Misconception #: Watering My Lawn By Hand Is The Best Method
Watering your lawn by hand can be deceiving. It seems like youre getting ample water everywhere but you may actually be causing it to pool in certain areas or even run off. Oftentimes a lawn that is watered solely by hand is not receiving as much as you think.
The best method to water your lawn is to use sprinklers that mimic slow, soaking rain. Hand watering works fine for very small patches of grass where youve planted new grass seed or for container plants but when it comes to your lawn as a whole, stick to sprinklers for the best results.
The Best Time To Water Grass On A Hot Day
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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.
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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S To Fixing An Overwatered Lawn
Okay, youve figured out that youve been heavy-handed with the water. Now what? Here are 5 steps to consider.
1. Dial Back the Water: You dont want to suddenly stop watering your lawn altogether. Try to determine how much water it really needs. Consider your climate, the season, and the daily/weekly rainfall. Remember, its better to water less frequently, but more thoroughly than to water a little bit every day.
2. Treat a Fungal Problem: If you have a noticeable fungal problem, in coordination with dialing back your lawn watering habits youll also want to apply a fungicide right away.
3. Dethatch: If thatch build up is a problem, its essential to remove the excess anything more than half an inch. There are few ways you can do this. Thatch can be raked out, however it can be a significant amount of labor depending on your situation. Alternatively, there are dethatching products that you can apply to give those organisms a boost in thatch decomposition and breakdown.
4. Treat a Bug Problem: Once youve removed that thatch, those pesky little bugs are exposed and ready for their turn. If you can, try to determine what kind of bugs you have so you can pick the right pesticide to deal with the issue.
5. Fertilize: Your lawn is probably struggling to find the nutrients it craves after a period of overwatering. Test your soil if you really want to know what its lacking, but a good all-around fertilizer could just help your lawn get back to green.
St Johns River Water Management District
During Daylight Standard Time, you can water twice a week.
- For odd-numbered houses, the days are Wednesday and Saturday.
- For even-numbered houses, the days are Thursday and Sunday.
- Businesses can water on Tuesday and Fridays.
During Eastern Standard Time, odd-numbered houses can water on Saturday, even-numbered on Sunday and businesses on Tuesday.
- You may not water after 10 AM or before 4 PM.
- Each zone can be watered for no more than one hour.
Note: There are exceptions for newly planted lawns and application of fertilizers and pesticides.
Counties in St. Johns River Water Management District
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Alachua |
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Are City Of Dallas Properties Required To Observe Watering Restrictions
All City of Dallas parks, golf courses and other City of Dallas properties are required to observe watering restrictions.; Large parks and golf courses may have variances to the twice-weekly watering schedule because the properties are too large to water in one day.; Large property variances are also available to customers on the;Variance webpage.;
What Does Overwatering Do
Overwatering your lawn suffocates your grass and also stunts root growth.
Below the surface of the turf, your soil is made up of soil particles surrounded by pockets of air and water. These pockets of air and water provide the roots of your lawn with the oxygen and H2O needed for healthy growth. However, when your lawn is overwatered the air pockets become filled with water, removing the oxygen from the soil, and your grass suffocates.
Additionally, when the water becomes readily available in the soil, the roots of your turf grass are not encouraged to grow and find water. As a result, the root system of your grass will not develop, leaving a shallow root system that is susceptible to drought and disease.
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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:
Want to learn more?;Watch our;”Smart about Water Softeners“;webinar;from Sept. 23, 2020. We discuss how softeners work, how they impact our environment, and how to soften efficiently to save water, salt and money.
The Best Time To Water Your Grass
Follow these eight tips for healthy grass with a deep, strong root system.
Proper watering is as important to maintaining a lush, green lawn. Too little water and the grass will shrivel up and die; too much water and itll become over-saturated and die. Watering a lawn seems like a simple enough task, but for most of us knowing the best time to water your grassand how long to water your lawncan be confusing.
To provide you with a time-proven, easy-to-follow strategy for watering lawns, we contacted lawn care expert Matt Maurer, owner of PureLawn Lawn Services, with branches in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. Matt shared with us the following eight DIY-friendly tips for growing a resilient, healthy lawn with a deep, strong root system.
Want more on home and garden care?
The absolute best time to water your lawn is the early morning, before 10 a.m., says Maurer. Cooler temperatures and calm breezes help keep evaporation to a minimum. And watering in the morning keeps the turf cooler during the hottest parts of the day, which means less stress on the grass.
As a general rule, you should water long enough to moisten the soil down to about 6 inches, which is the average depth of a healthy grass-root system. It takes about one inch of water to properly hydrate normal lawns to that depth. But, Maurer warns, “Each lawn has different soil. You have to water for your specific property.” There are a few ways to determine whether your lawn is getting the right amount of water.
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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.
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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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.;
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.
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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.
City’s Watering Lawn Restrictions Effective April 1
The Citys annual spring and summer irrigation restrictions become effective on Wednesday, April 1 and continue through September 30.
;Irrigate landscape only during two assigned days per week year-round
;Irrigation schedules are based on the last digit of the house address:
Addresses ending in 0, 3, 4, or 9 Monday and Thursday
Addresses ending in 1, 5, or 6 – Tuesday and Friday
Addresses ending in 2, 7, or 8 Wednesday & Saturday
·;;On your scheduled watering days, irrigation is allowed from midnight to 10:00 a.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to midnight.
·;;Irrigate less than 1.5 inches per zone per week
;Irrigate only when temperatures are above 35 degrees Fahrenheit
;Irrigate landscape without runoff
;Do not irrigate during precipitation events
;Hand watering is allowed any time of day and on any day of the week
We commend our customers for the significant amount of water they have conserved over the past decade. We ask that all residents and businesses continue to be considerate and efficient with their water usage this summer.;As we persist in our effort to conserve water and reduce overall demand, we can preserve our water supplies for many more decades to come.;Effective water conservation is a long-term continuous effort., said Aubrey Spear, Director of Water Utilities.;;
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How Often Should I Water My Lawn In The Summer
Every living thing needs water, and your grass is no exception.
But simply remembering to water your lawn isnt enough. Theres a right way and a wrong way to do it, as anyone in the PA landscape construction industry can tell you.
For example, if youre not generous enough with your watering, the roots of the grass wont grow deeply, leaving your lawn in trouble at the height of summer.
And if you decided to run your sprinkler system after dark, your lawn can become too moist, leaving it open to mold and, eventually, disease.
Before you start watering, follow these steps.
Best Time Of Day To Water Your Lawn
The best time to water your lawn is before 10 a.m., preferably between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. At this cool time of day, its less likely the moisture will evaporate before your grassroots can absorb it from the soil.
If you cant water before 10 a.m., dont make the mistake of watering late at night. It may be cool then, but if the moisture sits on your grass overnight, it can make your lawn more prone to disease. The second-best time to water is between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
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What Else You Should Know
Local city and county governments may issue even tighter restrictions than the ones listed above. Each resident should check their local, county websites or call for more information.
Hand watering is, for now, mostly unregulated. So if your lawn or plants need water in between your watering days, you can hand water with a hose or watering can.
Hand watering is a great way to maintain back yard gardens of fruits and vegetables.
How Long Should I Water Grass And How Often
How often should you water? Lets answer that with another question: what kind of soil do you have?
This is important to know, because typically you want to water sandy soils every three days or so, while clay soils only require water about once a week.
Not sure exactly what type of soil you have? No problem. There are many fairly easy ways to test it, including someDIY methods.
Just as important as frequency, you need to know how long to water your lawn each time you do it. Ideally, you want to keep the water running long enough for moisture to soak six inches deep into the soil.
Why? Simple. Thats how deep grass roots generally grow.
Whats not so simple is knowing how long it will take the water to soak down those six inches. Unfortunately, we have some bad news for you: every lawn is a bit different. How often and how much you should water depends on the makeup of your soil.
You can generalize, but the best way to know for sure is to turn on the water for your regularly scheduled watering, grab a shovel and dig up the topsoil after about 15 minutes. Youll be able to feel how far down the water has penetrated and gauge how long you need.
In some lawns, that first 15 minutes may be enough. Most, however, will probably need a bit longer.
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Common Myths About Lawn Watering & How To Do It Right
When it comes to watering lawns in Pennsylvania, we get a lot of questions about whats needed. From whether you should be watering your lawn in the evening to whether you should be watering your lawn in the winter, we know that there are some uncertainties about the best practices. We also recognize there is a lot of misunderstanding.
In order to clear things up, well take a look at 5 common myths about lawn watering to give you some helpful tips on whats best. These are important as proper watering is the one lawn care task that will impact your lawn more than any other.
