It’s that time of year where the heat seems unbearable to many of us, but summer comes every year for those who forgot. In the living world of the landscape, water is THE most important life-bringer. So, I thought I would take a moment to go over some watering methods and techniques so that we all make sure Nature’s most important resource isn’t wasted.
I’ll start with the watering of lawns since this is the biggest drinker of water. According to Clemson Extension Service (which you can access via the internet at http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/), “The most efficient way to water a lawn is to apply water when the lawn begins to show signs of stress from lack of water.”
There are many methods of determining this, which include the color and texture of the blades of grass. A bluish color may indicate stress, sometimes yellowing can mean too much water. You or your landscaper will need to know the difference.
For automatic in-ground irrigation systems, they recommend turning the timer to off and watering only as needed. I am personally asked all the time, “How long and often should I run the system for?” I always answer that there is no perfect automatic watering schedule because the weather is always different and so is the need to water. My rule of thumb is: try to have the system shutting down by sunrise, but don’t start too early in the morning. Usually 5 a.m. is a great time. Don’t water in the direct sunlight. The same goes for hose watering. Get it done very early or late afternoon when the sun has passed. (Also, mowing height is crucial to your lawn’s thirst!)
Plants: The best way to water trees and shrubs nowadays is using a drip irrigation system that waters at the roots. Frequent watering with small amounts is better than in-frequent large amounts.
If you have any questions, please contact me at the email below. Until next time, Aloha!
Charlie Stonecypher is the owner/operator of Suncoast Irrigation and Landscaping. They help people (mostly residential) troubleshoot their landscape and outdoor areas, and specialize in products that work smart without wasting resources. Contact Charlie at 843-327-8642 or suncoastirrigation@gmail.com.
