Spring temperatures will soon prompt us to water the lawn. Over-watering lawns damages grass and potentially the lake.
The key is to set the watering timer to odd or even days. If your home address number is odd, water Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. If your home address number is even, water Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
Watershed Association of Tellico Reservoir has outlined generally accepted best management practices for watering lawns that are supported by research from the University of Tennessee’s Agricultural Extension service. Per your house number, only water on odd/even days. Water deeply twice a week. Water between 3-9 a.m. Turn off your automatic sprinkler system if it rains 1 inch or more per week.
These four basic BMPs are meant to keep your lawn healthy, the lake free of excess chemicals that promote the growth of algae and unwanted vegetation, help balance water pressure in Tellico Village and likely in other neighboring communities, and keep money in your pocket.
Watering deeply means soaking the soil 4-6 inches. This practice promotes deep rooting of lawn grasses, which reduces root burning from direct sunlight and preserves the root system when extended droughts occur. Avoid light, frequent watering because it will cause a shallow root system.
How does a homeowner determine the length of time it takes for deep watering? An established lawn requires 1-1.5 inches of water per week, including rainfall, or .5 inches to .75 inches per irrigation period for two periods per week. Place three 2- to 3-inch deep cans in one of your watering zones. Water your lawn until the water in the can reaches the desired level. Average the volume of water accumulated in the three cans. The amount of time you need to achieve a deep watering goal is now known. You may have to increase or decrease the duration timer to maintain a deep watering time goal.
After each deep watering, let the lawn thoroughly dry out. When you see footprints on the lawn, it is time to water. Watering between 3-9 a.m. is ideal. In the early morning, the wind is most calm. Strong daytime breezes blow the water about and distribute it unevenly. You also limit the amount of time droplets are exposed to the sun, which reduces the amount of water loss from evaporation. Watering earlier than 3 a.m. will leave water on the blades too long and can cause the growth of fungus.
Low water pressure is a concern to many and is caused when most homeowners water lawns Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Simultaneous neighborhood demand for water puts enormous strain on the supply. An easy no-cost way to resolve the problem and maintain stable water pressure is for residents to water 3-9 a.m. two days a week on odd or even days. The result is a balancing effect on neighborhood water pressure, and the amount of water available for showers and laundry later in the morning is increased. The odd or even watering pattern has been adopted by many communities throughout the United States whether people live in a water-rich area like ours or in a drought-prone region. Let’s implement the program in our neighborhoods.
Talk to your irrigation service technician when they set up your watering timer to establish a deep watering program per your house number on odd or even days. You can also do it yourself for the best results.
How useful are automatic rain sensors? They are designed to turn off your irrigation system if it is raining and avoid over watering. They commonly fail in about a year and must be replaced. The best approach is not to use the sensor and manually turn your timer off in heavy rain because the weekly goal of 1-1.5 inches of water accumulate quickly. Over-watering your lawn is an unnecessary expense and can damage the lawn with mold and diseases.
Best practices can keep money in your pocket, sustain a healthy lawn, keep phosphorous and nitrogen out of the lake, which decreases the risk for algae and unwanted vegetation, and balance water demands that decrease the risk for low water pressure for all residents.
WATeR is a group of people from different communities in the watershed and their mission is to protect the water quality of the watershed, lake and creeks. The group has brochures in various locations that describe their work. By visiting www.tellicowater.org, you can also find material on various topics. You can also request a speaker, at no cost, to discuss these and other issues. For more information, email tellicowater@aol.com.
