As the summer heat ramps up, you may be wondering how to conserve water while still keeping your plants and yard happy. We are here to help! Here are some ideal tips on how to save your plants and your water!
The best time to irrigate your lawn is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. During this period it is generally cooler, less windy, and the humidity is higher so evaporation losses are less. Additionally, water pressure may be higher at this time, providing a more even spray distribution pattern.
Irrigating between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. also overlaps with the turf’s natural dew period. Most diseases of turf occur when grass blades are wet for longer than 14 consecutive hours. Watering before 10 p.m. or after 6 a.m. extends the natural wetness period and increases disease problems. Additionally, dew contains substances exuded from the plant tissue that increase the growth of disease organisms. Water applied between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. dilutes these materials, thus reducing the growth of turf disease organisms.
If it is not practical to water during this time period, another option is to water between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., starting the irrigation after the dew has dried but before the winds begin. From a disease prevention perspective, irrigating anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. is fine (as long as the turf dries before the evening dew period sets in); however water loss from sun and wind will be greatest at this time.
With these ideas in mind, you can be on your way to a healthy, happy yard!
Source https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/watering-established-lawns-7-199/
