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Watering the grass, help

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Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 11:07:18 AM

HummerGuy

Posts: 6684
Status: offline

Since Mike and alot of you know way more about gardening then anybody I know personally, I thought I would ask for some advice that is totally not related to Hummers (like you'd expect anything less from me

)

We are having a really bad drought here in the Chicago area, specifically where I live because we are amonst the farms. Anyway, it's rained once in the past 3 or 4 weeks and our grass is turning brown. Granted, our grass is probably in better condition then most in the area because everybody seems to be too lazy to water their grass. I started waterring it every other day as we are allowed and it's slowly coming back to being green, but I have no idea how much I should water it or for how long. Most people don't want to spend the money on the water bill but it's honestly not all that much around here.

My back yard seems to be ok but the front is patchy brown but is getting better, but one spot is really bad. I'll have to take pics. Anyway, I would say my front lawn is about 30 feet by 15 to 20 feet. I use a sprinkler that covers the entire area in one swoop (we have great water pressure). How long do all of you typically let your water run? I have been letting it run for an hour each time I water it. I only water after 8 PM when the sun goes down and I always make sure to turn my water softener off. Everybody tells me to just let it die and when it starts raining it will grow back in, but I honestly don't want a dried up hay lawn. I'd like to keep it semi-decent and I think so far we have the best on the block.

Post #: 1

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 11:28:45 AM

ZYNE

Posts: 2453
Joined: 10/9/2006
From: Cincinnati, OH
Status: offline

I'm in the very same spot Mike ... except I don't adhere to the no watering on these days rules .. I pay for it and I'll use it when I want to .. besides, there's no water shortage here so what's the deal anyways?? LOL!
Anyhow, I water my lawn every other day, well, every day but different spots. I let the water go for about 2 hours in each spot, then move it to the next. I cover the entire property in two days and then I start over so each spot gets water every other day. My lawn is green, plush, and thick :-) I also keep my grass short during the summer as it takes less water to keep it green ... at least that's what I've been told .. anyone got some input on that one??
I do have a sprinkler system I need to put in but there will be a pretty good cost on the additional water meter for it and I'm just not ready to spend that money just yet. It handles up to 8 zones which would include my entire property plus dedicated lines run in to the flower beds to water the flowers. It's an ethernet enabled controller so it is exceptionally easy to use through the usual IE interface. I really would like to get it, and my ethernet enabled thermostats installed but I just never seem to get around to getting it done. Hell, I even bought a POE punch down block to give it power, yet I have done nothing .. somebody kick me in the butt so I get my azz in gear and get some things done!!!!!!

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Post #: 2

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 11:41:24 AM

HummerGuy

Posts: 6684
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2 hours? That's a LONG time and alot of water. Your water bills must be rediculous!

(in reply to ZYNE)

Post #: 3

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 11:43:35 AM

ZYNE

Posts: 2453
Joined: 10/9/2006
From: Cincinnati, OH
Status: offline

In all honesty, I don't even know how much it is ... all that crap goes against my credit card and I pay it off every month ... I guess I should have a look huh ...

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Post #: 4

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 12:28:33 PM

Dennis

Posts: 7584
Status: offline

Just a suggestion...

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Post #: 5

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 12:44:45 PM

HummerGuy

Posts: 6684
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Wow, Dennis learned how to use MS Paint.

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Post #: 6

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 12:49:52 PM

Dennis

Posts: 7584
Status: offline

You're just jealous.....

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Post #: 7

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 1:24:23 PM

Muddydawg75

Posts: 9959
Joined: 3/11/2007
From: South Jersey Shore
Status: offline

dye it green like the golf courses do.... solves two problems in one swoop....

p.s. I would water it after sundown for 30-45 minutes....

< Message edited by Muddydawg75 -- 5/30/2007 1:25:12 PM >

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Post #: 8

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 1:47:45 PM

blackstangs281

Posts: 6826
Joined: 11/13/2005
From: Pittsburgh PA
Status: offline

Green spray paint

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Post #: 9

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 1:56:22 PM

Muddydawg75

Posts: 9959
Joined: 3/11/2007
From: South Jersey Shore
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: blackstangs281

Green spray paint

Green?? nah... get out the chrome rattle can...

(in reply to blackstangs281)

Post #: 10

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 1:56:28 PM

blackstangs281

Posts: 6826
Joined: 11/13/2005
From: Pittsburgh PA
Status: offline

Hey Zyne..................I don't know about the cutting it short thing for the water. But I do know that cutting it short just invites all the weeds to grow as they please.

I use the Scotts 4 step lawn thingy, and cut it to about 2&1/2 inches. I hardly have any weeds to deal with throughout the summer. When you leave your lawn longer and keep a good fert down, it won't dry out and turn brown as quick as other lawns

< Message edited by blackstangs281 -- 5/30/2007 1:58:33 PM >

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Post #: 11

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 2:12:30 PM

HummerGuy

Posts: 6684
Status: offline

But then you have to cut it more and our lawn is pretty big and takes a long time to cut. I think mine is set to two inches or so. And I saw that post about the spray paint.

Don't they make lawn magnets

(in reply to blackstangs281)

Post #: 12

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 2:14:15 PM

HummerGuy

Posts: 6684
Status: offline

Keep the dream alive:

http://lawn-and-garden.hardwarestore.com/79-503-mosquito-magnets/mosquito-magnet-liberty-plus-111920.aspx

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Post #: 13

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 2:29:47 PM

ZYNE

Posts: 2453
Joined: 10/9/2006
From: Cincinnati, OH
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: blackstangs281

Hey Zyne..................I don't know about the cutting it short thing for the water. But I do know that cutting it short just invites all the weeds to grow as they please.

I use the Scotts 4 step lawn thingy, and cut it to about 2&1/2 inches. I hardly have any weeds to deal with throughout the summer. When you leave your lawn longer and keep a good fert down, it won't dry out and turn brown as quick as other lawns

I think you are right Chris! In this case I'd go out on a limb and say I think this will come down to a soil issue. I live in a very new subdiv and it's clay based. I think we all know how bad of a run off you get on soil like that. So in all honesty, soil like that you should water shorter periods of time but more often. I can't recall what the absorbtion rate is for this but it's nowhere near the stuff you would see under the grass at a more established subdiv. I prefer a drenching approach to where I almost over water (again due to the runoff I see) and when I come around to water again, if it has not dried out I simply skip it that day. I do see a difference once the fert with drought protection goes down here in the next week or so. I'd normally wait a bit longer but man it's getting to be July in May this year!

_____________________________

-03 HUMMER H2, Birch White. 35" BAJA MTZ, AVS Window Vent shades, Sirius, rear DVD, billet gas door, tail light guards, IPCW smoked cab lights, Sylvania SilverStar Ultra's, SMA Brushguard, etc.

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Post #: 14

RE: Watering the grass, help - 5/30/2007 2:34:59 PM

HummerGuy

Posts: 6684
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what's drought protection? is it like fertilizer or something physical you do to your lawn?

(in reply to ZYNE)

Post #: 15