July 15, 2010

Here's Randy's Weekly KTRH GardenLine Tip:

Issue #170

When it comes to the irrigation of your grass, less means more, and more means less.

Huh? What did he just say?

First, what you are about to read is not only my opinion ... it's the opinion of some of the best turfgrass researchers from Florida to Mississippi and Louisiana to Texas.

I don't care what your irrigation company or your landscaper tells you, remember this: light, frequent watering of grass produces a weak, shallow root system. I've learned that's exactly what many of those companies are recommending, and it's making me worry. A shallow, weak root system encourages weed invasion and does not effectively use soil nutrients or moisture.

Instead, deep, less-frequent watering produces an extensive root system that efficiently uses the soil's resources and makes the lawn less susceptible to stress injury. If your lawn takes on a dull purplish cast, and the leaf blades begin to roll or fold before they begin to wilt, that's a perfect indication your irrigation practices are off kilter.

I should note, though, that those symptoms also apply to lawns in hard-pan, overly compacted soils. In those conditions, it almost doesn't matter how you water ... it's all going to waste because of instant run-off.

Ideally, it is best to water any turf just before it begins to wilt. Early morning is the best time of day — late evening is the worst, especially as we get close to September. When I make that recommendation, I often get arguments from people. But here are the five major reasons why you should water early in the morning:

1. Morning is meteorologically and statistically when wind is lowest. You'll experience less waste through evaporation.
   
2. Morning is the coolest part of the day. Again, less evaporation and wasted money.
   
3. Agricultural engineers have shown over and over again that water pressure is at its best early in the morning. I know ... many people are taking showers in the morning — I'm just passing on what the experts have shown through studies.
   
4. Morning watering allows the turf to use the water during the heat of the day.
   
5. Watering in the morning gets you in the habit of NOT watering in the evenings. When fall rolls around, you won't run the risk of promoting diseases like brownpatch by having moist turf during the cool nights.

I put out a tip sheet not long ago that discusses how much moisture your turf needs during the summer. It also takes into account how various types of soil impact the equation. You can read it HERE.

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