Take a Close Look at Lawn Irrigation Needs

First posted on 07-27-2010

Homeowners should take a close look at just how much irrigation their lawns actually need, said a University of Missouri Extension turf scientist.

“Some studies show that the average homeowner applies 2.5 times the amount of water that is required for turf growth when using a hose-end sprinkler,” said Brad Fresenburg.

Learn how to read your lawn so you know when to water, Fresenburg said. Purple-blue wilting leaves, footprints that stay and folded or rolled leaves are signs that lawns need thorough watering.

Once you decide that a lawn needs irrigation, supply enough water to last a week.

The best time to water a lawn is from 6 to 8 a.m. During this time, water pressure is highest, disruption of the water by wind is low and water lost to evaporation is negligible.

Watering early in the morning also reduces the chance of turf diseases that flourish under extended periods of leaf moisture. “Avoid irrigation during midday and windy conditions,” he said.

Move sprinklers frequently enough to avoid puddles and runoff. Difficult-to-wet areas such as slopes, thatched turf and hard soils may benefit from application of a wetting agent to improve surface penetration of water.

Some areas of the lawn will wilt before others. Hand-water problem areas to postpone the need to irrigate the entire lawn. Lawns with unusual shapes also may require some hand watering to avoid unnecessary watering of paved surfaces, mulched beds and buildings.

Soaker hoses that have a narrow pattern and supply water at a low rate may be useful in these areas.

Good lawn care practices save water and harden turf in preparation for dry periods or local lawn watering restrictions. Taller mowing and applying nitrogen fertilizer in the fall develop a hardy and efficient root system that reduces the need for supplemental irrigation.

As a rule of thumb, green and growing tall fescue grass needs about 0.8 inches of water per week. Kentucky bluegrass needs about 1.2 inches per week.

Zoysia and Bermuda grass require 0.8 and 0.5 inches per week, respectively. Buffalo grass needs 0.3 inches of water per week.

Newly sodded lawns need daily irrigation during establishment.

Select a hose-end sprinkler that best fits the size and shape of your lawn. All hose-end sprinklers can be attached to inexpensive timers to avoid overirrigation, he said.

For more information about lawn irrigation, including sprinkler types and water requirements for different varieties of grass, see the MU Extension publication “Home Lawn Watering Guide” (G6720), available for free download at http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6720.

Brad Fresenburg offers tips on watering your lawn in an MU Extension podcast at http://umextension-audio.blogspot.com/2010/07/tips-on-watering-your-lawn.html.

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