Wednesday, September 30, 2015

The Basics about Watering Your Landscaping

It sounds like an easy question: how much should I water my yard? Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as you might think. Many factors go into the amount of moisture your landscaping requires, such as the type of grass, soil condition, irrigation system, and mowing height. C4 Landscape & Design is here to offer some instructions about keeping your landscaping at its healthiest and most beautiful through the use of water.
 Irrigation scheduleMother Nature plays a role in your irrigation schedule. You must consider the amount of rainfall and the temperature. When daytime temperatures are in the 70s and 80s, lawns do well with 1-1.5 inches of water per week. As temperatures reach 88-92, increase your watering to 1-1.5 inches every 4-5 days. When it’s over 93 degrees outside, your lawn needs water every 2-3 days.
 Length of wateringThere’s a simple trick to figuring out how long it takes for your lawn to receive an inch of water. Put an empty tuna can at the farthest point that your sprinkler spray reaches; when the can is full, you have provided one inch of water. It can take between 15-45 minutes depending upon your irrigation system.
 Time of dayThe best time of day to water your landscaping is early in the morning. There’s less breeze to evaporate the moisture, water pressure is at its best, and the lawn will be able to store water for the often warm Texas day to come. Schedule automatic sprinklers to run between 3-8 a.m. If you don’t have an irrigation system, start your sprinkler as soon as you get up in the morning. Avoid watering at night because it increases the risk of fungal diseases such as brownpatch.
 Type of grassDifferent grasses require varying levels of water. St. Augustine needs the most, Bermuda is next, and Zoysia requires significantly less than the others.
 Soil conditionYour landscaping is dependent upon the soil underneath it. Sandy or clay soils that aren’t enriched with organic matter dry out more quickly, so they need more water. In order to obtain rich organic soil, you’ll need to add soil activators or enriched topsoil every year.
 Mowing heightYou may be tempted to cut your grass short to avoid mowing more often, but don’t fall victim to that trap! Set your mower height setting to as tall as it allows. Higher grass allows the roots to deepen, which in turn draws from deeper moisture in your soil. Also, taller grass provides shade for the surface of the soil so that moisture dissipates less quickly.
 New lawnsIf your lawn is newly sodded, you need to water it every day especially during hot weather. The goal is to keep it wet near the root zone to help the roots establish fully. You don’t want to drown the grass, but make sure the soil is soft to promote good growth.