Lawn Water practices advise.

[GomerPyle]

My Massey Lawn Service guy came last week and deliver my report to the front door after his service. He had come to the door to introduce himself and tell me what he was going to do that day. I only mentioned that the rear of the property had may weeds and the lawn was very yellow. He said he was going to fertilizer this time and I should water soon afterwards.

His report tells me I have Improper Water Practices, Not Oftern Enough. He says my lawn is dry and will die if I don't water more often.

My question is, I have set my irrigation system to comply with the county request of watering only one day a week, Wednesday night. So do I cheat and water anyway, at night so people will not see me doing it, or do I continue to be a good neighbor and only water as directed by government?

Your thoughts and opinions are welcome.

[redwitch]

If you use reclaimed water, it is less of an issue -- go ahead and water twice a week; you're not really wasting any necessary water. If your neighbors' lawns are nice and green, have no fear -- they're watering more than once a week. The reality is you have a choice right now -- break the rules or be prepared to replace your lawn.

What I've found works is water twice a week but set the regular sprinklers to 20 minutes and rotators to 30. Start your watering around 3-4 am (if you water in the evening, you take a chance of getting mold in the grass).

Once we get into the rainy season, you can go back to once a week.

Reality is it is unseasonly hot and unseasonly dry -- a nasty combo for any plant.

[downeaster]

We are really between a rock and a hard place. IMHO, once a week is not enough. I am seeing too many lawns with serious problems.

I maintain a once a week schedule but water "hot spots" manually as needed. However, I am going to be away for two weeks so I am going to ___ ____ __ __ . (You can fill in the blanks).

BTW, beware of the "water for x minutes" advice. No one can tell you how many minutes to run your system for proper coverage without knowing the flow rate at each sprinkler head as well as the arc and the distance of the coverage. Place rain gauges ( empty tuna fish cans will work) to see the actual coverage then adjust your timers accordingly. Take into consideration there will be more overlap in some areas. You may find it necessary to change nozzles and/or sprinkler heads to get the rate you want. "It ain't rocket science" but it is not simple either.

[ajbrown]

BTW, beware of the "water for x minutes" advice. No one can tell you how many minutes to run your system for proper coverage without knowing the flow rate at each sprinkler head as well as the arc and the distance of the coverage. Place rain gauges ( empty tuna fish cans will work) to see the actual coverage then adjust your timers accordingly. Take into consideration there will be more overlap in some areas. You may find it necessary to change nozzles and/or sprinkler heads to get the rate you want. "It ain't rocket science" but it is not simple either.

This is really good advice. I just got done with the tuna can test (we do this a couple of times per year or when I see a dry area). My goal is to get an inch of water on the lawn per week. At first I saw very different results in the tuna cans, one can had 1/2 inch, one 1/8 to 1/4. I went around and replaced some nozzles and now I get a uniform amount.

I think we have Empire Zoysia at my house in TV.
Here is a quick reference table: http://empireturf.com/empire_sales_sheet.pdf

Do I have have hot spots? I do, it has really been dry and hot lately without the summer rain arriving yet, but I have taken the first step to understand how much water different areas are getting.

Pretty sure the strain of Zoysia here should be relatively drought tolerant, but no expert.

[k2at]

I have the St. Augustine grass and am very unhappy with it. I think the best solution is to switch over to Zoysia grass. It is much more drought resistant and completely repells the Chinch bugs. That is all they plant in the Southern area of the Villages now. I have to find out if it is ok to switch to Zoysia in a St. Augustine Block.

[l2ridehd]

It is OK to do, but a waste of time and money. Unless neighbors on both sides and back swith as well, the St Augustine will creep back in and kill the zoysia. Then probaly die in the next drought. St Augustine is really awful grass and very difficult to maintain with limited watering.

Massey told me the same thing, water twice a week because the restriction was not in place yet this year. So in addition to horrible service, they are now starting to lie to us customers. I can't wait until I am there full time. My very first call will be to fire them.

[emconover]

Didn't the rules for lawn watering change to permit twice a week watering when daylight savings time started?

[Russ_Boston]

Didn't the rules for lawn watering change to permit twice a week watering when daylight savings time started?

I went to the irrigation clinic the other day presented by Jim Davis at Colony. He indicated that it was just once per week. He also recommends the tuna can test to get 3/4 inch uniform coverage. This should be enough for zoysia but it needs to be done all at once and not spread out over the week. It may take 30 min or it may take an hour or more depending on your sprinkler heads, wind etc. He also recommended to do it around 4AM so it can dry off of the grass leaves to prevent fungus. The idea is develop a deep root system and you do this by one heavy watering.

[downeaster]

I went to the irrigation clinic the other day presented by Jim Davis at Colony. He indicated that it was just once per week. He also recommends the tuna can test to get 3/4 inch uniform coverage. This should be enough for zoysia but it needs to be done all at once and not spread out over the week. It may take 30 min or it may take an hour or more depending on your sprinkler heads, wind etc. He also recommended to do it around 4AM so it can dry off of the grass leaves to prevent fungus. The idea is develop a deep root system and you do this by one heavy watering.

I have also heard 3/4" was good coverage. I cycle mine twice the same AM. I have some slopes and this minimizes runoff.

St. Augustine spreading into other grasses is a real problem. It requires an open space between. A hedge will suffice. Just don't let the St. A get a foothold. Personally I wouldn't take the chance. I have been living with St. A grass for over thirty years. Keep it watered, mow it high, hire a good lawn treatment company and it isn't that bad. I like the spreading feature. If you lose a spot it will fill back in in time.

[EdV]

Didn't the rules for lawn watering change to permit twice a week watering when daylight savings time started?

That is true for TV homes that are in Marion County.

[F16 1UB]

I mow my own yard. Mower is set at 3 inch level. Yard is watered once a week at 20 min per zone. Fertilized & bug treated professionally. Yard looks awesome. It has taken almost a year for the grass to reach a uniform level.

Mowing outfits SHAVE the yards that may require extensive watering and chemicals to keep it green. Good luck asking them to set the blade higher.

New yards need extensive watering. Common cents thing.

F16

[Bogie Shooter]

As long as the St. John's Water Authority continues to give away water, (Niagara Bottling) to companies that bottle it and sell out of state, I have little respect to their so called water restrictions.