Lawn Irrigation

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The average lawn requires approximately 1” of water per week during the growing season. This can be achieved through rainfall, irrigation, or through a combination of both. The use of catch cans can help determine the amount of water your irrigation system is providing the lawn. Instructions to do this can be found online.
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Water the lawn deeply and infrequently to encourage deeper roots. Watering yards frequently with a small amount will cause the roots to become shallower, leading to less drought tolerance and overall reduced health.

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Irrigate lawns early in the morning, thus preventing the lawn from staying wet too long, which decreases the chance of disease.

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Signs that a lawn is under drought stress include a lawn exhibiting a bluish-gray hue, rolled or folded leaf blades, and “footprinting.” “Footprinting” is when footprints are left behind for an extended period of time as you walk through the lawn without “springing” back up. This is caused by a lack of turgor pressure within the leaves due to low water levels in the plant.

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Extended periods of high temperatures, windy conditions, and low humidity may cause the lawn to appear drought-stressed even though adequate water may be present in the soil. This is due to the fact that the leaves lose water faster than it can be absorbed by the roots.

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After you water the lawn, do not water it again until you observe signs of water deficiency. Try to stretch the interval between waterings as long as possible to encourage the development of deep, extensive roots.

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If you are unsure if the lawn is in need of water, a screwdriver test may be used. Press a screwdriver (or a similar item) into the lawn, if the soil is too dry, it will be difficult to push the screwdriver into the ground, as opposed to a lawn with adequate moisture.