6/29/2018 Water Rules, Tips and Tricks!
During summer, lawn watering and irrigation systems are the chief source of water usage. Watering times generally double during this time of the year creating strict water restrictions across Colorado, especially in Denver.
Which doesn’t come to much surprise, everybody wants a lush, green lawn. And the best way to keep your lawn green and healthy is by watering your lawn correctly.
Between May 1st and October 1st, Denver residents must follow these rules: no watering between 10am and 6pm, no watering during rain or strong winds and no watering sidewalks and streets, among other summer watering rules. You can read more about Denver watering restrictions here.
How to get the most out of your lawn watering
Despite Denver’s rules and regulations, there are ways to maximize your lawn watering that’s both beneficial to your lawn and your wallet.
Watering your lawn can be broken down into two primary goals:
First, you want to water adequately enough to moisten the root zone without wasting water. The root zone being the soil surrounding the roots (about 6 inches down).
Second, allow the soil time to dry out between watering so that roots have the opportunity to absorb oxygen.
When to Water
It’s easy to tell when grass needs water; either the grass will turn a grey-green or footprints will be left in the lawn for extended periods of time after walking on it.
Watering early in the morning is hands down the best time to water your lawn. Temperatures are the coolest and the water won’t be instantly evaporated during the heat of the day or rest on the blades too long at night, causing all sorts of fungal disease.
As previously mentioned, the sweet spot is between 4am and 10am.
How Much to Water
This is largely going to depend on the type of soil and grass your lawn consists of. Thought the general rule of thumb is to give your lawn at least 1 inch of water per week.
Different grass types have different watering wants and needs. I recommend checking out our grass guide for additional information on that subject.
When it comes to soil types, clay soils absorb water very slowly and watering too much at once will create runoff and wastewater. Sandy soils aren’t much better since they drain water quickly and will need more frequent watering. Most lawns in Denver have clay soils.
How to Check your Watering
Using a shovel, dig out a small piece of sod in each zone in the lawn approximately six inches deep and check the soil moisture. If it’s moist six inches deep, congrats! Your lawn is getting enough water. If not, you may want to up the ante and check again next time.
