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Try early morning watering. Start sprinklers just after sunrise. Give yard a good soaking as long as needed. I wouldn't water in the evening as grass can become diseased easier due to overnight humidity. Don't waste your time and money watering in the middle of the day or late afternoon as it does little or no good; some grasses can get scalded from the hot sun and water.
Our grass was so dry and no amount of water seemed to help. My DH bought some fertilizer from the garden center after talking with them. They were helpful and told him what to buy and how to use it. I agree that watering in the early AM is better, too, and that has made a big difference for us.
Or in the evening hours when the sun is not directly hitting the grass?
problem: i water everday in the afternoon but my grass is still getting brown. i'm in Northern VA.
The problem is the grass on your lawn is not native to our area, so your grass is going dormant. This drying happens each year and it will come back in September.
I had assumed a southern style grass, but forgot that Va is at the top of the South and may have bluegrass, etc. Since that won't grow in the deep south, I can't really comment on it. Our grass down here goes dormant in December and stays dormant until sometime in March. I apologize for any inconvenience.
I had assumed a southern style grass, but forgot that Va is at the top of the South and may have bluegrass, etc. Since that won't grow in the deep south, I can't really comment on it. Our grass down here goes dormant in December and stays dormant until sometime in March. I apologize for any inconvenience.
Your advice was still spot on. Tall fescue is the most common grass of northern VA and it can get diseased if overwatered and left to sit damp overnight. That region is unbelievably humid.
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1"-1.5" on water per week. That's it.
Rain counts towards the total.
Get a rain guage and make sure the water is getting into the soil and not running off.
Over watering can lead to turf that is less drought tolerant, and you'll end up with a whole lotta crabgrass in a sea of fungus.
Do not put down any fertilizer until cool weather returns in sep/oct and begins actively growing and greens up again
How about Bermuda grass? Does it easily get diseased if water at evening as well?
It's pretty stout, so it may not be affected as much as the others. Can't be around it since I'm allergic to it. I have Centipede and my last house had St. Augustine. Those two need more attention than bermuda around NW La. I do know that bermuda is more drought tolerant than most other grasses, shouldn't need much water.
Last edited by hdwell; 07-13-2009 at 08:17 PM..
Reason: adding info
I also live in Northern VA. We have Bluegrass. I've been watering it every other day in the evening because that is what is convenient for me. Hubby put some summer guard fertilizer on it a few weeks ago. I hate to brag, but I am because we have the best looking yard in the neighborhood. Unlike most other lawns, ours is still lush and green. We still have to deal with a couple of dry patches, because no telling what's under there (large rocks... clay... plywood. I've seen it all!) If you haven't been watering it during this lack of rain, you can't make your grass green over night, but at least give it some water. For example, a 5 minute sprinkling isn't going to cut it. You have to really soak it.
I've also had hubby cut the grass less often in an effort to not stress the lawn. Finally talked him into raising the lawnmower up another notch just to neaten up the grass because it was getting shaggy. So when I came home today I was shocked to see how good the lawn looked after he cut it.
How about Bermuda grass? Does it easily get diseased if water at evening as well?
No unfortunately it does not get diseased as easily.
St. Augustine and Zoysia are more disease prone in the warm season department.
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