Watering Tips

General Rule of Thumb:

Spring, Summer and Fall - Water approximately once per week.
Winter - once or twice per month

Watering Methods:

Drip Irrigation, Lawn Irrigation, Soaker Hoses, Deep Root Watering Devices, Tree Gators, Hand Watering, and others.

At time of planting:

Water thoroughly at time of planting to reduce transplant shock and eliminate air pockets around the root ball.

During the spring and summer months (Apr. - Sept.)

Dig a small hole with a garden trowel (6"-8" deep for trees) and (2"-4" deep for shrubs) at the base of the tree and within two feet of the trunk. If the soil at that depth feels powdery or crumbles when squeezed in your hand, water the plant. If the soil clumps together when squeezed in your hands, no additional moisture is required at that time.
For newly transplanted trees apply 10 gallons of water for each inch of the tree's diameter. For example, a two-inch caliper tree would need 20 gallons of water.
For newly planted shrubs apply 3 gallons of water each time the plant requires watering.

During the fall and winter months, (Oct. - Mar.)

Apply the same amount of water per watering as in spring and summer; only reduce the frequency of watering to approximately one to two times per month.
Water when temperatures will be above freezing for a day or two.
A Soaker Hose of Slow Trickle is recommended for winter watering! These items will work great when the ground is semi frozen because it may be difficult for deep root watering devices to penetrate the soil.

Helpful Watering Tips:

Never water plants unless they require moisture at that time.
Apply 3"-4" of mulch around the base of all plants. Mulch does an amazing job in retaining moisture. This will reduce the frequency of waterings required, which, in turn will lower moisture usage.
Long deep soakings are better than short frequent waterings.
Over watering deprives the root system of vital oxygen.
Under watering puts stress on the plant, making it susceptible to insects and disease.

Lawn Care

Soil Preparation

Properly design, install and maintain an irrigation system that will uniformly and efficiently deliver water.
It is a scientific fact that good soil prep can save 30% of the water needed in the landscape.

Sprinkler Systems

Properly design, install and maintain an irrigation system that will uniformly and efficiently deliver water.
Is a rain meter will help aid in lower

Water Needs of Newly Laid Turfgrass

It is critical to water the first 3 days, filling the water holding capacity of the top 4 – 6 inches of the soil!
To obtain water holding capacity, it requires ½ inch of water per day for the first 3 days. Total amount should be split up over 2 or 3 watering periods each day.

SPRING & SUMMER WATERING

WEEK 1: It is critical to water new turf the first 7 days. New sod requires ¾" - 1¼" of water per day for the first 7 days. Total amount should be split up over 4 or 5 watering periods each day.
The warmer the temperature, the more water you need to apply!!
WEEK 2: After the first 7 days, water at the rate of ½" per day for 7 days; split up over 2-3 watering periods each day.
WEEK 3: If watering restrictions allow, water ¼" per day every other day for 7 days. After the first two or three weeks, revert to watering 1-2 times per week as local watering restrictions allow, based on the inch per month rates in the chart below.

FALL & WINTER WATERING

WEEK 1: It is critical to water new turf the first 7 days. New sod requires ¾" - 1" of water per day for the first 7 days. Total amount should be split up over 3 or 4 watering periods each day.
WEEK 2: After the first 7 days, water at the rate of ¼" once per day for 7 days.
WEEK 3: If watering restrictions allow, water ¼" per day every other day for 7 days. After the first two or three weeks, revert to watering once per week as local watering restrictions allow, based on the inch per month rates shown in the chart below.
If there is no natural precipitation during the winter months when your sprinklers are shut off, it may be necessary to hand-water. The warmer the temperature, the more water you need to apply!

There are three major areas of lawn maintenance to be considered that will have an impact on how much water the lawn will need. They are fertilizing, mowing and watering.

Fertilizing

Healthy lawns need food. The main nutrient that lawns need is nitrogen, this well aid it in staying green. We recommend 3 fertilizer applications over the course of the season, spring, summer and winter.

Mowing

Best mowing practices will remove only one-third of the leaf blade at a time. Mulch mowing is an excellent practice which makes mowing easier, returns the nutrients that are in the grass clippings back to the soil, does not cause thatch build-up and will prevent having to put the grass clippings into the landfill.

Watering

Poor watering practices are probably responsible for more landscape problems than any other single factor. The key to maintaining a healthy lawn with watering is start with a simple watering schedule in the spring. Once you start with a routine your grass will actually require the same amount of water during the hot summer months.

We obtained this information from Turf Master Sod Company in Fort Collins, CO. For more information on this and other information regarding your lawn please contact Turf Master Sod Company either by visting there website www.turfmastersod.com or by phone (970) 493-8311