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Watering Turf

About 50% of our water is used outdoors, and the majority of this is used to water lawns.

Wise lawn watering will conserve a precious resource and will also reduce your monthly water bills.

How much water is used by turf grasses in the Sierra Vista, AZ area?

Cool Season Grasses use 30.75 gallons/ft²/year

Warm Season Grasses use 19.50 gallons/ft²/year

Overseeded grasses (warm and annual cool) use 29 gallons/ft²/year

Warm Season grasses actively grow from mid- April (when the soil temperature warms up) to mid- October, and go dormant in the winter. Spreading warm season grasses include bermuda garss and buffalo grass. Bunch warm season grasses include a Cochise County native - blue grama.

Cool Season grasses grow best during the cooler parts of the spring and fall. They may or may not go dormant during the winter cold. Generally cool season grasses are bunch grasses, meaning that they do not spread by runners. They include perennial ryegrass, annual ryegrass and tall fescue.

When should I water?

Watering in the early morning is the most effective time. Less water evaporates and fewer disease problems will occur.

How often should I water?

WATERING TOO MUCH = MORE MOWING!!

Water lawns once every three or four days. Even during the hot summer months, lawns do not need to be watered every day. Third-day watering promotes deeper root growth which makes your lawn more water efficient.

Look for signs of stress: Does your grass stay flat after you step on it? Are the blades surling? If so, then it is time to water.

How long should I water?

How long you should water depends upon two factors:

1. How quickly your sprinklers put water on your lawn (Sprinkler Output).

2. The amount of water your grass needs to stay healthy (Water Requirement).

Sprinkler Output

1) Place 4-6 tuna or cat food cans at various locations on your lawn.

2) Turn the sprinkler on and time it for 15 minutes. Then turn it off.

3) Measure the depth of water in each can with a clear plastic ruler.

4) Figure the average depth in inches (add together all the water depths in the cans and divide by the number of cans).

Watering Time

1) Determine the Sprinkler Output (using the can test).

2) Use the Suggested Watering Schedule (below charts).

For example, if your sprinkler output is ¼ inch (in 15 minutes) and it is April, water for 22 minutes for warm season grass, 36 minutes for cool season grass and 22 minutes for overseeded grass.

Water again in 3-4 days.

NOTE: A properly adjusted underground sprinkler system is better than hand placed sprinklers. Underground systems deliver water more evenly and at a finer spray that can be absorbed by the turf.

Install a sprinkler control clock or faucet timer.

Suggested Watering Schedules for Cool and Warm Season Grasses in Cochise County, AZ

If water run-off occurs during watering, water using a "cycle-soak" method. Run the system until run- off begins. Stop and let the water soak in. Run the system again to complete the recommended watering time.

Warm Season Grasses
Month	If your sprinkler output in 15 minutes, in Inches is:
	1/8	1/4	3/8	1/2	5/8	3/4
	Irrigate for the Number of Minutes Indicated Every 3 Days
January	No Supplemental Irrigation is Needed
February
March
April	44	22	15	11	9	7
May	73	37	24	18	15	12
June	85	43	28	21	17	14
July	51	26	17	13	10	9
August	39	19	13	10	8	6
September	51	25	17	13	10	8
October	23	12	8	6	5	4
November	No Supplemental Irrigation is Needed
December	No Supplemental Irrigation is Needed

Cool Season Grasses
Month	If your sprinkler output in 15 minutes, in Inches is:
	1/8	1/4	3/8	1/2	5/8	3/4
	Irrigate for the Number of Minutes Indicated Every 3 Days
January	No Supplemental Irrigation is Needed
February	No Supplemental Irrigation is Needed
March	50	25	17	13	10	8
April	72	36	24	18	14	12
May	91	45	30	23	18	15
June	106	53	35	26	21	18
July	68	34	23	17	14	11
August	54	27	18	14	11	9
September	65	32	22	16	13	11
October	42	21	14	11	8	7
November	35	17	12	9	7	6
December	No Supplemental Irrigation is Needed

Overseeded Grasses
Month	If your sprinkler output in 15 minutes, in Inches is:
	1/8	1/4	3/8	1/2	5/8	3/4
	Irrigate for the Number of Minutes Indicated Every 3 Days
January	14	7	5	3	3	2
February	23	12	8	6	5	4
March	50	25	17	13	10	8
April	44	22	15	11	9	7
May	73	37	24	18	15	12
June	85	43	28	21	17	14
July	51	26	17	13	10	9
August	39	19	13	10	8	6
September	51	25	17	13	10	8
October	23	12	8	6	5	4
November	35	17	12	9	7	6
December	13	7	4	3	3	2

Other Tips For Improving Watering Efficiency

Dethatch, aerate and top dress your turf once a year to help water penetrate
If your lawn begins to show water stress 2 or 3 days after applying the prescribed amounts of water, you may have sandy soil. Water more often but at a reduced amount per application. If you have a sandier soil, you will need to water more often but at a reduced rate per application. A general rule for sandy soils is to water every other day but for only one-half (1/2) the amount of time per application indicated using the above Water Schedule.
In the Sprinkler Output test, catch cans which contain 20% more or 20% less water than the average usually indicate sprinkler performance problems resulting in uneven coverage. Find the cause. If you can't easily correct it, manually water the dry spots rather than increase your average application rate. Use the same brand of sprinkler heads.
Efficient watering means wetting the soil just below the root zone (8-12") and then allowing the soil to dry. To determine the depth of watering, gently push a metal rod or screwdriver into the ground. It will stop when it reaches dry soil. Water again when the probe won't penetrate the soil more than 4 inches.
Raise your mover height to 1½ to 2½" for bermuda grass, 2½ to 3" for fescue and bluegrass. This will reduce water loss through evaporation. Cut grass when it is 1/3 higher than the above recommended height. Never remove more that 40% of the grass height at any one time.
During the drier summer months, use less fertilizer. Your plants will still prosper, but their water needs will be reduced.
If water puddles or runs off, apply less water by more often.
Adjust sprinklers so that they spray on plants, not walls, driveways or sidewalks.

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Cochise County Cooperative Extension 450 S. Haskell Avenue Willcox, AZ 85643-2790 Phone: (520) 384-3594 Fax: (520) 384-3681 Satellite Office 1140 N. Colombo Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 Phone:(520) 458-8278 ext 2141 Fax:(520) 458-5823 or 626-2492 (Tucson)	Last Reviewed and Updated: October 22, 2009 Questions/Comments: cdaily@cals.arizona.edu (520) 621-7205 Legal Disclaimer Privacy Statement
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