We know that last month was the 2nd driest September in recorded history in Angelina County. And looking ahead, there’s just no rain in any forecast.
Across Angelina County from 18-hole golf courses to home lawns, and from backyard gardens to commercial blueberry growers, everyone and everything outside is hurting for water.
How do we efficiently get the most out of our water bill, making sure that every drop we expend gets to the roots that need it most? Below are a couple suggestions.
First, use a drip system for foundation plantings, landscaped beds, around fruit trees, and in vegetable gardens. Commercial growers have long used a drip system for efficient use of water. From blueberry orchards to watermelon fields, drip emitters have been the water system of choice to effectively place every drop of water. Simple to install kits for homeowners can be found at some big-box stores as well as online.
Second, and what is most likely the case if a sprinkler system is what you use, let’s remember the relatively new strategy: the soak and cycle method. The soak and cycle method breaks up your typical sprinkler cycle into at least 2 different sessions on the same morning to fully allow water to reach deep into the soil.
You’ve seen it happen countless times: some well-meaning sprinkler system has excess water running out of the yard, down the street, and into the storm drain. It’s a waste of our best water and an unneeded expense to the homeowner.
The soak and cycle method works best for in-ground sprinkler systems, but for hose draggers (like me) it has merit. The theory behind the method is to soak the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, which is where grass roots should grow. The cycle phase refers to the fact that water will be applied in at least two applications with a pause between for the ground to absorb the water that was first applied. So first we irrigate for a time, wait to allow that water to move into the soil, and then irrigate again. This process still requires you to water all in one or two mornings in the week. You just stretch out the morning time frame to get it all done.
Far too often, people run their systems over the entire lawn for a little bit every other day. Doing this concentrates all the water in the upper portion of the soil, developing a poorly developed, shallow root system. Let us aim to irrigate deeply but less frequently to encourage strong, deep roots.
The first step is determining the rate you are applying water in each zone.
Set several rain gauges or straight sided cans in your lawn and measure the amount applied in 15 or 30 minutes. This rate of application combined with the infiltration rate will determine how long to run the system in each zone.
While you are waiting to see how much water accumulates, watch carefully to see when it starts to run off. You’ll use that time for each cycle.
Cycle then means to water another zone and allow that water that was just applied to soak into the soil. Then you go back to the first zone and apply water again. This may require several soaking and rest periods to apply the needed 1 inch of water per week to keep the lawn healthy while eliminating runoff. Some homeowners may have irrigation run three or four times on the same zone on a chosen morning to allow water to reach deep into the soil.
Sound difficult? It’s not. Let’s review the steps.
First, determine the flow rate of your sprinkler heads. How many inches of water do they put out per hour?
Second, carefully observe your lawn to see how long before it quits absorbing water. 15 minutes? 30 minutes?
Third, re-program your time clock to soak and cycle the zones. Remember, the same zone will be watered multiple times on the same day with just enough water to be absorbed.
Lastly, monitor the lawn for a few weeks and make adjustments based on weather conditions.
Soak and cycle may still be a new concept for lawn watering but once it is figured out, it takes the guesswork out of the equation. You know how much water is being applied, the rate in which the soil can absorb, and your lawn will be better for it.
Give these tips a try as we eagerly look for rain in the forecast.
