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WATER WISDOM - If water costs money, why dump it down the drain?
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Location: Blogs The Green Zone an environmental blog |
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| Posted by: Dave Rhea |
7/12/2007 12:12 PM |
It’s been blazing hot lately! I love a green yard, so I have been reluctantly watering my lawn a little more than usual. On these dry, scorching-hot days – and there have been many - I find myself standing around outside with a water hose.
Water Wisdom - If it costs money, why dump it down the drain?
It’s been blazing hot lately! I love a green yard, so I have been reluctantly watering my lawn a little more than usual. On these dry, scorching-hot days – and there have been many - I find myself standing around outside with a water hose.
THE BAHIA EXPERIMENT
Plus, I recently test-planted a portion of my front in Argentine Bahia glass – so I have to water a little extra to get it rooted and thriving. I have about 15’x15’ patch seeded and emerged. If I like it, and it is easy to establish, I’ll do the rest of my front yard.
(I still have a 30’x30’ patch of St. Augustine in my back for my three-year-old to play on. If I see a real monetary benefit from the bahia front, I may ditch the thirsty St. Aug. altogether.)
NOTE, from www.bahiagrass.com/info/argentine.html: “Argentine has wide, broad leaves with a good, darker, green color, making it more suitable for lawns in Florida… It is used extensively for lawns because of its attractive look and the fact that it produces less ‘objectionable’ seed heads than other Bahias.”
Bahia also has great drought resistance – What does that do for me? I use less water to keep it green - and that leaves me with more green in my pocket. It seems like a no-brainer to want this grass in my yard. As of right now, though, I am in the testing phase. I will report back with the results.
WHAT WATER HABITS?
During the last week or so, I think I have experienced about 3 or 4 days of rain at my house (S.E. historic area) – one day being a torrential downpour. So I have been rejoicing in the free water.
But on those hotter, dryer days we have been having lately, I ponder my watering habits. Then I realized, well, I don’t really have any. So I wonder:
How much do I water? When is best? When is worst? Will it hurt my yard to water at night? Will it “blanch” my yard if I water in the middle of the hottest part of the day?
Water management districts (we have two that split Marion County) generally have these loose, unenforced guidelines: (if you want to see enforcement, call your districts county commissioner at 352-438-2323 and they will tell you why they won’t, then vote your conscience during the next election. Florida water levels are at an all-time low and sinking. One sure fire way to get your message across to politicians is with your votes. Just ask Randy Harris and Dennis Baxley. But I digress.)
+ Water lawns during the early morning or early evening hours when temperature and wind speed are lowest.
+ Water users are to limit their irrigation to two days a week, with water users choosing their own irrigation days.
+ Irrigation using a micro-irrigation, or drip systems, is allowed anytime.
+ Irrigation of new landscape is allowed at any time of day on any day for the initial 30 days and every other day for the next 30 days for a total of one 60-day period
AMOUNT
Generally, three-quarters of an inch of water per application is enough to promote a stress- and drought-resistant lawn.
Then, let the dirt completely dry to encourage healthy, deep root growth. There is no need to pour too much on your yard! Overwatering promotes weed growth, disease and fungus.
To get good at watering the correct amount, St. Johns Water Management District (SJWMD) recommends:
“You can use the ‘can method’ to determine how much water to apply and to see if you are watering uniformly across the landscaped area. Place five to seven wide-mouthed, flat-bottom cans (cans about the size of an average tuna can) throughout the area to be irrigated. Wait 30 minutes, and then measure the depth of water in each can. Average the measurements and use this number to determine how long you need to water to apply three-quarters of an inch of water.”
Another good idea is to plant water-wise, drought-tolerant, Florida-friendly grasses and groundcovers. They won’t need to be watered all the time, and you can spend that extra money somewhere more helpful.
Consider using the following Xeriscape landscaping principles from SJWMD:
+ Get a soil analysis — Collect soil samples from various areas of your yard and have them analyzed by your local County Cooperative Extension Service. This analysis will tell you the level of acidity or alkalinity in your soil. This information will help you decide which plants will work best in your yard.
+ Plan your landscape — Evaluate the conditions in your yard, such as sunny and shady areas, how you will use sections of the yard and how large you want mature plants to be.
+ Choose the proper plants — Determine each plant’s need for sun, shade, soil and water, and its tolerance for cold or salt. Match the plant’s needs to the appropriate spot in your landscape.
+ Use turf grass wisely — Grass is often your yard’s biggest water user. Save grass for areas where children or pets will play. In other areas, consider mulch or groundcover.
+ Irrigate effectively — Group landscape plants that have similar moisture needs together in areas separate from grass. Use sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each use. Zones of in-ground irrigation systems should be separate for turf and non-turf areas. Use appropriate matching spray heads throughout the zone.
+ Mulch — Using mulch helps retain soil moisture and moderates temperature. Mulching also helps to control weeds that compete with plants for water. Spread several inches of mulch, such as wood chips, pine straw or leaves, around shrubs, trees and flowerbeds.
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