Irrigation Water Analysis

[SHIBUMI]

As we all the fight the good fight to get a reasonable looking lawn, an uphill battle in the Villages, I wondered if one of the culprits was the irrigation water. Has anyone ever done a water analysis
on the irrigation water??? Please Share if you did.

I suspect maybe sulfur or nitrogen levels damage grass. Bad spots in the lawn seem to pop up
for no reasons.

On a similar note, both Zoysia and St. Augustine require 1-2 inches of water per week. It seems to me that the sprinkler heads used need to be different. Zoysia has deeper roots and to get water there a heavier spray is needed, lets call that a Rainbird Rotor. Streams of water sprayed.
St Augustine roots are on top of the ground so a Hunter Spray, light spray, head should work the best, but, the watering times need to at least double to get the required amount. The railbird rotor will cause puddling on the St. Augustine which is undesirable, disease.

The lawns in general in the Villages are substandard.......but who cares.........can the issue be the chemical content of the irrigation water or the type of spray head used????

If they held a contest for best lawn in the villages, there would be no winner. Is it the soil, is it the water, or is it the weather, or is it the care...........trying to solve this mystery, THANKS!

[Bogie Shooter]

As we all the fight the good fight to get a reasonable looking lawn, an uphill battle in the Villages, I wondered if one of the culprits was the irrigation water. Has anyone ever done a water analysis
on the irrigation water??? Please Share if you did.

I suspect maybe sulfur or nitrogen levels damage grass. Bad spots in the lawn seem to pop up
for no reasons.

On a similar note, both Zoysia and St. Augustine require 1-2 inches of water per week. It seems to me that the sprinkler heads used need to be different. Zoysia has deeper roots and to get water there a heavier spray is needed, lets call that a Rainbird Rotor. Streams of water sprayed.
St Augustine roots are on top of the ground so a Hunter Spray, light spray, head should work the best, but, the watering times need to at least double to get the required amount. The railbird rotor will cause puddling on the St. Augustine which is undesirable, disease.

The lawns in general in the Villages are substandard.......but who cares.........can the issue be the chemical content of the irrigation water or the type of spray head used????

If they held a contest for best lawn in the villages, there would be no winner. Is it the soil, is it the water, or is it the weather, or is it the care...........trying to solve this mystery, THANKS!

Share the results of your water analysis.

[fdpaq0580]

Share the results of your water analysis.

Say, "Please!" 🙂

[Altavia]

Maybe try a soil analysis.

MySoil - Soil Test Kit | Grow The... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084TSNR79?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

My grass seems to prefer palm tree fertilizer which is low in nitrogen and high in micronutrients.



I had two large burnt spots on the west side of the house traced to turf melt. The low e widows were acting like magnifying glasses burning the grass.

Stop Turf From Melting with Anti Reflective Window Film
– Reflect Defense Window Film (https://reflectdefensewindowfilm.com/blogs/news/how-do-i-stop-my-turf-from-melting)

I learned about this on a previous home where a neighbors window was melting my siding.

[villagetinker]

IMHO, I doubt the analysis will be of any use, irrigation water is not treated, and I am sure the quality will vary with rainfall and the use of fertilizers and other chemicals. You may be better off having one of the irrigation (or lawn) specialists look at your lawn, test the soil and make recommendations for lawn treatments or changes to irrigation or both. A few months ago, I found ALL of the settings on my Hunter controller had changed to 2 or 3 times LONGER than previously set. I thought I had a leak, grass in this area was dying from too much water. Fixed the problem and now the lawn is coming back nicely.

[coffeebean]

As we all the fight the good fight to get a reasonable looking lawn, an uphill battle in the Villages, I wondered if one of the culprits was the irrigation water. Has anyone ever done a water analysis
on the irrigation water??? Please Share if you did.

I suspect maybe sulfur or nitrogen levels damage grass. Bad spots in the lawn seem to pop up
for no reasons.

On a similar note, both Zoysia and St. Augustine require 1-2 inches of water per week. It seems to me that the sprinkler heads used need to be different. Zoysia has deeper roots and to get water there a heavier spray is needed, lets call that a Rainbird Rotor. Streams of water sprayed.
St Augustine roots are on top of the ground so a Hunter Spray, light spray, head should work the best, but, the watering times need to at least double to get the required amount. The railbird rotor will cause puddling on the St. Augustine which is undesirable, disease.

The lawns in general in the Villages are substandard.......but who cares.........can the issue be the chemical content of the irrigation water or the type of spray head used????

If they held a contest for best lawn in the villages, there would be no winner. Is it the soil, is it the water, or is it the weather, or is it the care...........trying to solve this mystery, THANKS!

If there were a contest for best lawn in The Villages, my neighbors would win, hands down. They have a gorgeous lawn that looks like a dark green carpet. He does all the care for the lawn himself. Maybe that's what it takes but I can't be bothered doing that. My mix of St. Augustine (my preferred lawn by a landslide) and Zoisia looks really good. I'm happy with really good but would much prefer "outstanding" like my neighbors'. I just don't have the gumption to do it myself.

[Altavia]

IMHO, I doubt the analysis will be of any use, irrigation water is not treated, and I am sure the quality will vary with rainfall and the use of fertilizers and other chemicals. You may be better off having one of the irrigation (or lawn) specialists look at your lawn, test the soil and make recommendations for lawn treatments or changes to irrigation or both. A few months ago, I found ALL of the settings on my Hunter controller had changed to 2 or 3 times LONGER than previously set. I thought I had a leak, grass in this area was dying from too much water. Fixed the problem and now the lawn is coming back nicely.

I use Dean's who test the lawn but either tell me I'm watering to much or too little. Can't find that Goldielocks combo.

I wish the Villages would publish what and when they use. Their grass always looks better than mine.

[village dreamer]

As we all the fight the good fight to get a reasonable looking lawn, an uphill battle in the Villages, I wondered if one of the culprits was the irrigation water. Has anyone ever done a water analysis
on the irrigation water??? Please Share if you did.

I suspect maybe sulfur or nitrogen levels damage grass. Bad spots in the lawn seem to pop up
for no reasons.

On a similar note, both Zoysia and St. Augustine require 1-2 inches of water per week. It seems to me that the sprinkler heads used need to be different. Zoysia has deeper roots and to get water there a heavier spray is needed, lets call that a Rainbird Rotor. Streams of water sprayed.
St Augustine roots are on top of the ground so a Hunter Spray, light spray, head should work the best, but, the watering times need to at least double to get the required amount. The railbird rotor will cause puddling on the St. Augustine which is undesirable, disease.

The lawns in general in the Villages are substandard.......but who cares.........can the issue be the chemical content of the irrigation water or the type of spray head used????

If they held a contest for best lawn in the villages, there would be no winner. Is it the soil, is it the water, or is it the weather, or is it the care...........trying to solve this mystery, THANKS!
they say its because of el nino...........ha ha ha

[Pondboy]

So for me, here in The Hammock at Fenney, it’s the soil thats making it a challenge to grow grass. I’ve got St Augustine Grass (ProVista) which likes a soil PH below 7.5 ideally 6.5. My PH is 7.7 (see attached soil test). Anyway, it’s a challenge. Even the Cooperative extension said in the soil sample result not to waste my time to try and lower the PH…..Live with it. Overall, the soil test was a waste of time and money.


As far as the pond water….well, there’s all kinds of chemicals that run off into them…..from the golf course grounds crew treating the courses for weeds, the contractor that treats them (the ponds) for algae and submersed vegetation, the lawn care company (and homeowner / Villager) applying fertilizer or what ever…….it all runs down the street into the culverts that eventually lead to the ponds, that inevitably supply the water that we use to irrigate our lawns and shrubs.

So yeah, it’s anyone’s guess as to why your lawn is not looking good.

[Altavia]

So for me, here in The Hammock at Fenney, it’s the soil thats making it a challenge to grow grass. I’ve got St Augustine Grass (ProVista) which likes a soil PH below 7.5 ideally 6.5. My PH is 7.7 (see attached soil test). Anyway, it’s a challenge. Even the Cooperative extension said in the soil sample result not to waste my time to try and lower the PH…..Live with it. Overall, the soil test was a waste of time and money.


As far as the pond water….well, there’s all kinds of chemicals that run off into them…..from the golf course grounds crew treating the courses for weeds, the contractor that treats them (the ponds) for algae and submersed vegetation, the lawn care company (and homeowner / Villager) applying fertilizer or what ever…….it all runs down the street into the culverts that eventually lead to the ponds, that inevitably supply the water that we use to irrigate our lawns and shrubs.

So yeah, it’s anyone’s guess as to why your lawn is not looking good.

Hmm, I was able to improve the soil PH following the guidelines here. But still working on it.

Changing the pH of Your Soil | Home & Garden Information Center (https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/changing-the-ph-of-your-soil/#:~:text=Two%20materials%20commonly%20used%20for,i t%20dissolves%20in%20the%20soil).

[Pondboy]

See attached on lowering PH.

[vintageogauge]

I do all of my lawn treatments myself and even in this drought it is in beautiful condition. Those that you pay to service your lawn will put down the minimum or less. It takes all of 10 minutes to spread fertilizer, pesticides, and fungicide all in all a total of 10 times per year between the 3 that's about 1-1/2 hours of work to maintain a beautiful lawn. I also adjust and set my irrigation so that there are minimal spots not getting water.

[BrianL99]

As we all the fight the good fight to get a reasonable looking lawn, an uphill battle in the Villages, I wondered if one of the culprits was the irrigation water. Has anyone ever done a water analysis
on the irrigation water??? Please Share if you did.

I suspect maybe sulfur or nitrogen levels damage grass. Bad spots in the lawn seem to pop up
for no reasons.

On a similar note, both Zoysia and St. Augustine require 1-2 inches of water per week. It seems to me that the sprinkler heads used need to be different. Zoysia has deeper roots and to get water there a heavier spray is needed, lets call that a Rainbird Rotor. Streams of water sprayed.
St Augustine roots are on top of the ground so a Hunter Spray, light spray, head should work the best, but, the watering times need to at least double to get the required amount. The railbird rotor will cause puddling on the St. Augustine which is undesirable, disease.

The lawns in general in the Villages are substandard.......but who cares.........can the issue be the chemical content of the irrigation water or the type of spray head used????

If they held a contest for best lawn in the villages, there would be no winner. Is it the soil, is it the water, or is it the weather, or is it the care...........trying to solve this mystery, THANKS!


The USGA is on site every month or 2. Have them stop by and do a core sample. :a040:

[Keefelane66]

As we all the fight the good fight to get a reasonable looking lawn, an uphill battle in the Villages, I wondered if one of the culprits was the irrigation water. Has anyone ever done a water analysis
on the irrigation water??? Please Share if you did.

I suspect maybe sulfur or nitrogen levels damage grass. Bad spots in the lawn seem to pop up
for no reasons.

On a similar note, both Zoysia and St. Augustine require 1-2 inches of water per week. It seems to me that the sprinkler heads used need to be different. Zoysia has deeper roots and to get water there a heavier spray is needed, lets call that a Rainbird Rotor. Streams of water sprayed.
St Augustine roots are on top of the ground so a Hunter Spray, light spray, head should work the best, but, the watering times need to at least double to get the required amount. The railbird rotor will cause puddling on the St. Augustine which is undesirable, disease.

The lawns in general in the Villages are substandard.......but who cares.........can the issue be the chemical content of the irrigation water or the type of spray head used????

If they held a contest for best lawn in the villages, there would be no winner. Is it the soil, is it the water, or is it the weather, or is it the care...........trying to solve this mystery, THANKS!
Call The Villages Utilities since it’s either recycled water or combination of wells different from what they draw water to be purified.

[MorTech]

Most of that is patch disease. Too much water and thick thatch. The thatch/water also attracts bugs and they will eat your grassroots putting holes in your lawn. Mowing low dethatches and encourages rhizome growth instead of stolon growth.

Empire Zoysia:
Mow to 1.5" every three weeks. Bag or side discharge. Take a leaf blower to any clumps.
Water 60 minutes (Hunter rotator heads) each zone every 4 days.

That is all. It will probably take an entire growing season to look nice.

[Rwirish]

Many reasons the Developer went back to St. Augustine south of 44. Zoysia is about as bad as it gets.

[GizmoWhiskers]

As we all the fight the good fight to get a reasonable looking lawn, an uphill battle in the Villages, I wondered if one of the culprits was the irrigation water. Has anyone ever done a water analysis
on the irrigation water??? Please Share if you did.

I suspect maybe sulfur or nitrogen levels damage grass. Bad spots in the lawn seem to pop up
for no reasons.

On a similar note, both Zoysia and St. Augustine require 1-2 inches of water per week. It seems to me that the sprinkler heads used need to be different. Zoysia has deeper roots and to get water there a heavier spray is needed, lets call that a Rainbird Rotor. Streams of water sprayed.
St Augustine roots are on top of the ground so a Hunter Spray, light spray, head should work the best, but, the watering times need to at least double to get the required amount. The railbird rotor will cause puddling on the St. Augustine which is undesirable, disease.

The lawns in general in the Villages are substandard.......but who cares.........can the issue be the chemical content of the irrigation water or the type of spray head used????

If they held a contest for best lawn in the villages, there would be no winner. Is it the soil, is it the water, or is it the weather, or is it the care...........trying to solve this mystery, THANKS!
I had the same thoughts when I lived in DeLuna. I had heard reclaimed was coming out of ponds down there. You hear so many different stories. If that is true all the chemicals from the streets going into the ponds and out to your yard. I don't know... Yes, please let us know.

[almondz]

So what is your formula? What do you use and when?

[G.R.I.T.S.]

As we all the fight the good fight to get a reasonable looking lawn, an uphill battle in the Villages, I wondered if one of the culprits was the irrigation water. Has anyone ever done a water analysis
on the irrigation water??? Please Share if you did.

I suspect maybe sulfur or nitrogen levels damage grass. Bad spots in the lawn seem to pop up
for no reasons.

On a similar note, both Zoysia and St. Augustine require 1-2 inches of water per week. It seems to me that the sprinkler heads used need to be different. Zoysia has deeper roots and to get water there a heavier spray is needed, lets call that a Rainbird Rotor. Streams of water sprayed.
St Augustine roots are on top of the ground so a Hunter Spray, light spray, head should work the best, but, the watering times need to at least double to get the required amount. The railbird rotor will cause puddling on the St. Augustine which is undesirable, disease.

The lawns in general in the Villages are substandard.......but who cares.........can the issue be the chemical content of the irrigation water or the type of spray head used????

If they held a contest for best lawn in the villages, there would be no winner. Is it the soil, is it the water, or is it the weather, or is it the care...........trying to solve this mystery, THANKS!

During droughts, the irrigation does draw more sulfur water. I’m not aware if that damages lawns. I would like to point out that St. Augustine doesn’t have roots on top of the ground. Those are stollens, from which roots grow into the soil. UF/IFAS recommends longer watering times but fewer watering days. This encourages roots to grow deeper to help protect the plant during periods of drought. Watering more often keeps the roots nearer the ground surface where they dry out and die.

[jrref]

The other problem with our irregation water is the sediment. When we don't get rain for long periods of time, we are getting water from the bottom of the pond. This layer of water probably has the most concentrated sludge you can get. So besides all the unwanted chemicles, we get a ton of sludge which clogs up the filters on the irregation heads. The larger rotators (cannons) are more immune to this problem but all the other heads get clogged and the result is less water is being put down on your lawn than you expect and the lower pressure will insure that you are missing spots. So because of this, people spend the day and go to each head and clean the filters but if the irregation water is still dirty, the filters clog over the next couple of days and you are in the same situation. The only solution to this problem is to install an irregation filter that you can clean as necessary instead of cleaning all 30-50 filters on you sprinkler heads.

If you are interested call:
Chuck Grospitch
chuck.grospitch@gmail.com
440-823-4273

I know my response sounds like an advertisement but since moving to the Villages 2 1/2 years ago my engineer neighbors and I found this to be the only thing that helps. I have a Rachio irregation controller with the flow meter and It's really incredible how much the pressure and the flow is reduced when we get dry periods and lots of sediment and sludge from the irregation water. For me, all i need to do is unscrew the spin down filter and hose it clean and screw it back on. Takes about 10 minutes vs the whole day on a task that get's undone a day or two later.

[Altavia]

Agree with Jrref, much lower maintenance using a filter installed by Chuci, I sometimes also see a lot of algae in the filter.

[Ironnan]

Chuck installed the filter system described on my house and it immediately removed all the debris and resulting clogs. The filter takes 30 seconds to clean it so it couldn't be any easier.

I got a good education when I change the filter on how much junk was being pushed to the irrigation heads. The only downside is that water smell is beyond putrid.

[Ironnan]

Chuck installed the filter system described on my house and it immediately removed all the debris and resulting clogs. The filter takes 30 seconds to clean it so it couldn't be any easier.

I got a good education when I changed the filter on how much junk was being pushed to the irrigation heads. The only downside is that water smell is beyond putrid.

[JRcorvette]

Maybe try a soil analysis.

MySoil - Soil Test Kit | Grow The... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084TSNR79?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

My grass seems to prefer palm tree fertilizer which is low in nitrogen and high in micronutrients.



I had two large burnt spots on the west side of the house traced to turf melt. The low e widows were acting like magnifying glasses burning the grass.

Stop Turf From Melting with Anti Reflective Window Film
– Reflect Defense Window Film (https://reflectdefensewindowfilm.com/blogs/news/how-do-i-stop-my-turf-from-melting)

I learned about this on a previous home where a neighbors window was melting my siding.

I noticed that were I put Palm Fertilizer around my trees in the grass area the grass was much greener and healthier looking then where I use the Scotts Green Up fertilizer.

[bragones]

Many homes north of 466 use potable water, not reclaimed. I lived in that area for years and I now live south of 466. I've never noticed any major difference in lawn conditions from potable vs reclaimed water. Climate seems to be the major factor in lawn conditions IMHO.

[Villagesgal]

It couldn't be easier to do your own. My lawn always get compliments from my neighbors who use a service. I use Scott's Weed and Feed twice a year, Spring and Fall, takes about 30 minutes total with a hand held rotory unit. I water twice a week sides 10 minutes, front and back 30 minutes and that's all it takes for a lush dark green lawn. Easy peasy. I've done my own lawn all my life, so easy and cheap too. It always amazes me that my neighbors pay a fortune for lawn service and their lawns look terrible, but they won't do it themselves, they'd rather just complain.

[rickaslin]

I do all of my lawn treatments myself and even in this drought it is in beautiful condition. Those that you pay to service your lawn will put down the minimum or less. It takes all of 10 minutes to spread fertilizer, pesticides, and fungicide all in all a total of 10 times per year between the 3 that's about 1-1/2 hours of work to maintain a beautiful lawn. I also adjust and set my irrigation so that there are minimal spots not getting water.

So tell us what you put down and when!!!!

[twoplanekid]

This might be of interest to some - Stormwater management in the Villages - presented today at the NSCUDD board meeting

Public Portal • CivicClerk (https://thevillagesfl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3687/files/attachment/41689)

[vintageogauge]

I buy Lesco palm fertilizer from Fertilizer Direct, they deliver it free within The Villages, I use it for my lawn 3 times a year, Feb, June, October, any brand fungus control heavy amount in May and again when there is any sign of fungus disease in the lawn, usually later in the year, Spectracide Lawn insect granuals heavy setting 3 times per year starting in March. The lawn being healthy doesn't require weed and feed but I do spot treat any weeds with a lawn weed spray, one bottle lasts 2 years or more on my lawn. My irrigation is set for 40 minutes per zone and it is controlled with the sensor that works pretty well. I turn it off if I know for sure it's going to rain on one of the days it's set for. That's it in a nutshell. (this is an answer to rickasln's question above)

[Altavia]

This might be of interest to some - Stormwater management in the Villages - presented today at the NSCUDD board meeting

Public Portal • CivicClerk (https://thevillagesfl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3687/files/attachment/41689)

Thanks - very interesting!

Have you seen a map showing how the basins are connected below the Turnpike?

[Barboza]

When we chose our lot the grass was beautiful but after building my home up(it is somewhat elevated )I feel that they may have taken all the beautiful topsoil from my lawn and that of a couple of Neighbors to infill the foundations of my home. In all 12 yrs plus we have not been able to get a decent lawn despite employing the best landscapers and following their recommendations for dethatching, aerating,and adding topsoil plus the addition of extra water (of course). Previous the field grew watermelons. Anyone have any other suggestions?

[Barboza]

So what is your formula? What do you use and when?
I leave it to the "experts" without success.

[TomSpasm]

Most lawn problems will be solved by the middle of next week when we get some rain starting tomorrow.

[HORNET]

People move to the South, to Florida,to The Villages, it’s been this was for centuries! We move here and want lush green lawns in a year ! Fertilize, water and enjoy the reason we moved here for.

[Bwanajim]

The grass here SUCKS!! It turns brown where my dog pees!
I spent my whole life in Ft. Lauderdale & never had any problems with the St Augustine sod there.

[metoo21]

Does anyone know what the reclaimed water pressure is for irrigating homes south of 44?

[Bogie Shooter]

The grass here SUCKS!! It turns brown where my dog pees!
I spent my whole life in Ft. Lauderdale & never had any problems with the St Augustine sod there.

Must be the dog, my grass doesn’t turn brown from pee.

[graciegirl]

sIf there were a contest for best lawn in The Villages, my neighbors would win, hands down. They have a gorgeous lawn that looks like a dark green carpet. He does all the care for the lawn himself. Maybe that's what it takes but I can't be bothered doing that. My mix of St. Augustine (my preferred lawn by a landslide) and Zoisia looks really good. I'm happy with really good but would much prefer "outstanding" like my neighbors'. I just don't have the gumption to do it myself.

I think that you are indeed typical. People are retired and meticulous care of a lawn, no matter that most are much smaller lawns than the homeowner had before is not as much a priority as it once was, .....

That being said, I still think that driving around our streets and roads is truly a wonderful and beautiful tour. The combination of deed restrictions and lack of overdone yard art, coupled with lawn service being on speed dial makes most of our town look like the grounds of Vanderbilt or Hearst Castle. Miles and miles and miles of roadway with nicely kept bushes and trees and replacement of seasonal flowers and redoing of mulch in the common areas and lovely cut lawns and trimmed bushes along with some very pretty flowers in the residential sections gives a very welcoming and consistent appeal everywhere.

I guess that it has a lot to do with whether we are looking at what is wrong or what is right...

I have borrowed a golf cart tour from Youtube; golfcart tour of The Villages, Florida youtube - Search Videos (https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=golfcart+tour+of+The+Villages%2c+Florida+youtube&&mid=9BF719BF218097B529DF9BF719BF218097B529DF&&FORM=VRDGAR)

[twoplanekid]

Thanks - very interesting!

Have you seen a map showing how the basins are connected below the Turnpike?

The NSCUDD area is from 466 down to 44 for water systems. They do things a little bid differently south of 44. I would suggest you ask someone on the WUDD board that question as that's in there are of responsibility.

Thanks

[Miboater]

Thanks - very interesting!

Have you seen a map showing how the basins are connected below the Turnpike?

I vaguely remember reading or watching a video (maybe goldwingnut) that there is no connection across the turnpike and that is a separate system in that area. Also the ponds down there higher because there is less draw as there is very little residential irrigation usage.

[vintageogauge]

Must be the dog, my grass doesn’t turn brown from pee.

Agree, numerous dogs pee and poop on our lawn which doesn't bother me as long as they pick up the poop but there are no brown spots out there. Those spots are probably from lawn pests.

[wkstephan]

IMO a better solution is for The Villages to allow homes to install artificial turf in place of grass lawns. Artificial turf has come a long way from the bristlely indoor-outdoor carpet that was available years ago. Today it looks very much like natural grass, needs very little maintenance, and lasts more than a decade. It needs no water or fertilizer, impervious to pet urine, insects and diseases, unaffected by soil conditions, and it looks great year round and year after year.

For an area the size of The Villages, allowing artificial turf to replace grass could result in substantial conservation of water.

I can understand why use of artificial turf was prohibited in the old days when it would have detracted from the aesthetics of the community; but I am convinced that the use of modern artificial turf for lawns in The Villages would be an improvement in aesthetics and a value enhancer…

[Ptmcbriz]

I do my own grass (yes a woman). It looks lush, thick, and gorgeous. I have ProVista St Augustine. The secret is being PROACTIVE with your grass and not wait until you see a problem. I use mostly Scott products. I follow the bags directions and apply fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, regularly. The picture I attached is of the side yard, but the front lawn looks the same. It requires a lot of water. Right now when it’s mid 90’s outside I water 70 minutes per day, 3x a week. Unfortunately, with sand being your soil watering less when it’s this hot makes the grass stress and you’ll see the blades folding in on themselves creating a shadow on your lawn. If you don’t water within 24 hours of those blades folding the grass dies and creates bare spots. You have to jump on it. Keep St Augustine cut no shorter than 3.75” but prefers 4”. Any shorter and it stress the grass.

[TVTVTV]

I do all of my lawn treatments myself and even in this drought it is in beautiful condition. Those that you pay to service your lawn will put down the minimum or less. It takes all of 10 minutes to spread fertilizer, pesticides, and fungicide all in all a total of 10 times per year between the 3 that's about 1-1/2 hours of work to maintain a beautiful lawn. I also adjust and set my irrigation so that there are minimal spots not getting water.

You hit the nail on the head! You get out what you put in. It doesn't magically happen. Even if you have it mowed and treated by a company you can't be cheap with watering, and need to stay on top of brown spots and bugs and diseases. I've seen many beautiful lawns in our village succumb and die because the owners don't do what they should and pay some attention to it. Then in a year or two they need a complete resod for thousands of dollars because it's not salvageable.

[twoplanekid]

IMO a better solution is for The Villages to allow homes to install artificial turf in place of grass lawns. Artificial turf has come a long way from the bristlely indoor-outdoor carpet that was available years ago. Today it looks very much like natural grass, needs very little maintenance, and lasts more than a decade. It needs no water or fertilizer, impervious to pet urine, insects and diseases, unaffected by soil conditions, and it looks great year round and year after year.

For an area the size of The Villages, allowing artificial turf to replace grass could result in substantial conservation of water.

I can understand why use of artificial turf was prohibited in the old days when it would have detracted from the aesthetics of the community; but I am convinced that the use of modern artificial turf for lawns in The Villages would be an improvement in aesthetics and a value enhancer…

All of the storm water management planning was based on water flows where grass would absorb some of the water to make the runoff less. Using artificial turf would change the water flows. In what I am hearing from Village staff and all consultants, changes from grass to another ground covering will not be allowed in the Villages primarily for this reason alone.

[Happydaz]

IMO a better solution is for The Villages to allow homes to install artificial turf in place of grass lawns. Artificial turf has come a long way from the bristlely indoor-outdoor carpet that was available years ago. Today it looks very much like natural grass, needs very little maintenance, and lasts more than a decade. It needs no water or fertilizer, impervious to pet urine, insects and diseases, unaffected by soil conditions, and it looks great year round and year after year.

For an area the size of The Villages, allowing artificial turf to replace grass could result in substantial conservation of water.

I can understand why use of artificial turf was prohibited in the old days when it would have detracted from the aesthetics of the community; but I am convinced that the use of modern artificial turf for lawns in The Villages would be an improvement in aesthetics and a value enhancer…

Artificial turf would cause a lot of rain runoff and contribute to flooding. It would also result in higher temperatures in our neighborhoods as grass acts like a giant air conditioner, lowering surface temperatures. We already have people using landscape fabric and rocks in their shrub borders and if we start covering our lawn areas with artificial turf we will have an environment that is almost completely biologically dead. No insects, no birds, nothing alive at all. If you want a nice lawn just drive around and find someone who has a nice lawn and ask them what they do to keep it that way. Organic fertilizers and top dressings may help grow a nice lawn. The constant use of insecticides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers kills soil organisms that support healthy turfgrass. Again many of the yards in the Villages are biologically dead. Look up the soil food web on YouTube and you will see how to develop healthy soil. You need healthy bacteria, beneficial fungi, nematodes, earthworms, etc. to have a healthy green lawn. Chemicals turn our lawns into “dead zones.”

[Thaxxx]

Oops

[Sandy and Ed]

So I have nothing to add to this string but the following excellent observation got me to thinking. This water is constantly being recycled picking up steadily increasing concentrations of possibly cancer producing chemicals being dumped into water that feeds our irrigation systems. Seems like there should be some periodic testing of that water for health reasons.

“ As far as the pond water….well, there’s all kinds of chemicals that run off into them…..from the golf course grounds crew treating the courses for weeds, the contractor that treats them (the ponds) for algae and submersed vegetation, the lawn care company (and homeowner / Villager) applying fertilizer or what ever…….it all runs down the street into the culverts that eventually lead to the ponds, that inevitably supply the water that we use to irrigate our lawns and shrubs.”

[Altavia]

So I have nothing to add to this string but the following excellent observation got me to thinking. This water is constantly being recycled picking up steadily increasing concentrations of possibly cancer producing chemicals being dumped into water that feeds our irrigation systems. Seems like there should be some periodic testing of that water for health reasons.

“ As far as the pond water….well, there’s all kinds of chemicals that run off into them…..from the golf course grounds crew treating the courses for weeds, the contractor that treats them (the ponds) for algae and submersed vegetation, the lawn care company (and homeowner / Villager) applying fertilizer or what ever…….it all runs down the street into the culverts that eventually lead to the ponds, that inevitably supply the water that we use to irrigate our lawns and shrubs.”

Reclaimed water is thoroughly treated to remove harmful organisms and substances, such as bacteria, viruses and heavy metals, so it can be reused.

Village Community Development Districts (https://districtgov.org/departments/utilities/irrigation.aspx)

"Please note that any reclaimed wastewater that is used for golf course irrigation is treated and meets the public access reuse standards established and required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection."

Summary of Florida's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Potable Water Reuse | US EPA (https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/summary-floridas-water-reuse-guideline-or-regulation-potable-water-reuse)

[PugMom]

they say its because of el nino...........ha ha ha

everything is a cause of it :a20:

[Maker]

Artificial turf would cause a lot of rain runoff and contribute to flooding.”

Artificial turf is very porous, and water goes right through it into the sand below.
It is not a plastic sheet, or concrete.
Just like a yard of rocks allows all the water that falls on it to pass directly into the sand under it.

[Velvet]

Can you imagine how hot artificial turf could get in the blazing sun?

[Michael G.]

I had numerous yard care people in all my years here in Florida, and one thing I can safely say is that
if your lawn is unsatisfactory and you mention it to them, they all blame it on the homeowner.

Your watering to much.:shrug:
Your not watering enough.:shrug:
You should use aeration.:shrug:
Your sprinklers aren't adjusted right. :shrug:
Your using the wrong sprinkler heads.:shrug:
Your dog is ugly.:shrug:
Your wife is ugly.:shrug:

[Altavia]

I had numerous yard care people in all my years here in Florida, and one thing I can safely say is that
if your lawn is unsatisfactory and you mention it to them, they all blame it on the homeowner.

Your watering to much.:shrug:
Your not watering enough.:shrug:
You should use aeration.:shrug:
Your sprinklers aren't adjusted right. :shrug:
Your using the wrong sprinkler heads.:shrug:
Your dog is ugly.:shrug:
Your wife is ugly.:shrug:

LOL - The Truth :-)