Watering Help

WHEN TO WATER

Mother Nature rarely gives our lawns enough water, even in the spring months. The earlier we start watering, the healthier our lawns will be throughout the season.

April 15th is not just tax day but a good time to start watering. Sprinkler systems will not freeze in April because it takes several weeks of freezing weather to develop frost deep enough.

HOW MUCH TO WATER

Lawns need at least 2 inches of water per week, preferably more especially depending on Mother Nature.

• Once a week in April and May for at least 45 minutes. It may seem like a long time but remember we need to put down 2 inches.
• As temperatures rise so should watering. 2 or 3 times a week for at least 40 minutes, when temperatures are 80 degrees and above.
• In the fall, it is not recommended to just stop watering cold turkey but to wean the lawn off watering. This is accomplished by reducing the watering schedule slowly. In September, eliminate 1 day of watering per week and again in October down to one day a week for a couple of weeks before stopping.
• To check how long to water to reach 2 inches, place a pie tin or bowl about ‘mid-stream’ of the sprinkler and time how long it takes to reach 1 inch then double it.

SPRINKLER SYSTEM NOTES:

• Please turn on your systems in April, many sprinkler guys don’t schedule turn ons until late May and this is way too late.
• Blow your system out in late October and again many sprinkler guys start after Labor Day and this is way too early.
• In regular neighborhoods, as opposed to larger rural lawns, if the sprinklers were to run more than 20 minutes water would be running down the gutter. To avoid ‘watering’ the gutter, set the sprinkler program to run twice, back to back.

WHY IS THIS PROPER WATERING

Water is the single most important factor in root growth, not fertilizer.

• Roots only grow in early spring and late fall. As the temperatures rise the roots stop growing and actually start shrinking. Roots will begin to grow again as the temps start cooling off in preparation for the winter.
• Deep roots live in the soil zone that stays cool and moist during summer, which means less water is required. In the fall, the deeper the roots grow the more they are protected from winter.
• Shallow roots, caused by the lack of sufficient water in April, live in the top few inches of soil that is subject to hotter temps and dries out daily. During the winter, shallow roots are more exposed to extreme temperatures and can be damaged causing winter kill.
• The healthier the root zone, the healthier the top growth (grass).

For even more detail on watering, check out the watering PDF article in the help center.