Conservation & Efficiency Information

A Few Watering Tips

How Much Water Is Enough?

Efficient watering wets only the turf grass root zone, does not saturate the soil and does not run off.

Here's a simple watering schedule:

Apply 1/2 to 3/4 inches of water 2 to 3 times weekly in the summer and every 10 to 14 days in the winter. If it rains, sprinkling should be suspended according to the rainfall amount. A rain sensor must be installed on irrigation systems to suspend irrigation during rainfall events.

Check the Vital Signs

Your lawn won't speak, but will give off silent screams when it has too much or too little water. When out in the yard, check the vital signs. Look for areas that may show sign of:

• Excessive moisture
• Standing water, or
• Yellowing of leaf areas

One way to reduce root rot is to reduce the amount of water you apply during rainy periods, permitting the soil to dry.

Excessive rainfall, combined with a heavy watering schedule, can displace the small pockets of air between the soil particles, not allowing excess water to penetrate the soil surface. If these conditions exist for an extended time, plant roots remove all oxygen from the water in the soil and the roots cannot breathe. The root dies from lack of oxygen, leading to fungal root rot which eventually kills the plant.

Resume Watering When

The lawn begins to show these signs of stress:

• Slight Wilting
• Leaf blades folded in half or curled
• Footprints remaining in the grass longer, or
• Gray spots in the lawn.

Mulching & Landscaping

The use of mulch, rock and ground cover can enhance your outdoor living space as well as add beauty and character to the landscape. Careful selection and proper application of these materials can reduce maintenance time, conserve water and provide color contrast to landscaping.