News Taffy

Listen up Jonesboro - unless you have a inground irrigation system, you may think that just sticking a hose sprinkler out there on the hot days is going to help keep the grass alive. There is numerous brands and styles of non dedicated sprinklers out there that provide adequate coverage and each has its own precipitation rate. There is the horizontal sprinkler that performs in a half-moon arc with bands that are ajustable on the sides. There is the circular spinning type that throws water in a cirle. There is the type that follows the hose back to the source. There is the tower watering stations.  

 All of these types have a purpose......providing water to a given area.  Now, basically we need to know how much water to administer to a given area to be effective. Depending on your soil profile (Clay,Sandy-loam, Silt Clay, Sand)  watering most turfgrasses will require 1" of water per week under normal conditions. This needs to soak in to a depth of at least 6".  By placing any sprinkler of your choice on the grass......you need to consider how long it takes each style to water one inch of precipitation.  Take an empty scoal can or something like an empty coffee can. Mark off an inch line in the bottom of each container. Place these in the path of the water and monitor the time it takes to get to that line. After this is achieved you will know how long to leave this sprinkler in a given area before it is time to move it. Be observant to the pattern width of each sprinkler so you can overlap the previous areas water. If you do not overlap somewhat, the grass will not get the proper coverage of water and may not perform as the other watered areas. 

 I know that all of this is basic information but it is helpful in understanding how much to apply. During excessive drought periods and as the temperatures get hotter, more water will be needed to help the turfgrass survive the Summer.  Usually, it takes 600 gallons of water per 1,000 sq.ft. of turfgrass to equal 1" of water per week.  This will certainly make the water bill increase, so please consider the increase as a means of maintaining your investment........your lawn.

 If in the event of watering restrictions to local areas, understand that some watering is better than no watering at all.