Brown
spots or dead areas in lawns can be common during summer months. It might be a
disease, but then again, it could be something else.
spots or dead areas in lawns can be common during summer months. It might be a
disease, but then again, it could be something else.
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| There is a sprinkler head in the center of the green spots. |
The
three primary reasons that lawns develop brown spots or dead areas are due to irrigation
problems, the development of diseases and insect damage.
Irrigation
Problems.
How many times have I heard, “I know the sprinkler system was installed right.
I did it myself.” Just because you did it yourself, does NOT mean it was done
correctly. If it was done correctly did you design it for “head to head”
coverage? Did you size your pipe taking into account all of your nozzles gpm and
friction losses? Did you make sure the pressure of your
Problems.
How many times have I heard, “I know the sprinkler system was installed right.
I did it myself.” Just because you did it yourself, does NOT mean it was done
correctly. If it was done correctly did you design it for “head to head”
coverage? Did you size your pipe taking into account all of your nozzles gpm and
friction losses? Did you make sure the pressure of your
 |
| First sign of an irrigation problem is that smokey-grey color in your lawn when it gets hot. |
system falls within the
manufacturers recommended pressure range for your nozzles? I can go on. If you
understood these terms and took them into account then maybe you did it right.
 |
| Pressure too high. Sprinkler in the center of that little green spot of grass |
Any
weaknesses in your sprinkler system will show up when temperatures hit 110F and
15% humidity. Lawn water use will exceed 4/10 of an inch of water every day. The
first thing you will notice when temperatures start to get hot are smoky-grey
patches start to show up in your lawn. Then the brown spots or patches start to
appear and they are often not clearly defined. Oftentimes they are smack dab
between the irrigation heads when heads are not spaced appropriately, nozzles
are mismatched, heads are not perpendicular to the lawn or you use 2 inch popups
when you should use 4 inch. Sometimes these brown patches can be right next to
the head if the pressure of your system is too high and the sprinklers “fog”.
In order to clear up the problem or you use the wrong type of nozzles.
weaknesses in your sprinkler system will show up when temperatures hit 110F and
15% humidity. Lawn water use will exceed 4/10 of an inch of water every day. The
first thing you will notice when temperatures start to get hot are smoky-grey
patches start to show up in your lawn. Then the brown spots or patches start to
appear and they are often not clearly defined. Oftentimes they are smack dab
between the irrigation heads when heads are not spaced appropriately, nozzles
are mismatched, heads are not perpendicular to the lawn or you use 2 inch popups
when you should use 4 inch. Sometimes these brown patches can be right next to
the head if the pressure of your system is too high and the sprinklers “fog”.
In order to clear up the problem or you use the wrong type of nozzles.
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| Little bit of drought and disease mixed in this lawn. |
· Know the
operating pressure of your sprinkler system.
operating pressure of your sprinkler system.
· If mowing at two
inches or above use four inch popup sprinklers.
inches or above use four inch popup sprinklers.
· Space sprinkler
heads and select the right nozzles to provide head to head coverage (water from
one nozzle should reach the neighboring nozzle and vice versa).
heads and select the right nozzles to provide head to head coverage (water from
one nozzle should reach the neighboring nozzle and vice versa).
· Size irrigation
pipe to provide water flow through the pipe not to exceed 7 feet per second
when operating.
pipe to provide water flow through the pipe not to exceed 7 feet per second
when operating.
· Use a system
pressure regulator (if operating pressure is to high) or a booster pump (if
operating pressure is too low) so that operating pressure falls within pressure
range recommended by sprinkler nozzle manufacturers.
pressure regulator (if operating pressure is to high) or a booster pump (if
operating pressure is too low) so that operating pressure falls within pressure
range recommended by sprinkler nozzle manufacturers.