Manual Watering Proceedures
1. Check your faucets.
a) Are they in good working order? Are they hard to turn on and off? Do they leak? If you need to replace them, replace with the new freeze-proof type.
b) If you cannot get to your faucet, you will not water your lawn. I suggest that you trim bushes that may be obstructing access to your faucet. If that is not possible, then you should purchase a faucet extender so that the water can be turned on from in front of the bush.
2. Check your hose.
a) If you have an old hose with kinks in it or if it leaks, you should replace it.
b) To determine how much hose you need, pace out your lawn from the faucet to the furthest point that you need to place your sprinkler. Hoses are sold in 25, 50 and 75 foot lengths.
c) You should have a hose for both the front and back yards.
3. Check your sprinkler
a) If your sprinkler is old, leaking or simply outdated, replace it.
b) I would recommend a pulsating sprinkler. It is fully adjustable and can do both small and large areas.
c) For smaller lawns or small areas use an oscillating sprinkler (one that moves back and forth).
d) Always purchase the type that is on a stand. The post types can break when pushed into the ground.
e) Be sure to purchase a sprinkler for both your front and back yards.
4. Purchase a water timer.
a) Be sure that it can measure either time or the number of gallons used, and will automatically shut off your sprinkler.
b) Timers can either be attached at the faucet or come as part of the base of the sprinkler.
c) Please check on our website for the “Sprinkler and Water Timer Bulletin” for mores specific recommendations on which sprinkler and water timer to purchase.
5. Know when to water.
Check on your individual service bulletin for the specific watering procedures for that service or time of year.
6. Know how to water.
a) If there is no measurable rainfall for a week, water your lawn 1 to 2 inches, which will soak the root system of your grass to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. On an average, to properly water the large areas of your lawn with a pulsating sprinkler requires 1 hour per week, and less for smaller areas depending on their size for normal watering needs.
b) Water the drought-prone areas listed below sooner and longer.
(1) Southwest exposure (afternoon sun) areas
(2) Areas located around tree roots. Remember tree roots extend well beyond the tree’s dripline.
(3) Lawn areas located next to paved areas. It has been shown that these areas, when exposed to the sun, can have an increased soil temperature of 3 to 5 degrees higher than the rest of your lawn.
(4) Water your shrubs and trees at the same time you are watering your lawn, since they are located either on or next to the lawn areas.
For more timely information on watering throughout the season, please check our “Current Watering Condition” on our website.
Watering your property does not have to be a hassle, if you have the right equipment and a plan on how you are going to water. Try to set up an aboveground sprinkler system so you can place your sprinkler in the same spots throughout your lawn and you know how long it will take to water those areas. Those customers who have large properties need not water their entire lawn in one day. Rather they should water different parts of their lawn throughout the week. Since you are not usually cutting your lawn on a regular basis during a drought period, you should use this time to water your lawn.
We have heavy clay soil conditions in this area. We also have high humidity and high temperatures with inconsistent rainfall. During the hot and dry stress periods, weeds, insects and disease become more of a problem on non-irrigated lawns, causing us to increase the amount of plant protection material that we apply. This is what we want to avoid. The drought-stressed areas of your lawn may die, requiring expensive extra work during your Fall service. This can be avoided by proper watering.
Remember, it is easier and requires less water to maintain your established grass areas, shrubs and trees than to have them repaired or replaced. Please try to follow the watering procedures provided throughout the year.
If you have any questions on watering your lawn or if you are considering purchasing a sprinkler system, please feel free to call or ask our service technician when he services your lawn. For more information regarding purchasing the equipment I recommend, please check our website for the “Sprinkler and Water Timer Bulletin.”