Q. I am responsible for maintaining a bermudagrass lawn
at a church where the foot traffic is pretty high. The lawn gets 25 minutes of
water three days a week, all in one watering because the lawn is very flat. But
it still looks thin in spots. Can you tell me if this is the right amount of
water?
at a church where the foot traffic is pretty high. The lawn gets 25 minutes of
water three days a week, all in one watering because the lawn is very flat. But
it still looks thin in spots. Can you tell me if this is the right amount of
water?
A. Water is tough to measure in minutes. It is usually
measured in gallons or inches of applied water. Right now, March and April,
lawns need about 1/4 inch of water per day. After four days, apply 1 inch of
water.
measured in gallons or inches of applied water. Right now, March and April,
lawns need about 1/4 inch of water per day. After four days, apply 1 inch of
water.
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| This was how we measured how evenly water was applied to turfgrass on a golf course. There are hundreds of quart plastic containers placed on this grass. You can do the same on a much smaller scale with your home lawn. But you must have several cups to be accurate. |
To translate 1 inch of water to
minutes put several cans out in random places, measure how much water is
applied in five minutes and then in 10 minutes. Translate the lowest amount
caught in cans into minutes.
minutes put several cans out in random places, measure how much water is
applied in five minutes and then in 10 minutes. Translate the lowest amount
caught in cans into minutes.
Another method is to water the
lawn for 15 minutes. Take a long pointy device, like a long screwdriver or
piece of 3/8 inch rebar, and shove it into the lawn in five different places.
Measure how deep the water has penetrated. It gets harder to push when it is
dry and pushes easily when it is wet.
lawn for 15 minutes. Take a long pointy device, like a long screwdriver or
piece of 3/8 inch rebar, and shove it into the lawn in five different places.
Measure how deep the water has penetrated. It gets harder to push when it is
dry and pushes easily when it is wet.
 |
| A long screwdriver can be substituted for that piece of rebar |
Run the irrigation long enough
for water to penetrate to one foot. When the water penetrates to this depth,
then this is the number of minutes to run the sprinklers. These minutes aren’t
changed much throughout the year.
for water to penetrate to one foot. When the water penetrates to this depth,
then this is the number of minutes to run the sprinklers. These minutes aren’t
changed much throughout the year.
What is changed is how OFTEN the
sprinklers come on. Three times a week seems quite often for bermudagrass this
time of year. It should be about every three or four days between irrigations
when watering a foot deep.
sprinklers come on. Three times a week seems quite often for bermudagrass this
time of year. It should be about every three or four days between irrigations
when watering a foot deep.
Applying enough water helps fill
in bare spots. But what really causes bare spots to fill in quickly is enough water
PLUS a nitrogen fertilizer. Apply ammonium sulfate, 21-0-0, to the lawn every 8
weeks. Use 3 to five pounds of this fertilizer for each 1000 square feet of
lawn.
in bare spots. But what really causes bare spots to fill in quickly is enough water
PLUS a nitrogen fertilizer. Apply ammonium sulfate, 21-0-0, to the lawn every 8
weeks. Use 3 to five pounds of this fertilizer for each 1000 square feet of
lawn.
Apply it with a handheld
spreader over the entire lawn and water it in. Apply it more heavily in bare
areas. Mow it somewhere between 1/2 and 1 inch in height. Taller grass is more
wear resistant.
spreader over the entire lawn and water it in. Apply it more heavily in bare
areas. Mow it somewhere between 1/2 and 1 inch in height. Taller grass is more
wear resistant.
This is such a good tip especially for someone who caters to commercial lots. Good one.
This is a helpful read especially for someone who caters to commercial lots. Great tips!