This spring we have had an abundance of moisture and our
lawns and gardens are benefiting from it. With its deep green color, Kentucky
Bluegrass is in its glory…for now. Leap forward to late June/July with the watering
restriction and take into consideration how to maintain your lawn. Whether your
turf is a bluegrass, ryegrass, or fescue, proper watering techniques can
promote a healthy lawn.
Kentucky Bluegrass or ryegrass lawns need anywhere from 1”
in shady areas to 2.25” of water per week in full sun. This may be difficult to
do with the restrictions but the following information may help you get the
best results for your lawn.
1. Place several containers of the same size in your lawn
area to be watered. Try to place them in a level area. I like using large tuna
or soup cans. Proper placement is crucial to catch the water.
2. Turn on your watering system for ten minutes, then
measure the moisture in the containers. If you received ½” of water in each
container, you know you need to increase you time to twenty minutes to receive 1”
of water for that area. Do this for all zones of your yard. Let the grass
species and health, soil conditions, and weather conditions dictate irrigation
practices, not the number of days or time between watering.
3. Denver water prohibits watering between the hours of
10:00am and 6:00pm to avoid water loss from evaporation. Contrary to popular
belief, watering at night does not encourage disease development. The most
efficient time of day to water is late evening and early morning.
4. Mowing! Make sure the cutting edge blade on your mower is
sharp. A dull blade will shred and fray leaf blades instead of cutting them
cleanly. The result is a brown, unattractive lawn. I sharpen mine twice a
growing season. The minimum height for any lawn is two inches. The preferred
height for all Colorado species is 2.5” to 3”. Mowing to less than 2” can
result in decreased drought and heat tolerance and higher incidence of insects,
disease and weeds. Mow your lawn the same height all year, and mow often enough
so no more than 1/3 of the grass height is removed at any single mowing. So, if
your mowing height is 2”, mow your lawn when it is 3 inches tall. If weather or
another factor prevents mowing at the proper time, raise the height of the
mower temporarily to avoid cutting too much at one time. Cut the grass again in
a few days at the proper height. If you stay consistent, mulching your lawn
when you mow is a great choice and will add back nitrogen and organic matter to
your lawn. Mulching your grass clippings will not contribute to thatch
accumulation in your lawn.
If you need more information, check out CSU Extension’s FactSheet #7.202.