Water Tips
WATER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR THE SUCCESS OF YOUR NEW TURFGRASS.
NEW LAWNS – SOD:
Make sure your site is ready for installation as soon as the turf is delivered. Turf is a perishable product, and cannot survive on the pallet for any period of time. Prior to installation, water the soil ½” – 1″ depth. Mist sod as each 300 – 600 square feet is installed. After installation is complete, water the entire site, heavily, until “soggy”. Water the sod to a soil moisture depth of 3 inches daily for the first 2 weeks. Keep the soil moist at all times during the first 2 weeks. Hot or windy days may require more frequent watering. New lawns require a consistent moist soil until well rooted. Lift the corner of a piece of newly installed sod after watering to check that water has penetrated to the soil. Be careful to apply water to the edges and corners of the lawn; and pay close attention to full sun areas and slopes as these areas will dry more quickly. Do not let the sod dry between watering.
NEW LAWNS – HYDROSEED:
Proper watering of your Hydroseeded lawn is essential for germination and starting your lawn off correctly. A newly seeded area must be kept moist at all times for the first two weeks after planting. Depending on weather, temperature and soil type, your lawn may need to be watered several times per day. Cool, damp days may only need one watering per day whereas hot summer days may need watering 3-4 times per day. It may be helpful to use an electronic water timer if no one is home during the day. Too little water slows the establishment of the grass. If the seed starts to germinate and is allowed to dry out, the seedlings can die. The seed should germinate in 7-10 days under optimum conditions. Under adverse conditions it may take 14-21 days to germinate. After the first or second mowing, reduce the frequency of watering to 1-3 times per week, depending on weather conditions. Watering less frequently and for a longer period of time promotes deeper rooting.
ESTABLISHED LAWNS
Begin a watering program in early April or May to maintain adequate moisture in the turf. Once a lawn is established it will require about one inch of water per week between May and October. During the hottest weeks of summer the lawn may require 1 ½ ” – 2″ of water per week. Encourage deeper root growth by watering less often, but deeply. A lawn that sheds water quickly will need to be watered in several shorter cycles. Lawn areas are commonly over watered and improving water distribution and application timing can usually save significant amounts of water. The best time to water is early morning to reduce vaporization and evaporation. As a rule of thumb, watering during periods when “dew” would be expected to appear naturally will minimize fungal infections (Red Thread, Rust) caused by water standing on the leaf surface for long periods of time. If you use an automatic irrigation system be sure to adjust the timer throughout the year. In running your system, make sure you have programmed the proper duration and frequency of your watering cycles (as necessary for your soil type, slopes, plantings, and exposure to sun and shade). Watering needs in your landscape will change as weather patterns change during the season, and from year to year as your plantings mature or are modified.
SIGNS OF INADEQUATE WATERING:
- Blue/gray tint
- Brown spots
- When walked on, footprint stays for more than 5 minutes.