Lawn Watering and Irrigation

May 22nd, 2011 by jess2007 12 comments »

Lawns and turf, like most living things need water in order to maintain optimum health and ultimately survive. During dry and warmperiods (drought) during the summer, water is often often scarce and in some cases it must be applied to lawns to compensate for the lack of rainfall.Fortunately most lawns are able to withstand long periods without rainfall, although they may go brown and look unsightly they soon recover once there is a significant amount of rainfall. However it is important not to let the lawn suffer through lack of water, so that there is a loss of grass cover.If the grass becomes thin and weak, this gives weeds and weed grasses the ideal opportunity to invade, creating more problems to the lawn. Therefore not only will the quality of the lawn suffer, these other problems will need dealing with in order to restore the lawn to its former condition.At the other end of the spectrum some people water their lawns far too much, this is not only a waste of valuable water it also brings other lawn care problems in the form of shallow rooted weed grasses.

How much water to apply to a lawn

How much water your lawn requires will vary from lawn to lawn, depending on grass type, soil type, mowing regime and climatic conditions.Lawns that contain drought resistant grasses such as fescue and ryegrass will withstand drought better than lawns containing a high percentage of annual meadow grass, therefore require less watering.Again soils that contain a high high content of clay will need less watering or irrigation than a sandy root zone.Lawns that are mowntoo short will require more water than those that are left somewhat longer.

When to water a lawn

It is important not to let the lawn get too dry before watering or irrigation. Quite often the grass will go dull, loosing its glossy colour, a blue tinge to grass can often be observed. The grass will loose its springiness when walked over, when it is starting to suffer from the lack of water.When these symptoms occur it is time to water the lawn. Generally speaking it is beneficial to the lawn to water heavily every 7 to 10 days and let the lawn dry out a little in between. motorcycle accident attorney florida . However it is worth noting these figures are not set in stone and may vary with different soil types and heat levels.Some lawns may be able to survive longer without water, some may need it more frequently. E.g. A lawn on a sandy soil in 30 degree heat will require more frequent watering or irrigation than a heavy clay soil in similar heat. Therefore you need to adapt your lawn watering program for your particular situation.Always let the lawn tell you when it needs water, don’t apply water to the lawn for the sake of it.The best time for lawn watering or irrigation is early morning or early evening, when it is generally a little cooler and less water is lost through evaporation.However watering the lawn during the evening can mean the grass leaf remaining wet through the night and may encourage some types of lawn disease. Jewelry . If this is the case for your lawn aim to water during the early morning as the leaves of the grass will dry quickly. 

Types of sprinklers used for watering lawns

The most common and easiest way of watering a lawn is by using a hose pipe and sprinkler. However before rushing out to purchase a sprinkler it is worth noting the size and shape of your lawn. This is because different types of sprinkler are suited to different size and shaped lawns.

  • Oscillating sprinklers are ideal for square or rectangular shaped lawns. In most cases they can be adjusted to cover the intended area and they provide a nice gentle watering pattern that has time to soak into the soil.
  • Static sprinklers generally produce a circular watering pattern. Normally the sprinkler can’t be adjusted, however by increasing or decreasing the tap pressure the area being watered can be adjusted. These sprinklers apply the water to an area of lawn quite quickly, therefore they need moving on a regular basis.
  • Pulse-jet or impact sprinklers also water in a circular pattern, but they can be adjusted to water full circle or part circle. Again this type of sprinkler provides a nice gentle watering letting the water soak slowly into the soil.
  • Pop-up sprinklers are more commonly used on golf courses and sports grounds, however they are also suitable for larger lawns as they water large areas quickly and accurately. gainesville personal injury attorney . The main drawback with pop-up sprinklers is the cost of installation and they also require good water pressure for them to work properly.

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Posted in Lawn Watering

Smooth Hawksbeard (Crepis capillaris)

May 7th, 2011 by jess2007 11 comments »

AlthoughSmooth Hawksbeard (Crepis capillaris) can be a nuisance in managed turf it is more common on neglected areas such as grassland heaths and roadside. This annual weed forms as a basal plant with a deep tap root enabling it to withstand dry conditions.The leaves of Smooth Hawksbeard are quite similar to those of the Dandelion, however they are somewhat smaller on Hawksbeard. The yellow flowers which areborneon branched stalks appear between the months of May and September. Pet photographer Dublin PA . The flowerheads often have reddish streaks underneath.Smooth Hawksbeard prefers dry free draining soils, it can often be found on coastal sites.Cultural control involves hand weeding individual plants, taking care to remove the whole root. Keep the lawn in a healthy and vigorous condition to prevent weeds encroaching,particularlyduring dry conditions.Chemicals should always be used as a last resort in the fight against lawn and turf weed. dallas dentist . If you go down this route only treat the infected areas of the lawn by spot treating the weed. phlebotomist pay . Choose a selective weed killer that contains2,4-D & mecoprop-P or or 2,4-D & dicamba for the best results. More than one application may be needed for Smooth Hawksbeard.Please click below to enlarge the Smooth Hawksbeard image

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Posted in Lawn Weeds

Lawn Weed Control

May 3rd, 2011 by jess2007 11 comments »

As we enter the months of May chances are those weeds are starting to spoil the look of your lawn and you are considering some form of action to remove them. If you have been lucky and the weeds are few in number, then hand weeding may be your best course of action to rid your lawn of these weeds.However if like most people, your lawn may be covered with Dandelions, Daisies, Clover, Buttercups or Selfheal to name a few. It this describes your lawn then it may be time to reach for the weedkiller and kill off these common lawn weeds.Before we go and purchase a selective weed killer it is always a good idea to carry out a little research and identify what weeds we have in the lawn. phlebotomy certification online . You can use our handy weed identification chart for this. After all we want to make sure the product we choose will be effective against the weeds causing the problems.Most good garden centres will stock a variety of selective weed killers, some will be more effective against certain weeds than others. If you’re not sure which product to purchase you can always ask a member of staff for advice.N.B. Be sure to mention that you want to control weeds in the lawn and you require a selective weed killer and not a total weed killer. Selective weed killers target only the weeds and will NOT harm the grass. Total weed killers kill everything including the lawn. It may sound obvious but many people have applied the wrong product and killed off the whole lawn.

When to apply a selective weed killer tolawn

Before we go ahead and apply the weed killer there are a few simple guidelines to follow that will help us get the optimum results from this operation. The following advice is for a weed killer that applied in liquid form.

  • Ensure that the lawn is growing vigorously. This is important because it helps the weeds absorb the chemical quickly and efficiently ensuring optimum results. Many turf care professionals apply a fertiliser shortly before carrying out any weed control to boost the growth for this reason.
  • Apply the chemical when the leaf of the weed is dry. This helps the chemical stick to the leaf of the weed. If the foliage is wet or damp, most of the chemical would simply run off and reduce the effectiveness of the weed killer.
  • Do not mow the lawn 3 days prior to the application and 3 days following the application of the weed killer. Basically this ensures that the weed has a large leaf for the chemical to stick and also give the chemical time to be absorbed through the whole plant (weed).
  • Avoid applying selective weed killers during drought to prevent any damage to the lawn. If necessary water the lawn thoroughly prior to the treatment.
  • Avoid spraying the lawn if rain is imminent, as this can wash the chemical off the leaf and reduce the effectiveness of the chemical.
  • To avoid any damage or problems to the lawn always read and follow the manufacturers instructions that is supplied with the product.

Always remember chemicals are dangerous if used incorrectly, therefore great care must be taken during this task. Neal Beaty . Store any unused chemicals safely and away from children and clean or dispose of any contaminated clothing or garments in the correct manner.

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Posted in Lawn Weeds