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Watering
Tips
When
should I water my lawn?
Water in the early morning (before sunrise) when water pressure is
greatest, evaporation is minimal and the lawn drinks in the most water. Do
not water in the evening because water will sit on the lawn and may cause
disease. Do not water in the heat of the day because the sun will evaporate
water before it can soak in. To water your lawn efficiently, you need to
provide the right amount of water, evenly distributed, in the right places
and at the right time.
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How often should I water my lawn?
There are three things to consider: the weather, the type of soil and the
depth of roots.
Weather is the most obvious factor.
When it's hotter you'll need to water more frequently. In the summer you'll
probably need to water every other day, if not every day (depending, of
course, on where you live).
The type of soil affects how much
water is available for the grass to use. Heavy (clay) soils hold the most
water, meaning you'll probably water less frequently. Sandy soils do not
hold water well, so you'll water them more often. Deeper roots mean there is
more available water for the grass and, therefore, you'll need to water less
frequently. Think of the soil as a sponge that holds water for the grass.
The deeper the sponge, the more water it can hold. It is wise to establish
watering practices that encourage deep root growth. This allows lawns to go
longer between watering, cutting down on disease potential and, ultimately,
the amount of water you'll use.
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How
much should I water my lawn?
This will be driven by the weather. Water is lost from your lawn through
a process called evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration--usually referred to
as "ET"-- is the combined effect of water used by the plant and
that which is lost to evaporation. ET is expressed in inches (or mm) of
water per week. Your watering schedule should be set up to replace the water
lost to ET. Check with your local university extension for ET rates in your
area. Many areas publish ET rates in the daily press.
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How
deep into the soil should water penetrate?
Water should penetrate to the depth of the roots (fill the root zone) or
to the depth that roots are desired. This should be at least six inches. The
next scheduled watering should occur when about half of the water is used
via ET. Allowing much more loss could result in plant stress (see below).
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What
happens if I don't water my lawn enough?
If too much water is allowed to leave the soil, your lawn will not be
able to extract what's left for its own use, leading to stress. This makes
the grass weak and susceptible to physical damage, insect damage and
disease.
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What
happens if I over water my lawn?
More lawns are harmed by too much water than not enough. Over watering
causes nutrients to be flushed away, resulting in higher fertilizer
requirements. Over watering also displaces oxygen from the soil, which leads
to shallow roots and a lawn that is disease prone and weed infested.
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What
happens to grass during a drought?
If your lawn can't get enough water it will first go into a dormant
stage, often marked by a bluish color. If the drought continues until the
soil water is fully used, death will result for most cool-season grasses.
Bermudas and other warm-season grasses will probably recover, however, the
lawn's quality will not.
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What are the
elements of an automatic irrigation system?
Controller/Timer
The controller, or timer, is the brain of your system, telling your
sprinklers what day, what time and exactly how much to water. Valves
Installed above or below the ground, usually near the water source, valves
regulate water flow to the sprinklers.
Pressure Vacuum Breaker
(PVB)
PVBs prevent water from your sprinkler system (and therefore any
fertilizer or chemical contaminants) from re-entering the clean water
supply. Toro® manufactures several pressure vacuum devices to meet your
local building code specifications.
Lawn Sprinklers
Installed in a special pattern for complete and even coverage, a properly
designed automatic sprinkler system delivers precise coverage without gaps
or runoff.
Rain Switch (Optional)
A Rain Switch signals your system to shut off automatically when it's
raining. There's no sense watering when nature is doing its part. The Rain
Switch is a highly reliable and inexpensive option that saves countless
gallons of water.
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What
kind of sprinkler should I use?
The type of sprinkler you use really depends on what's being watered.
There are five basic sprinkler types: fixed sprays, flood bubblers, stream
bubblers, single-stream rotors and multi-stream rotors.
Fixed-spray sprinklers
produce a
tight, constant fan of water ideal for small lawn, shrub and ground cover
areas. Pop-up models pop up above grasses and disappear when not in use.
Shrub sprays are mounted above foliage to water ground cover and shrubs.
Flood bubblers produce a flow of
water that soaks the soil without wetting the leaves. They're ideal for tree
wells, planters and shrubs.
Stream bubblers are for efficient
watering of small planter beds and shrubs areas. Stream bubblers are
available in a variety of patterns.
Gear-driven, single-stream rotary sprinklers cover large lawn areas
most efficiently. Some single-stream rotors have an arc adjustment for
placement in corners. Like other pop-up sprinklers, they pop up above
grasses and disappear when not in use.
Gear-driven, multi-stream rotary
sprinklers produce thin, attractive streams of water that slowly rotate to
ensure proper penetration for medium-sized lawn and shrub areas.
Multi-stream, pop-up lawn and shrub models are excellent for lawns or ground
cover--especially on slopes.
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What
are the advantages of an automatic sprinkler system?
Convenience.
How many times have you forgotten to water your lawn, then over
watered--only to end up with brown spots and muddy puddles? Like many
homeowners, you could be using up to 50% more water than your landscape
needs. Which isn't good for your pocketbook or for your lawn. The solution
isn't to use more water, but to water more precisely. An automatic sprinkler
system can give you a healthy, green lawn--and more free time to enjoy the
beautiful results. An Automatic Sprinkler System takes the work and
worry out of watering your lawn. You can forget about tripping over hoses or
sprinklers, fixing leaky faucets and hauling hoses around the yard. While
you're enjoying the ball game, your lawn enjoys the right amount of water,
in the right spots, at the right time.
Greener lawns and gardens.
Hose-end products simply cannot match the performance of a properly
installed irrigation system. Adjustable sprinklers allow you to fine-tune
coverage and minimize waste.
More efficient watering.
An automatic system delivers gentle, even watering for a more thorough
soaking. There's less runoff and wasted water. The system can be programmed
to water at the best time, early in the morning.
Attractive.
Pop-up sprinklers stay out of sight when not in use. All you need to do
is enjoy your lawn.
Improves your home.
Installing a Automatic Sprinkler System immediately adds value to
your home. It also protects your gardening and landscaping investment and
keeps it growing while saving time and water.
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