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WATER EFFICIENT LAWN WATERING PRACTICES <br /> <br />Summer lawn watering creates large demands on local water utilities. Water supply treatment <br />and storage facilities are often built two, three and even four time larger to supply additional <br />demands created by lawn watering. This extra capacity is not used for most of the year and adds <br />significant costs to the design, construction and operation of a water system. Water customers <br />and communities can save money by using water more efficiently. These water efficient lawn <br />watering practices can help maintain a beautiful yard and conserve valuable water supplies.. <br /> <br />GENERAL INFORMATION <br /> <br />Adjust sprinklers to water only grass areas and not impervious surfaces such as streets, <br />driveways and walkways. <br />Mow grass to a height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches. Taller grass shades the roots and soil surface, <br />which helps reduce the amount of water that is lost to evaporation. <br />Use sprinklers that spray low large drops vs. high fine ones. <br />Use hand held soakers for small trees, shrubs and plants. <br />Use shut offnozzles on hoses and repair leaky hoses and fittings. <br /> <br />WHEN TO WATER <br /> <br />About one inch of water per week (including precipitation) is adequate for maintaining a <br />healthy lawn. Use a can or rain gauge to help determine the amount of water applied by <br />the sprinkling system and supplied by rainfall. <br />Don't use a fixed schedule for lawn watering. Apply water only when it is needed. Over <br />watering can promote diseases and affect the health of the lawn. <br />A simple test for determining if grass needs water is to walk on the lawn and if you leave <br />foot prints, it may be time to water the lawn. <br />Using a spade or gardening tool to check soil conditions 2 to 6 inches below the surface <br />can provide information on soil moisture and the need to water. <br />A good soaking once or twice a week is better than watering every day. Allowing the soil <br />to dry between watering will allow the roots to grow to greater depths and help make turf <br />more drought tolerant. <br /> <br />BEST TIMES FOR LAWN WATERI1NG <br /> <br />Water during the cool part of the day to minimize water lost to evaporation. Early <br />morning hours (4 a.m. to 8 a.m.) are the best, and the peak water consumption hours <br />(4 p.m. to 9 p.m.) should be avoided. <br />Avoid watering during midday hours when it is hot and sunny to prevent scalding the <br />turf. <br />Watering at night is not recommended because the lawn stays wet for a long period of <br />time which can promote diseases and affect the health of your lawn. <br />Avoid watering during rainy or windy weather conditions. <br /> <br />16 <br /> <br /> <br />