Manatee County Government
Reclaimed Watering Tips
A Few Watering Tips
How much water is enough? Efficient watering wets only the turf grass root zone, does not saturate the soil, and does not run off. Here's a simple water schedule: Apply 1/2 to 3/4 inches of water 2 to 3 times weekly in the summer and every 10 to 14 days in the winter. If it rains, sprinkling should be suspended.
Check The Vital Signs
Your lawn won't speak, but it will give off silent alarms when it has too much or too little water. When out in the yard, check the vital signs. Look for areas that may show signs of excessive moisture, standing water or yellowing of leaf areas. One way to reduce root rot is to reduce the amount of water you apply during rainy periods, permitting the soil to dry. Excessive rainfall, combined with heavy watering, can displace the small pockets of air between the soil particles, not allowing excess water to penetrate the soil surface. If these conditions exist for an extended period of time, roots remove all oxygen from the water in the soil and the roots cannot breathe. The root dies from lack of oxygen, leading to fungal root rot, which eventually kills the turf grass.
When To Water
Resume watering when the lawn begins to show these sign of stress:
- slight wilting
- leaf blades folded in half or curled
- footprints remaining in the grass longer than normal, or
- gray spots in the lawn
Mulching and Landscaping
The use of mulch, rock, and ground cover not only adds beauty and character to the landscape; it can conserve water. Careful selection and proper application of these materials can:
- reduce maintenance time
- conserve water
- provide color contrast to the landscape
