Recommendations for Effective Lawn Watering
Do not begin watering at the first sign of warm weather. Root-system elongation is the initial turfgrass response to drought conditions. Do not delay watering, however, until the lawn has gone dormant.
To determine when to water, walk on your lawn to see if your footprints are visible behind you. On lawns in need of water, the grass will not spring back following trafficking. Another method of determing the need for watering is to watch for grass color changes. Very often, as soils dry, lawns with inadequate moisture develop a dark blue or purple cast. Finally, you can use a soil sampling tool to examine soil for moisture. Supply a uniform amount of water to the entire lawn. Do not supply excessive water in some spots and inadequate amounts to others.
It is best to water deeply and infrequently. Water to the depth of the turf root system, that is, supply enough water in one irrigation to moisten the entire soil profile where roots are growing. Usually, one inch of water is adequate to supply this amount. Do not water again until this soil area has dried. Coarse, sandy soils will require more frequent watering than fine textured clay soils.
Watch newly planted lawns closely. Newly installed sod has smaller root systems than their full-established counterparts. These plants will usually require frequent irrigation until their root systems have developed and they have become established.
Do not apply water faster than the soil can absorb. Do not create puddles by overwatering. On slopes, apply water slowly enough to be absorbed into the soil and not runoff the surface.
Water early in the day. This can reduce water loss due to evaporation and also reduce the incidence of several lawn diseases.
Do not follow an irrigation regime that causes your lawn to bounce between active growth and dormancy. A continuous pattern of dormancy followed by active growth can stress turf.
