The amount of water needed for turfgrass depends on the variety of grass, type of soil, temperature, rainfall, and slope of the land. A thirsty lawn may turn a dull color, and blades may begin to roll or fold. Grass under stress will also show footprints when someone walks across it. Helpful tips for watering turfgrasses are as follows:
- Tall Fescue requires the most water. Other grasses, in descending order of water needs, are St. Augustine, Centipede, "Tif" Bermuda, Zoysia, and common bermuda. Buffalo grass needs the least water but is not recommended for East Texas growing conditions.
- In the hottest part of summer, lawns usually require about one inch of water every 5-6 days. Most hose sprinklers apply 1/4 to 1/3 inch of water per hour. You can measure your sprinkler's output by placing small containers around the area being watered and measure the water they collect after an hour.
- If you have a run-off of water before 1 inch depth is collected, turn your sprinkler off and let the water soak in for about an hour before turning it back on.
- To encourage deep root growth, lawns should be watered to a depth of 4-6 inches. An inch of water will typically penetrate to that depth. Frequent, shallow watering encourages shallow root growth, which makes grasses more susceptible to disease and grub worms.
- The best time to water is early morning. Evaporation loss will be less and your plants will have plenty of time to dry before evening. Night watering can encourage disease.
Grady Bedinger, Smith County Master Gardener
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