Watering and Mowing Plan For Your Lawn
Recent rains were a blessing and lawn sprinkler systems can be turned off for a while. There is no need to continue to water while there is ample soil moisture. Added water and fertilizer at this time will only increase the frequency of mowing. Below are some ideas homeowners should keep in mind this summer as you enjoy your lawn.
Between March and September, the volume of solid waste increases 20-50 percent because of grass clippings. During spring and summer months, grass clippings can strain the garbage collection system and use valuable landfill space.
Consider not bagging your grass clippings and incorporate the “Don’t Bag It Lawn Care Plan” as your turfgrass maintenance program.
WATERING PLAN
Turfgrassess vary in their need for water:
- Tall Fescue (requires the most water)
- Common Bermuda grass
- Buffalo grass (requires the least water)
During the driest period of summer, our lawns usually require about 1 inch of water every 5-6 days. Most hose sprinklers put one ¼ to 1/3 inch of water per hour, so they would need to run approximately 4 hours in one spot. If water runs off the lawn before 1 inch is applied, turn the sprinkler off, let the water soak in for about 1 hour and then continue watering.
The best time to water is early morning, so less water is lost by evaporation. The worst time to water is in the evening because the lawn stays wet all night. This encourages disease development. Lawns watered too frequently tend to develop shallow root systems which may make them more susceptible to grub damage.
MOWING PLAN
The “rule of thumb” for mowing home lawns is not to remove more than one-third of the leaf surface at any one time. If you use the following mowing schedule, you no longer will need to bag your grass clippings.
Type of grass Mower setting (inches) Mow when or before this height (inches)
Common Bermuda 1 ½ 2 ¼
Buffalo 2 3
Tall Fescue 2 ½ 3 ¾
Grass clippings left on your lawn will not contribute to thatch, but will return valuable nutrients to the soil. They usually contain about 0.4 percent nitrogen, 0.5 percent phosphorus and about 2 percent potassium, as well as all the necessary minor elements that plants need.
Grass clippings make an excellent compost for gardens. Compost use is the best way to improve garden soil because it returns nutrients to the soil and improves the soil’s physical characteristics.
If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact the Wheeler County Extension Office at 806-826-5243.
