Mid-summer Lawn Care: Watering by Donna Duffy

Photo courtesy Donna Duffy

Here we are in the heat of July, and your lawn watering practices may need to be altered from those that were effective in spring and early summer. Following are mid-summer watering tips from Dr. Tony Koski, CSU Extension Turf Specialist.

Follow watering programs encouraged or mandated in your community

• Water the lawn whenever it is allowed.
• Disregard for required community watering practices can result in substantial fines and may encourage communities to enact even stricter watering restrictions.
• Contact your local water utility for information on your local watering restrictions.

Effective lawn irrigation requires an understanding of how the irrigation system operates, as well as ongoing maintenance of sprinkler heads

• Learn how to program your control clock so that you irrigate according to the schedule mandated for your community.
• Set the clock so that irrigation occurs between 6PM and 10 AM (or as otherwise mandated).
• Repair or replace broken irrigation heads.
• Adjust irrigation heads to avoid throwing water on streets, driveways, and other hardscape.
• If you find that adjusting or repairing your irrigation system is too time-consuming or challenging, hire an irrigation or landscape management specialist to perform this important work.
• Your lawn care company professional may be willing to program your irrigation control clock for you.
• Contact your local water provider for information on conducting an irrigation audit; some lawn care companies, landscape management firms, or irrigation installation firms will conduct an audit of your irrigation system for a modest fee.

Even with unlimited watering per irrigation zone on a twice-weekly basis, lawns often will show signs of stress

• Summer root stress reduces the ability of root systems to use water.
• Stress will first appear in areas where irrigation coverage is lacking.

The application of wetting agents specifically developed for use on turf is recommended to reduce the occurrence of water repellent conditions in lawns

• Wetting agents can benefit lawns subjected to extreme drying over the past few months by promoting better infiltration of water into the soil; summer use may reduce the occurrence and/or severity of dry spots in the lawn (but will NOT totally compensate for poor irrigation coverage).
• Wetting agents are available in both granular and liquid forms; granular formulations are often easier for homeowners to apply.
• The use of dishwashing detergents and other soaps in place of turf-type wetting agents is not recommended and may damage heat- and drought-stressed lawns.
• The incorporation of water-absorbing polymers (sometimes called "hydrogels") into new or existing lawns does NOT reduce lawn water requirements and is not recommended for Colorado lawns.

Curtis Utley, Jefferson County CSU Extension Horticulture Agent, conducting a Lawncheck with a Golden resident

If you need help diagnosing turf problems, schedule a Lawncheck through Jefferson County CSU Extension.

Lawncheck is an on-site, lawn consultation service for a fee. A Colorado State University Extension professional will contact you to make an appointment and discuss cost. Service includes recommendations for improving your lawn and solving insect, disease and other lawn problems. To schedule a Lawncheck appointment, call Jefferson County CSU Extension at 303-271-6620.