 3,000 gallons for the average quarter-acre Utah yard with .17 acres of green space. Please look for ways to water efficiently and slow the flow.
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How Long Should I Water The Lawn
You should water your lawn once or twice a week, giving your grass 1 to 1.5 inches of water each time. The precise number of minutes for each watering will vary from lawn to lawn, depending on factors like the size of your lawn, the type of sprinkler you have, and its settings.
Here are a few methods for finding the number of minutes you should water your lawn.
- Do a can test: Tuna cans are 1 inch tall, and work best for this method. Empty one out, and set it in an area that your sprinkler hits. Turn your sprinkler on, and check the can periodically to see how long it takes to get ½ of an inch of water in there. You can use that to find how many minutes you need to water either once or twice a week.
- Break it down mathematically: Your sprinkler system will have a designated flow rate of gallons per minute, which you can find out from the manufacturer. To find out the number of minutes to run your sprinkler, multiply your lawns square footage by 0.62 gallonswhich is 1 inch of water per square footthen divide that total by the sprinkler flow rate.
- Look at a flow timer: Youll need a timer that measures flow in hundreds of gallons. Multiply the square footage of your lawn by 0.62 gallons, and that will tell you how many gallons you need to give your lawn the water it needs.
When Is The Best Time To Water My Lawn
The early morning hours are the best time to water your lawn for the least amount of water loss. In the morning, the sun is at a low angle, its cool, and more water gets to the plant roots, says Landschoot. If you wait until afternoon, water ends up on the leaf surface and evaporates, and the root systems shut down in the heat and cannot take up water efficiently.Aim for watering before 9am.
Watering at night is second best, if you didnt get around to it during the morning hours. If its hot and humid, theres some risk you may end up with more disease problems because the water sits on the leaf surface all night long along with the dew. But its still preferable to afternoon watering when the sun is hottest and the most water evaporates before the plants can use it.
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Are Dwus Wholesale Customer Cities Required To Implement A Mandatory Twice
Each wholesale citys contract requires water conservation measures. And while some wholesale cities have implemented the mandatory twice weekly schedule, they cannot be compelled to mirror City of Dallas requirements. Customer city mayors were briefed on the new twice-weekly watering schedule and encouraged to implement a similar schedule in their cities.
Watering The Wrong Amount
While overwatering is a common mistake, it happens to be one of the most detrimental. Unless watering newly planted grass seed, dont water every day.
Frequent, shallow watering wastes water and money. It also leads to a number of lawn problems, including diseases, insect infestations and damage from heat and cold. On the other hand, watering longer but less frequently, deep watering, produces deep roots that mean lawns can better survive periods of drought. The ideal watering schedule is once or twice per week, for about 25 to 30 minutes each time.
Taking care of a lawn doesnt have to be an overwhelming, all-consuming task. Once all the tips and tricks are in your back pocket, it will be easy to come up with a routine that results in a gorgeous green lawn.
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Lawn And Landscape Irrigation
- Lawn watering is limited to twice-per-week schedule for potable and other water resources, regardless of the source such as wells, surface water etc.
- Watering times are midnight to 10 a.m., or 4 p.m. to midnight.
- Hand watering or micro-irrigation of landscape other than actual lawn areas are allowed at any time.
- Locations without a discernible address are areas such as rights-of-way and other common areas inside a subdivision are included in the restrictions.
Install Drip Lines And Rain Gauge
To ensure your entire yard is getting enough water, install drip irrigation lines for trees, shrubs and gardens, and install a rain gauge.
Drip irrigation is a great way to ensure smaller plants still receive deep watering without the risk of being overwatered by a sprinkler.
Likewise, a rain gauge will tell how much water the yard is receiving from rain and may even help you save on your water bill!
Remember to apply IFA 4-Step Fertilizer to give your grass the nutrients it needs and to mow regularly enough to keep grass blades at roughly three inches in length. As always, stop by your local IFA Country Store for more tips on how to grow a healthy lawn or to get help dealing with a troublesome lawn issue.
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San Antonio Water System
Stage 2 restrictions begin when the 10-day rolling average of the Edwards Aquifer level reaches 650 feet mean sea level at the monitored well. Coming out of drought stages can be considered 15 days after the aquifer is above the trigger.
And dont forget to follow these year-round rules:
- Water waste is prohibited at all times. This includes lawn watering overspray and runoff.
- Restaurants may serve water only on request .
- Charity car washes allowed only at commercial car wash facilities.
LANDSCAPE WATERING
Watering with an irrigation system or sprinkler is allowed only once a week from 7-11 a.m. and 7-11 p.m. on your designated watering day as determined by the last number of your street address.
MORE STAGE 2 DROUGHT INFO
Find An Ifa Country Store Near You
Information for this article was provided by Aaron Jaussi, Branch Manager, Provo IFA Country Store Tina Potter, Utah Certified Nurseryman, Washington State Certified Nursery Professional , & Lawn & Garden Dept., Ogden IFA Country Store and Ken Holt, Lawn & Garden Category Manager, IFA Country Store
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How Much To Water
Your lawn doesn’t need as much water in the winter as in the summer. In the heat of summer, the grass needs at least 1 to 2 inches each week to thrive. Cold weather calls for about 1/2 inch on most lawns — not as much is lost to evaporation, so even cold-season grasses don’t need as much. If your grass is vigorously growing, you might need a bit more, such as 1 inch per week. Rain might supply some of this need, but water it yourself when necessary to make up the difference.
References
It Helps Avoid A Hosepipe Ban
In times of dry spells and water shortages, water companies urge customers to reduce their water use. In some extreme cases, a hosepipe ban will be enforced which can result in a fine of £1,000 if defied.
But to help out the community and avoid an official ban coming into effect, you shouldnt be using sprinklers and hoses to unnecessarily water your garden.
Demand for water is still high this weekend, so the #HeatIsOn can you #ReduceYourUse? Washing the car or watering the lawn can wait lawns recover quickly and its the little things that will count towards big savings.
Southern Water
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The Best Time To Water Grass On A Hot Day
Related Articles
Watering your lawn at the wrong time of day wastes water and can dehydrate your grass. The best time of day to water your lawn is during the coolest parts of the day when winds are light. The type of grass you are growing and the characteristics of your yard affect the time to water your lawn.
How Long To Water Your Lawn
Knowing how often, how deeply, and for how long to water your lawn can be tricky. Just read this handy guide to learn everything you need to know about the proper way to water.
Watering is one of the main things when it comes to taking care of your lawn. But watering isnt as simple as setting up a sprinkler system. Water too little and your lawn will become dry and patchy. Water too much and your lawn may fall victim to rot or disease.
Luckily, This Old House has created a guide to watering your lawn, teaching you how long to water, how often to water, and more. Read these tips to find out the best way to keep your lawn hardy, healthy, and hydrated.
This Old House Reviews Team recommends hiring a lawn care company like TruGreen. With five annual plans and many a la carte services, TruGreen can keep your lawn lush. If youd like a free quote, call 866-817-2287 or fill out this simple form.
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Watering During The Summer Months
Depending on where you live, you may not need to water your lawn during the spring. The soil beneath the grass is often saturated with water from snowmelt, and spring rain will provide even more water.
However, as temperatures rise in May and June, you should slowly start watering your lawn more thoroughly and more frequently.
Start with watering once a week for about twenty minutes at a time, applying roughly half an inch of water to the grass. As temperatures exceed 80 degrees, you may need to start watering every three days for thirty to forty minutes at a time, or one to two inches of water each time.
The most common turf species in Utah and the broader Intermountain West is Kentucky Bluegrass, which needs about two inches of water per week in the summer.
Other Ways To Collect Water
Rain barrels, something many of our grandparents and great-grandparents used, are coming back into fashion. Just like their name sounds, rain barrels catch the rainwater and hold it for use in irrigation and watering.
Since Florida has high humidity, planting flowers or shrubs near a roof line can allow the morning dew and humidity that drips from the roof to water the plant below.
When you finish your icy drink, instead of pouring out the ice cubes in the sink, dump them on an outside plant or even on your lawn. The water will go to good use rather than just re-enter the sewage system for treatment.
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