A website from UGA Cooperative Extension

Lawn and gardening information for Colquitt County from the Extension office..

It does not take long for it get dry. The information below is from a CoCoRahs reporting site at the Extension office. It shows that rainfall amounts are 76% percent of normal for the month of April and 77% of normal for the year to date.

When do I water my lawn and how much? When your lawn starts to show signs of drought stress, apply enough water to soak the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches. This is usually the equivalent of about 1 inch of rainfall or 600 gallons of water per 1,000 sq. feet. If the soil becomes compacted, then core aeration will be recommended. This will allow water to penetrate deeper into the soil profile.

What time do I water my lawn? Research suggests that irrigating after dew development and before sunrise is the most efficient and prevents disease problems. Nighttime irrigation could help reduce water losses by 50 percent compared to applications during the day.

What if I water my lawn all the time? Please keep in mind that watering your lawn in light, frequent intervals can result in shallow, and weak root systems. The shallow root systems prevent lawns from effectively using all nutrients and water in the soil. The key to success is to condition your lawn to require as little extra water as possible.

If you have any questions about watering lawns please contact your local county Extension agent.

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