STORM2K

How much is enough, and how much is too much??

I think that the lawn needs an inch a week to keep it growing and healthy. You want to make sure that you leave the water on long enough so that the moisture soaks in. If you don't, the roots will get shallow and can cause it turn burn off even quicker during dry/drought conditions. I'd say a good 40 minutes for each area is enough.

1 inch a week. I read that you put an empty tuna can (ewww, can you imagine the smell of a full one on a hot sunny day!) and when it fills up (or up to 1 inch), that's enough.

I've heard the same here, 1 inch a week. Use the empty tuna can suggestion. Begin watering and when the can is full, then that's enough for your lawn for the week. For example, we water in a pie shaped area, or a 90 degree angle with a pulsating sprinkler. We do one corner one day, the opposite corner the next. Both take about 3 hours each to get to the one inch line. We only do this in dry conditions. Usually July-August around here. I have neighbors that water almost daily and for only 20 minutes at a time. We've found a deep watering, once a week is far more benefitial to a lawn. I've also had neighbors turn off my sprinklers thinking I'd forgotten they were on. Then you try to explain the one inch rule...and how in my lawn and that area it takes 3 hours.

One more thing, the best time of day to water is around dawn. I just set the alarm and start watering around 5 a.m., but go back to sleep. We set up the sprinkler the night before and test it out.

Good luck Chad. The worst thing you can do is water in the middle of the day and water lightly. The grass just burns quicker that way.

Thanks for sharing. We generally don't water the lawn, but I may try that if it ever gets dry.

Agreed on the 1" a week. I water early in the morning (automatic sprinklers) 3 times a week. Seems to work good for me!

Inch a week is always what we heard. To make sure you're getting the right amt stick a tuna can in the lawn where you are watering and move the sprinkler when it is filled with an inch of water

And suddenly tuna was flying off the shelves.....we all have the same idea. But it's so true Chad and so easy to do......

I survived a major draught in Cincy back in 88. We had temps in the low 100s, I know that doesn't sound high to some of you, but factor in our high humidty level too, and it was a very, very hot summer. With virtually no rain. We were looking into buying a new home and selling our condo. Many new developments weren't even bothering with planting sod/grass and landscaping. Everything was brown and dying. I persoanlly saved a small tree in front of our condo assn. and now it's 30 feet tall by using the drip method (the local news had many segments on properly watering plants and trees, they said skip the grass, too costly). Well, one condo neighbor decided to water his front lawn area and ran the sprinkler for 11 hours. We set the timer. We just could not believe it. I think that's then and there when I went to the library and studied up on lawn and landscape care. I have never watered my area longer than 3 hours, and even that sounds rediculous but we've timed it. And we also planted tall fescue with deep roots. The more thorough watering you do weekly is far better than a light sprinkle or a deluge (as in my old neighbor).

Cutting the grass no shorter than 3" helps to shade
the soil,too. Thus preventing the ground from drying out as quickly.

Debbie