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My wife and I are disagreeing about this. It has been weeks and it may be more weeks before any rain. I think I need to water the lawn. She thinks I need to let it go dormant. Some spots appear to be dying for some water. The temperature here in NW Arkansas are starting to get into the mid 40's for the lows and the highs are upper 70's to low 80's. It is bermuda grass.
It certainly won't hurt, and might even will help. But it'll be dormant in two or three weeks anyway. I have zoysia and it's essentially quit growing but is still green, but it looks a bit tired. We've not had rain in a couple of weeks and I don't plan to water any more this season.
You should water. Even in the dead of Winter, you should water. Just because grass becomes "dormant," does not mean it does not need water. I totally disagree with your wife on this.
You both are right. You can water it to keep it green or you can not water it, let it go dormant, and become green again with the next rain. Grass will not die unless it goes months without water.
My wife and I are disagreeing about this. It has been weeks and it may be more weeks before any rain. I think I need to water the lawn. She thinks I need to let it go dormant. Some spots appear to be dying for some water. The temperature here in NW Arkansas are starting to get into the mid 40's for the lows and the highs are upper 70's to low 80's. It is bermuda grass.
Should I water or not?
Are you finding any dew / condensation on vegetation or vehicles outside? If you're finding early evening or morning dew on things then you don't need to water the grass if it's on it's way to going dormant anyway. Dew means there is still humidity and other moisture available in the ground and in the air and the plants and roots are utilizing it to suit their needs.
If your property is tinder bone dry, there's no humidity and the air is full of static electricity and dust, and there's absolutely no dew or dampness felt in the air at night and early morning then go for it and apply water at least once. It wouldn't hurt for you to give everything a good overnight misting for 4 or 5 hours once every 7 - 10 days until most plants have for sure gone dormant. Then stop for winter.
You should water. Even in the dead of Winter, you should water. Just because grass becomes "dormant," does not mean it does not need water. I totally disagree with your wife on this.
In this part of the country, and NW Arkansas and north Alabama are similar, we don't need to water in the winter since it rains so much. And, evaporation rates are much less in the winter so the ground stays soggy for the most part. First frost will likely be in mid-October so the grass will turn brown or white and stop growing until temps warm in the spring.
Are you finding any dew / condensation on vegetation or vehicles outside? If you're finding early evening or morning dew on things then you don't need to water the grass if it's on it's way to going dormant anyway. Dew means there is still humidity and other moisture available in the ground and in the air and the plants and roots are utilizing it to suit their needs.
If your property is tinder bone dry, there's no humidity and the air is full of static electricity and dust, and there's absolutely no dew or dampness felt in the air at night and early morning then go for it and apply water at least once. It wouldn't hurt for you to give everything a good overnight misting for 4 or 5 hours once every 7 - 10 days until most plants have for sure gone dormant. Then stop for winter.
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There is very little dew in the mornings, but it has been windy. It is dry enough that the deer are draining my birdbaths at night.
My wife and I are disagreeing about this. It has been weeks and it may be more weeks before any rain. I think I need to water the lawn. She thinks I need to let it go dormant. Some spots appear to be dying for some water. The temperature here in NW Arkansas are starting to get into the mid 40's for the lows and the highs are upper 70's to low 80's. It is bermuda grass.
Should I water or not?
Quote:
Originally Posted by RocketDawg
It certainly won't hurt, and might even will help. But it'll be dormant in two or three weeks anyway. I have zoysia and it's essentially quit growing but is still green, but it looks a bit tired. We've not had rain in a couple of weeks and I don't plan to water any more this season.
Wives usually win out. My wife was up this morning before I was, and the deck was wet. I asked her, "Did we have rain?". She said, no, she'd watered the lawn. So - regardless of whether it needs it this time of the year or not - if the wife wants it watered, it gets watered.
Is is safe to assume yours hasn't been watered? Ah, looking back, I see you and she compromised.
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