Most
of us living in the Phoenix Metro area are familiar with the slogan “Water
Wisely.” But what does that mean when we are talking about a commercial property?
The
average home bermudagrass 225 square foot lawn uses over 5,000 gallons of water
per year. A properly xeriscaped yard, using native plants, can be maintained with
little or no supplemental water.
Most
folks consider that a lush green lawn makes a property look so much more
appealing. That means proper maintenance and the correct amount of watering.
Signs
of Underwatering
Bermudagrass has bluish-grey tint.
Grass doesn't spring back after being
stepped on.
It is difficult to push a screwdriver into
the soil.
Turf still feels warm in the evening after
the sun goes down.
Signs
of Overwatering
Water is consistantly puddled in areas.
Turf has a musty odor.
Soil is extremely soft and mushy.
Algae or mushrooms are present.
When
Should You Water?
Be a night owl.
Night or early in the morning are the most
effective times to water,
because wind and evaporation are lower.
High wind speeds distort sprinkler patterns
and produce non-uniform irrigation.
But
you may want a lovely lush lawn in the
winter, a time when we enjoy being outside? If you're planting a winter lawn,
make sure you do so correctly, to keep maintenance and water to a minimum. Many
municipal water departments and conservation offices offer classes on watering
efficiently and designing water-efficient landscapes. Bermuda-grass lawns go
dormant in the fall. Lawns should be established at least one year before
overseeding with a cool-season grass. The process is traumatic, even for
established lawns. To maintain the health of your Bermuda lawn, refrain from
planting a winter lawn every three years. Do not overseed other types of grass
lawns. Reduce the frequency of watering and fertilizing your Bermuda lawn to
slow its growth and encourage it to go into dormancy quicker.
Watering
frequency will depend on the weather and temperature. Water every 3 to 10 days,
for about 15 minutes, but only to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. To measure water
penetration, after watering, push the shaft of a long screwdriver into the soil
to see how deeply it will go. If it goes deeper than 6 inches easily, you're
watering too much. The water has flowed beyond the root zone and will not be
used by the growing lawn. If it barely penetrates 3 inches, water a little
longer so the water can reach the roots.
No
matter what you call it, you don’t need to worry about your lawn maintenance. It
doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns or some
type of landscaping in between, we can help.
We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find
out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.
Presented
by:
Greens
Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
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