Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I don't water ever water grass. I also don't water (most) perennials unless it hasn't rained in a few weeks. My annuals (in ground, window boxes and pots) and newly planted (this season) perennials get watered every 24 hours or so; perhaps a bit longer if I know rain is definitely coming. Got a HUGE soaking Monday afternoon/ evening and we watered again Wednesday.
This is exactly what I do. Our lawn is Burmuda grass and while it may turn brown during dry of weather, it ALWAYS greens back up after a soaking rain.
The established trees and shrubs do ok between rains.
I don't water ever water grass. I also don't water (most) perennials unless it hasn't rained in a few weeks. My annuals (in ground, window boxes and pots) and newly planted (this season) perennials get watered every 24 hours or so; perhaps a bit longer if I know rain is definitely coming. Got a HUGE soaking Monday afternoon/ evening and we watered again Wednesday.
Same here; I've never watered my lawn. I water new perennials frequently the first year they're planted so they get established. After that, they're on their own. I don't plant anything that needs "babying" in my gardens - if it can't take the normal weather, out it goes. So far, so good; everything has come back and is growing and blooming nicely. The fescue lawn browns a bit in the summer, but that's when it goes dormant anyway in our temperatures. It greens up again in the fall just like it's supposed to.
The question everybody asks but never answered is ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by HudsonCoNJ
After weeks of little to no rain, it rained about 5-6” on Monday. Since then, we’ve had temperatures in the mid 90’s and we’re getting more hot weather throughout this upcoming weekend. On Wednesday I saw a lot of people in my neighborhood watering their lawns, which I found strange on light of the heavy rain just two days prior. I stuck a screwdriver in the soil and it went through easy, so I figured it was still moist enough to not need to water so soon. A Google search results in conflicting information on the subject. What would you guys do?
..should you water your lawn in the day when its sunny or during the night when its not?
Please don't say that the water beads on the leaves to magnify the sun and burn holes in the leaves. They don't.
..should you water your lawn in the day when its sunny or during the night when its not?
Please don't say that the water beads on the leaves to magnify the sun and burn holes in the leaves. They don't.
I don't water my lawn, but if I did it would be night or early morning. The sun evaporates a lot of the water during the day. At night gives water a better chance at soaking in.
The question everybody asks but never answered is .....should you water your lawn in the day when its sunny or during the night when its not?
Please don't say that the water beads on the leaves to magnify the sun and burn holes in the leaves. They don't.
Plants decrease or stop transpiration and respiration after it gets dark out when they close their stomata and shut down their photo-receptors, so I usually water them an hour or two before sunset while they're still stranspiring/respiring. If I was an early riser (which I definitely am NOT) I would water them at dawn when the plants are starting up their daily stranspiration/respiration again.
I also prefer those times of day for watering rather than during the hottest parts of the day in order to prevent shock. Then there is less likelihood of many species of plants temporarily going into shock and keeling over like limp rags the way so many will when cold water hits hot, dry plants and roots. Some species are more susceptible to going into shock than some other species.
If water drops sitting on plant leaves and blossoms evaporate very quickly during the height of the heat of the day they can leave white water marks on the surfaces of the plants. I don't like water marks, especially not on blossoms or fruits, it makes the plants look unwell and disfigured.
I follow local expert gardening advice (local botanical garden and locally owned garden center) to ensure plants have ~.5" per rain per week, and I've bookmarked the USGS Rainfall totals for my area so that I can check overnight accumulation when I need to.
But I don't worry about turf grass (I'd get rid of it if I could....still might although likely moving before I can get that done). I only water young perennials. The established perennials are suited for this climate and perhaps would go dormant in a very hot & dry period but wouldn't die.
5-6" per week sounds like A LOT, whatever you are watering.
NEVER let the grass or ornamentals dry out to the point Where they become desiccated (i.e. dead). Sure the root system will allow the grass to come back but you can be sure that weeds will overtake your lawn.
In a serious drought and with water restrictions. the last resort is to cover your lawn with straw or commercial blankets used to start cover seeds.
Otherwise, water whenever you like but check on the condition of the lawn.
Think about it. In nature, when rain is non-existent, grass dries out, or at the end of its growing season (hay). Green lawns are kept artificially alive by watering.
Same here; I've never watered my lawn. I water new perennials frequently the first year they're planted so they get established. After that, they're on their own. I don't plant anything that needs "babying" in my gardens - if it can't take the normal weather, out it goes. So far, so good; everything has come back and is growing and blooming nicely. The fescue lawn browns a bit in the summer, but that's when it goes dormant anyway in our temperatures. It greens up again in the fall just like it's supposed to.
Exactly
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.