Phoenix Lawn Watering Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions / Tips

About half the water used at home is used outside, and most of that is for watering lawns.
By watering your lawn wisely, you can conserve a precious resource and save money on your water bill.


When should I water ?
Be a night owl.
Night or early in the morning are the most effective times to water,
because wind and evaporation are lower.
High wind speeds distort sprinkler patterns and produce non-uniform irrigation.


How often should I water ?
Water a bermudagrass lawn once every three days during the summer.
Even during the hottest part of the year, most lawns do not need to be watered every day.
By watering only once every three days, you promote deeper root growth
and that makes your lawn more water efficient.
In the winter, Bermuda-grass lawns go dormant and need no supplemental watering.
If you overseed with ryegrass in winter, water every 3 to 7 days after it is established.


How long should I water ?
How long you should water depends upon two factors:
1. How quickly your sprinklers put water on your lawn.
2. The amount of water your grass needs to stay healthy.

Here's a test to determine if water is needed :
Try pushing the 6" long shaft of a screwdriver into the ground.
If it goes in easily, don't water.

Note: Don't water after it has rained.


How many cans should I put out ?
Four cans will probably be sufficient for a 15' by 15' lawn.
On larger lawns, use more cans.
Avoid placing cans close to the sprinkler heads or near the edge of your lawn area.
Space the cans evenly on the lawn.


One can overflowed / One can is empty : What should I do ?
Empty all the cans, reposition the cans and run your irrigation system for another 15 minutes.
Do not increase or decrease this 15 minute run time test.
Uneven water application will affect the quality of your lawn in the future.
If certain areas are getting too much or too little water,
try adjusting your sprinkler heads to get a more uniform application.



Why can't I just water until the soil is soggy ?
You will be wasting water and increasing your water bills.
Overwatered lawns can be more susceptible to diseases such as fungus
and root-rots. Damp grass can also harbor mosquito larva.


What is 'Overseeding' ?
During the winter, bermudagrass enters a dormant period losing it's green luster.
Overseeding is the process whereby we seed ryegrass directly into the bermudagrass during the fall.
Ryegrass is better suited to cooler weather and will remain green through the winter.
In the late spring, warmer temperatures will cause the ryegrass to die out
and the bermudagrass (a perennial) will reestablish itself.
For a 15' by 15' lawn, overseeded rye grass will use 1238 more gallons of water per season
than a dormant Bermuda lawn.


I have wet, marshy areas, what can I do ?
Check the coverage of your irrigation system.
Adjust the sprinkler heads to reduce water application to wet areas.
If the water is puddling in low spots, add soil to those locations.
A level lawn is easier to water, mow and maintain.


I have dry, brown patches, what can I do ?
Check the coverage of your irrigation system.
Adjust the sprinkler heads to increase water application to dry areas.
You might need to hand water some areas.
If the water is running off high spots, remove soil from those locations.
A level lawn is easier to water, mow and maintain.


Does fertilizer help ?
Fertilizer can encourage your grass to grow and increase water demand.
And, you will need to mow it more often.
If you choose to apply fertilizer, do so with prudence.
Excessive amounts can burn a lawn; sometimes less is better.


Much of my lawn is in the shade, should I water less ?
Yes, you could probably reduce your irrigation run times.
However, if lawn areas that are in the sun are on the same
irrigation system, they will also get less water,
and could suffer and possibly burn.




More Tips for Improving Efficiency :


• If water runs off when sprinkling for the time provided by this website,
  split the reccommended run time into two irrigation events that
  are separated in time by at least 30 minutes.
  
  
• Use the same sprinkler type and nozzle size in each area watered.
  
  
• Adjust sprinklers so they spray the grass, not on walls, driveways and sidewalks.
  
  
• Make sure grass does not block sprinklers.
  
  
• Mow your lawn regularly.
  
  
• Keep your mower blades sharp; dull blades will damage and fray the grass
  making it difficult for the turf to grow back properly.
  
  
• Replace broken and missing sprinkler heads immediately.
  A missing sprinkler head can lose more than 12 gallons per minute.
  
  
• If some areas appear dry after sprinkling, hand water those areas
  instead of increasing watering time.


Signs of Underwatering :
• Bermudagrass has bluish-grey tint.
• Grass doesn't spring back after being stepped on.
• It is difficult to push a screwdriver into the soil.
• Turf still feels warm in the evening after the sun goes down.


Signs of Overwatering :
• Water is consistantly puddled in areas.
• Turf has a musty odor.
• Soil is extremely soft and mushy.
• Algae or mushrooms are present.



Something to Consider :
The average 15'x15' bermudagrass lawn uses over 5000 gallons of water per year.
A properly xeriscaped yard, using native plants, can be maintained
with little or no supplemental water.