Watering
Tips
When
to water the lawn?
Water in the early morning before 8:00
A.M. or when temperature and evaporation
rate are low.
Don't
water daily. This will produce a shallow
root system which makes the grass less
drought resistant.
How to water the lawn?
1 to 2 inches of water a week; apply
enough water to soak the soil to a depth
of 6 to 8 inches remember that water
should NOT be allowed to run OFF the
surface or to form puddles, as that lead
to poor distribution and efficiency of
water.
If you notice water running off the
surface or forming puddles but you still
want to apply more water, turn the water
off for 15 minutes, then resume watering
until the desired amount has been added.
Deep and infrequent irrigation tends to
cause grassroots to grow deeper into the
soil, making the plants more drought
tolerant.
Shallow and frequent caterings lead to
shallow-rooted plants with less drought
tolerance.
Watering newly seeded lawn
Keep the soil surface evenly damp
(soaking first 1 inch of soil), but not
soggy, for the next 6 weeks or until
the lawn begins to get established.
As the lawn continues to mature. Water
for longer periods at a time but allow
more time between watering and allow
more time between watering and allow for
deeper soaking and penetration into soil
(3 to 4times per week). This encourages
deeper root growth.
Bare spots: 6 weeks after the
initial seeding, spot-seed bare and thin
areas. It is important to continue
proper watering.
Leaves: In fall, keep the lawn clear of
leaves. Leaves can block sunlight and
water, and suffocate young seedlings by
"matting down".
Watering newly planted shrubs and
trees
Newly planted trees have a limited root
system and need lots of watering.
Water immediately after planting. Until
new roots grow into the soil of the
planting site, water the original root
ball area and just beyond this area. The
root ball area may dry out faster than
the surrounding soil, so check the
moisture in this area frequently .
Newly planted trees and shrubs need
supplemental watering for their entire
first year. Water thoroughly, adding 1"
to 2" of water, every 4 to 7 days,
depending upon how much rain has fallen.
Plants in sandy soil need to be watered
more often, while plants in clay soil
should be watered less often.
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