|
WATER CONSERVATION ::
TIPS :: LAWN WATERING GUIDE
 Are
you puzzled about the best time to water your grass?
Most grasses take on a
dull, dark appearance and grass leaves begin to roll when they need
water. The best time to water is early morning.
How
much do you water?
Grasses in our area need
1 to 1½ inches of water every five days. By watering
thoroughly, no more than every five days, you will help your grass
develop deeper, more drought tolerant roots during the growing season.
If some areas appear dry
after sprinkling, hand water those areas instead of increasing the
watering time or turning on the sprinkler system again.
How
long should I run my sprinkler?
Remember, you want to
apply 1 to 1½ inches of water every five days. First, determine
how much water your sprinkler applies:
-
Set three to five
empty cans (tuna or pet food size) at different distances around
the sprinkler with the last can near the end of the sprinkler
coverage.
-
Run the sprinkler
for 30 minutes.
-
Add the inches of
water in all cans and divide the total inches by the number of
cans to obtain an average.
-
Multiply the average
by two to determine how many inches of water your sprinkler applies
in one hour.
Now you can figure out
how long to run your sprinkler to apply 1 to 1½ inches.
Rainfall counts too, so if it rains, be sure to reduce the amount you
apply with your sprinkler by the rainfall amount. Try using a
rain gauge to track rainfall amounts in your yard.
What
about trees, shrubs, and groundcovers?
Did you know that
over-watering can damage or even kill your trees or shrubs?
Since trees and shrubs add value to your home and can cost quite a lot
just to get them established it is very important to know when or how
much to water. Established plantings do
well in the summer when watered about once a week, especially if mulch
is placed around plants. Apply enough water to wet the soil to a
depth of at least 12 inches. Using low output sprinkler heads,
bubblers, or drip irrigation systems helps prevent runoff and are
efficient ways to water.
 It is very important to
make sure that the roots of the plants get watered. Roots
usually spread 1½ to 3 times as wide as the plant's leaf base and
generally penetrate two to three feet deep, depending on the size of the
plant. To see if the root base has received sufficient water
simply stick a thin metal rod or stick into the base of the root
system. Water will allow the stick or rod to be easily
inserted. If you reach an area where the stick or rod can no
longer be inserted, you have probably found a dry area. Measure
the approximate depth of the root base and if you were able to insert the
rod or stick down the correct number of inches you have watered
enough. Note: While you are watering watch to see how long
it takes you to sufficiently water the plant. After you have
completed watering the plant and tested to ensure the root base has
been sufficiently irrigated you will probably need to water that plant
the same length of time. Remember to adjust your watering times
if the weather changes.
New plantings require
more frequent watering in the first two years. When purchasing
new or replacement plants, consider Texas Water Smart varieties that
are native or adaptive to this area.
Special conditions, soil, and slopes
Before you set up a
watering schedule consider that weather, plant maturity and type, root
depth, and soil type affect plant watering needs.
Remember...
-
Sandy
soil requires more frequent watering than loam or clay soils.
-
Apply water slowly
to loam and clay soils to prevent runoff.
-
To avoid runoff on
sloping areas, place sprinklers near the top of the slope.
Apply water slowly for 5 to 15 minutes, off 15 minutes, on 5 to 15
minutes, etc. until the correct amount of water has been applied.
-
Fertilize in the
spring and fall with a slow release nitrogen product, such as a
15-5-10 mix.
Additional Resources
[ back ]
|
