Lawn watering during drought...

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

Do you guys water your lawns (tabs -> your rocks) during a drought? I have automatic sprinklers, but I turned them off, because I feel like it's a waste of water.

thoughts?

tabs · 07-21-2005, 03:59 PM

I had a front lawn before they did the repair work on my house...now it's history along with the rest of the front yard landscaping....U aren't allowed to put grass in the front yards anymore so it will be a desert landscape for me....I am tired of cutting the grass anyway....

There have been landscape watering restrictions in LV for several years now..in the winter it's one day a week and in Spring iand fall it's 3 days a week and in summer evryday??? but after 8PM and before 12PM.....your watering days are scheduled according to the area of town you live in....

If U don't water your grass everyday or so in the Summer..U don't have any grass left...my water bill here has yet to exceed $20.00 a month even in the Summer time....if they catch you wasting water, mainily by letting it run down the street they will fine you in a progessive manner for each infraction...

I have a friend who lived in Redmond, Washington....he told me watering Bills can run to $1200 a month....so people in his area ...THe Plateau..stopped watering their lawns in the summer....

Jims5543 · 07-21-2005, 04:58 PM

We get this in Florida from time to time. Try watering your lawn every other day for a few weeks then reduce it down to 3 times a week.

The trick is to water between 1-4 AM. According to 2 different landscaping companies I have dealt with this is the best time to water and the most beneficial. The water will soak the ground and not evaporate as easily. The air temp is just about at its coolest along with the ground.

My property is very sandy and perks very quickly. When we drained my pool we didn't even have to well point. This makes for problems keeping my property irrigated properly.

You can however train your lawn to deal with less water. Plus when you water at 2 in the morning no one will see it = less guilt.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

hehe, excellent, jim, that's what I'll do. hearing the water turn on at 2am will help me wake up earlier also.

Thank you

legion · 07-22-2005, 04:56 AM

I don't water my lawn in the summer...or any other time of year.

Our town's water comes from an artificial lake. So, if the lake is high and there has been lots of rain one year...there's no need to water my lawn. If there hasn't been much rain (like this year), then the lake is low and I don't want to waste the water. Besides, this area won't go without rain long enough to do permanent damage to the grass. It might go dormant, but it won't die.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by legion
I don't water my lawn in the summer...or any other time of year.

Our town's water comes from an artificial lake. So, if the lake is high and there has been lots of rain one year...there's no need to water my lawn. If there hasn't been much rain (like this year), then the lake is low and I don't want to waste the water. Besides, this area won't go without rain long enough to do permanent damage to the grass. It might go dormant, but it won't die.

I like the way you think. This is exactly what I've been saying for years. I only water on newly layed seed.

I pretty much solved the green grass issue by cuttin it as high as possible. Works for all but the most stubborn of NJ style droughts.

Rot 911 · 07-22-2005, 06:36 AM

I'm on an artesian well so water is not an issue, but it's just grass. If it goes dormant due to lack of rain that is just less mowing for me to do!

Franklin · 07-22-2005, 06:40 AM

Talk to your county extension agent. A lot of grasses normally turn brown when it gets hot but they don't die. If you can, determine exactly what grass species/cultivar you have. A Master Gardener from the extension office will be happy to visit you and provide info that might be otherwise unavailable.

Joeaksa · 07-22-2005, 07:11 AM

I have a small plot of grass, rest is "desert" landscaping. Water bill runs $200 in the summer, $30 the rest of the year. I have pop up sprinklers built in for the grass and a drip irrigation system for the other stuff in the yard as well as a pool to support.

Best time to water is either just a bit right at sunset or about an hour before sunrize. You do not want it going on the plants when it will evaporate or sitting on them overnight and causing problems with rot and disease.

Used to be in the nursery business (no, not kids, plants and not the kind you smoke) and the older I get the more I am like Tabs and do not want to mow grass ever again in my life.

Joe A

RickM · RickM's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
You do not want it going on the plants when it will evaporate or sitting on them overnight and causing problems with rot and disease.

This is my undestanding as well. I was told molds would develop if watering went on at night. Best time is very early in the morn.

Shuie · 07-22-2005, 08:48 AM

You cant kill the grass here. Watering it just makes it grow. if it grows, i have to mow it.

when i lived in Florida there were times during the year that you could be ticketed for running sprinklers or washing cars.

Drago · Drago's Garage

First couple of years in the current house I didn't water at all. Lawn turned brown, neighbors didn't like it, HOA didn't like it. I kept telling them it's normal for the lawn to go dormant in the summer. It was a loosing battle...we now have a sprinkler system installed and turn it on at ~7am about every 2-3 days, more frequently if it's been particularly hot and sunny.

Much happier now. Green is good.

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

If you water it... it grows.... ...if it grows... you must mow it...

I save water.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

While my lawn watering habits might change, there's no way I'll stop washing my cars... that's just crazy.

Drago · Drago's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by cstreit
If you water it... it grows.... ...if it grows... you must mow it...

True, but I'm married to the oddest of women who actually likes mowing the lawn. She's sick I tell ya!

legion · 07-22-2005, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bryanthompson
While my lawn watering habits might change, there's no way I'll stop washing my cars... that's just crazy.

Ditto on that.

amity914 · 07-22-2005, 08:04 PM

We don't water, ever. It rains most of the year here, the grass turns brown in the summer, but grows green again when it rains. In portland if you get caught watering during a drought they will fine you.

KNS · 07-22-2005, 08:22 PM

During the drought here in AZ, water restrictions were "talked" about but not implemented. All water restrictions in this state are recommended or encouraged, nothing enforced. For a desert, this is insane thinking. When lawn watering restrictions were proposed, Real Estate agents went nuts. "How can we sell a house without a green lawn" they cried. The proposals were dropped.