Q: How do I know when to water my lawn? How much water should I apply and how frequently should I water?
A: There are two simple ways to know when your lawn needs water. First, walk on it. If your footprints are still visible after an hour, it’s time to water. Second, look at its color. Grass turns a bluish-green or tan color when it is desiccated and needs water.
Knowing how much water to apply requires investigation.
The watering objective is to thoroughly moisten, not saturate, the entire root layer beneath the grass blades.
The next time you water the lawn, use a shovel to lift a piece of the turf below the roots. Feel the bottom of the roots. If the bottom is moist and the soil under your shovel is dry, you ve applied enough water. If the bottom is not moist, increase the watering time. If the bottom is saturated, decrease the watering time.
Make a note of the time required to thoroughly moisten the entire root layer. Whenever you water, be sure to water for that duration to promote grass health.
The duration will depend upon the soil texture and composition. If water is running off the lawn rather than soaking in, split the watering into two or more segments to allow the soil to absorb the water. Annual core aeration to a depth of 2 inches will help soil absorb water.
Top dressing, which means applying a thin even layer of compost over the lawn, may increase the soil s water-holding capacity by up to 10 percent.
Watering frequency depends on the weather; temperature, wind, humidity, and sunlight affect grass hydration. Use the easy footprint or color test described above to know when to water.Apply water between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. to reduce water loss from evaporation.
If you have too much lawn to water properly within watering restrictions, consider converting some of your landscape to drought-hardy shrubs or flower gardens. Colorado master gardeners at your county Colorado State University Cooperative Extension office, local garden centers and water authorities can help you with plant selection. Fact sheets are available from Colorado State University Cooperative Extension at ext.colostate.edu/menugard.html.
Deborah Yerovsek is a Colorado State University Cooperative Extension master gardener in Douglas County.
