Lawn Irrigation

Since I just recommended reducing lawn size you won't have much concern for lawn irrigation, right!?! Well, we Americans do like our lawns and I suspect they will be around for awhile. With the current summer heat I've been dealing with some misconceptions about watering; some folks believe that watering daily is necessary to keep the lawn green.

Actually, this is about the worst thing you can do, since it encourages shallow rooting. We need to water as deeply as possible, as infrequently as possible; this will vary by region and soil type, though here in the arid West, a common schedule for summer is 30 - 60 minutes per station (area), run 2 - 3 times per week. Each site is different so experience is the best teacher.

Deep, infrequent irrigation will encourage the roots to seek the cool moisture deep in the soil and will actually make the plants more drought hardy. If you're now on a daily schedule, or if you have new seed or sod, gradually increase watering time and decrease frequency until you've developed a deep root system.

Happy Trails,

Dan Eskelson
Clearwater Landscapes, Inc.