Grass is burning up and dying across the Lowcountry. You can
really tell if your irrigation heads are not properly turning in this kind of
weather. At Possum’s we are getting a lot of calls about dead grass and the
people are emphatic that they are watering; however, their irrigation is not
hitting everywhere it should be. Once they take a spoon out of the kitchen (don’t
let your wife catch you) and dig in the area they realize it is dusty and dry. This
past week I’ve been asked by several people “How much water should I be putting
on my yard each week?”
The quick answer is one inch of water per week, including
rainfall. I look at one inch per week as
a starting point, and then adjust for other factors. These factors include soil type, wind
exposure, slope in the yard, berms, heat and exposure to the sun.
A clay soil is going to hold more water for a longer period
of time than a sandy soil. When watering
a clay soil, if you put out too much water at once, it will begin to run off
instead of penetrating the soil. Wetting
agents (Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton
Burr Compost) will help water penetrate clay better. Using a soil conditioner like
Mule Mix or Turface will also help.
Water tends to pass through sandy soils quickly. If they receive too much water at once, the
water tends to leach through the soil past where the plant roots can access
it. Wetting agents (Possum’s Wetting
Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton Burr Compost) will give
sandy soils better water holding capacity. Using a soil conditioner like Mule
Mix or Turface will also help.
Wind exposure can also play a big part in how much to
water. An ocean front or lake front lot
with a constant breeze will require more water than a land-locked yard in the
suburbs that is protected from wind. Position
of trees, fences, houses or other wind breaks can also affect wind exposure. If your yard is very windy, you will have to
water more than a yard that is more protected from the wind. Wetting agents (Possum’s Wetting Agent with
Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton Burr Compost) will give windy areas
better water holding capacity. Using a soil conditioner like Mule Mix or
Turface will also help.
Depending on the elevation change in your yard, you could
require more water. Some houses sit up
on hills that slope down toward the road.
These sloping yards require more water.
In the Lowcountry, this is less of a problem than an area in the
mountains or hills. Wetting agents
(Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton Burr
Compost) will give hilly areas better water holding capacity and allow the
water to penetrate the ground instead of running off into the road. Using a
soil conditioner like Mule Mix or Turface will also help.
If you have a lot of landscape berms, be sure these areas
are getting enough water. Many berms are
made with landscape grade fill dirt (i.e. sand) that dry out quickly. Being up on a hill, they have more exposure
as well as slope, therefore they require more water. Wetting agents (Possum’s
Wetting Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton Burr Compost) will
give these areas better water holding capacity. Using a soil conditioner like
Mule Mix or Turface will also help.
Just as we need to drink plenty of water, so do the plants
and grass. Some areas near sidewalks and
streets are getting cooked! The soil
surface temperature is often well over 100 degrees. Give your trees, flowers and turf a drink! Wetting agents (Possum’s Wetting Agent with
Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton Burr Compost) will give hot soils
better water holding capacity. Using a soil conditioner like Mule Mix or
Turface will also help.
Exposure to the sun also affects the amount of water needed
by a yard. If your yard is shaded by a
neighbor’s house or trees, it will require less water than if it is in the wide
open sun. Different areas of the same
yard will require different amounts of water based on the exposure to the sun. Wetting
agents (Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton
Burr Compost) will give exposed soils better water holding capacity. Using a soil conditioner like Mule Mix or
Turface will also help.
Always try to water early in the morning so your landscape
does not stay wet too long and encourage fungus. Turf gets wet at night through
guttation and dew. By watering early in the morning (3-7 am) you are not
extending that wet period. If you water at 9 am and the grass has been wet all
night, you could be giving disease the opportunity (moisture) it needs to
flourish. Wetting agents (Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants) and
organic matter (Cotton Burr Compost) will give your soils better water holding
capacity and you will be able to reduce your watering and your water bill (and
usually your fungicide bill as well). Using a soil conditioner like Mule Mix or
Turface will also help.
If you have any doubt, just try one quart of wetting agent
and or one bag of cotton burr compost and see for yourself the difference these
products can make in your landscape.
Using a soil conditioner like Mule Mix or Turface will also
help.
Always read, understand and follow product label. The
product label is a Federal Law.
