Watering before 10 p.m. or after 6 a.m. extends the natural wetness period and increases disease problems. A healthy, high-quality bluegrass or ryegrass lawn may need up to 2.25 inches of water per week under hot, dry, windy … Revised 11/14. From May 1 to Oct. 15, landscape watering must take place before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Further information on these units and other smart controllers is available from your irrigation supply house or on the Internet. A healthy, deep root system produces vigorous turf that is tolerant of drought and resistant to disease and insect pests. The Integrated Water Resource Plan, approved by the Utilities Board in 2017, includes water efficiency as a source of future supply and the proposed ordinance changes are expected to meet 10 percent of the efficiency goal. The addition of a pressure regulator at the valve is required if misting of water occurs. Continually water-logged soils are deprived of oxygen which is required for proper root growth. Water during cooler times of the day — lawn watering is not allowed between 10 … Colorado Springs Utilities – Stage IIb Restrictions Effective April 1- Outdoor landscape watering limited to 2 days a week on designated days. To avoid runoff from very heavy clay soil and/or a sloped lawn you can water for a short period, then stop and start back up again until 1 to 1.5 inches of water has accumulated. Swift, former Extension horticulture agent, Tri River area, Grand Junction. 1. These include the Smart Line Weathermatic controller, the Hunter ET System and the ET Manager system. The ordinance went into effect Jan. 1, 2020. Rain sensors are useful for residents who are unable to adjust automatic systems when rainfall occurs. The proposed changes align us with other Front Range cities and are considered foundational water practices in Colorado. These materials increase the growth of disease organisms. Maximum rooting depth occurs when soil conditions allow the roots of a particular species (or variety) to reach their full potential. Located just east of Colorado Springs, Woodmen Hills offers the conveniences of a major city without the drawbacks. Colorado Springs, for example, has seen 2 periods (2002-2004 and again in 2013) in the last 50 years when outdoor watering has been restricted to some extent. Great News for Gardeners! The rule of thumb for watering an established lawn is, “water as deeply and as infrequently as possible.” Deep and infrequent irrigation stimulates root growth, resulting in healthy, drought tolerant, and pest resistant turf. This is best determined by the appearance of water running off the area being irrigated. December Tips Find a tree and lawn care specialist you can trust! 3. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Back in mid-December, the Colorado Springs City Council voted 7-2 to restrict watering lawns and gardens to only three times a week. Currently, around 30% of the community’s treated water … In Colorado, this period typically runs from November through April. Experience will eventually turn this seemingly tedious process into one that is quick and second nature. … CSU says implementing the new water-wise rules is one way … The best time of day to irrigate is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Lawns grown on sandy soil require more frequent irrigation applications (with less water per application) than lawns. We receive on average approximately 17” inches of precipitation per year, a far cry from the 40” to 50” … Historically, these restrictions were implemented during drought conditions, but now are the norm. … Lawns also have different soil types which permit water infiltration at different rates. While it’s true that a deep, healthy root system produces vigorous turf, rooting depth is determined primarily by genetics and soil condition – not irrigation. The average depth of water in these containers multiplied by two is the inches of water per hour emitted by the sprinkler system. This is caused by heat stress and can be remedied by cooling off the turf by wetting it for 15 seconds or less. CSU Extension - A division of the Office of Engagement. It is most critical to water in March and … Wait for a day when the temperature is over 40 degrees, drag out hoses and water early in the day. Lawn Watering Tips With sprinklers, water in the early morning—about one to three hours before sunrise. by M. Gross and C.E. Webmaster | Strict water restrictions are now in effect. To determine the most appropriate irrigation schedule for an established lawn consider the following: turf species; soil type; cutting height; potential disease and pest problems; local weather patterns; and microclimates (i.e., shade vs. full sun exposure; low vs. high areas of the yard). From a disease prevention perspective, irrigating anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. is fine (as long as the turf dries before the evening dew period sets in); however water loss from sun and wind will be greatest at this time. A properly designed and installed automatic sprinkler system should be programmed to accommodate these specific lawn needs. Schedule pop-ups for 20 minutes, rotors 45 minutes, multi-stream nozzles 60 minutes each watering day. During these months, you should … Winter watering may not be necessary for established lawns. New water restrictions in Colorado Springs in 2020 limits watering yards to 3 days a week, Teen killed and authorities believe they found a homemade explosive in a small Colorado town, Paralegal pleaded guilty to attempted official misconduct for leaking arrest papers in Letecia Stauch murder case, Colorado lawmakers respond to COVID-relief deal, Colorado ‘Season B’ sports with CHSAA, including high school basketball, approved to start in January, Midwestern universities form alliance to lure Space Command to Nebraska, Man severely burned after fire starts near vacant building. Non-Discrimination Statement | Most diseases of turf occur when grass blades are wet for longer than 14 consecutive hours. If you don’t get any snow coverage, be sure to water your lawn every 4-5 weeks to ensure your lawn is getting enough moisture. Water pressure may also be higher at this time providing a more even spray distribution pattern. Colorado Lawn Care Tips. Employment | The condition of the grass and soil – not the number of days since watering – is the best guide to irrigation. That way more water gets to the roots instead of evaporating due to the sun and wind. The actual enforcement and fines for not following the new rules won't start until 2021. Contact your local county Extension office through our County Office List. Posted on: March 19th, 2015. This means as of Monday morning, watering your lawn and outdoor plants is now limited to three hours … ©2020, Colorado State University Extension, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 USA. Kentucky bluegrass lawns may require 2.5 inches of water or more per week during the heat of summer. Colorado Lawn Winter Watering Tips: Water lawns and perennials during prolonged dry fall and winter periods to prevent root damage that affects the health of the entire plant. Watering Your Colorado Lawn. Watering in Colorado Springs can be a challenge as we live in a high plains desert. Water one to two times per month from November to April. You don’t need to go overboard to ensure that your … Provide Your Lawn with Right Amount of Water. The use of a Smart Controller that uses local weather data to determine the watering requirement of the turf and other irrigated areas will ensure proper watering. Equal Opportunity | The arrival of spring means it’s time to get outside and begin preparing your landscape for the upcoming season. If it is not practical to water during this time period, another option is to water between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., starting the irrigation after the dew has dried but before the winds begin. Areas of Colorado which experience open, dry winters are more susceptible to winter grass mites and dessication if occasional winter irrigation is not applied. It’s easy to tell when grass needs water; either the grass will turn a gray-green or … For more information see Colorado State University Extension fact sheet 2.926, Healthy Roots and Healthy Trees. Starting this week, residents and business owners in Colorado Springs can only water their lawns three times per week. Choose a warm winter day with air temperature above 40 degrees F and unfrozen soil. Depending on the climate and the weather of your region, your watering schedule might differ from someone five states away. Alternative Turf … Revised by K. Jones**. Security Service Field, Cinemark, complete with an IMAX, and the massive retail complex … Please use our website feedback form. Turf will also turn a shade of blue-gray when it is water stressed and in need of irrigation. 2. Most lawn watering problems that we see in Boulder and Fort Collins area lawns are either over watering or poor sprinkler coverage. Swift* (11/14) The watering rules incorporate best practices for efficient outdoor water use that will help keep your landscape healthy. Grass roots grow to their maximum depth in well-aerated soil containing four to five percent organic matter. Measure, in inches, the depth of water accumulated in the containers. Water only when air and soil … Look for signs of wilt, which often show up in the same location on the lawn time after time. The best time to irrigate your lawn is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. During this period it is generally cooler, less windy, and the humidity is higher so evaporation losses are less. After you’ve turned off your sprinkler system, continue to water your grass. It’s important to water consistently into fall to your plants … Kentucky bluegrass lawns may require 2.5 inches of water or more per week during the heat of summer. Watering in the morning (before 10 a.m.) is the best time for your lawn; it’s cooler and winds tend to be calmer so water can soak into the soil and be absorbed by the grass roots before it can evaporate. Dew contains substances exuded from the plant tissue. Conventional thinking is that because ET (evapo-transpiration) rates are low and the turf isn‘t growing much, it is OK to stop watering. This technique is called syringing and is not the same as watering. When to water. COLORADO SPRINGS — Colorado Springs Utilities will soon be implementing water wise rules for landscapes that need watered. Residential Customers: Even numbered addresses on Sundays and … If … Under a new watering schedule launched in spring 2020, customers within the city limits can outdoor water three days per week. Soil preparation is critical to the rooting depth and drought tolerance of turf. Apply to CSU | How-to Winter Water. These recommendations are starting points; adjust up or down as needed. Starting May 1 customers can not water their lawns between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. through Oct. 15. Are there watering restrictions in Colorado Springs, CO? Southern and western exposures usually need the deepest watering… Providing trusted, practical education to help you solve problems, develop skills and build a better future. In Colorado, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass lawns must receive supplemental irrigation to survive. Irrigating between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. also overlaps with the turf’s natural dew period. And even though warm season grasses (blue grama and buffalograss) are known for their drought tolerance, they too thrive with occasional watering. See fact sheet 7.211, Winter Watering for more information. Many factors influence lawn water requirements, and no two lawns are exactly alike. Take care to avoid root damage when installing a sprinkler system in areas with established trees and shrubs. CSU A-Z Search These tips and tricks should help you understand exactly how and when to water your Colorado lawn to have the greenest, most beautiful lawn … Doing this can predispose the turf to disease. Most irrigation clocks permit this type of cycling feature. Throughout the winter, set up a schedule to water every four to six weeks unless we have an unusually wet season. There will be exceptions for recently planted vegetation and turf grass on sports fields. “Lawn watering is often stopped in early fall. When designing an irrigation system and developing an irrigation schedule consider the presence of trees and shrubs in the lawn because they have roots in the turf area that compete for water and nutrients. Change your schedule 2-3 times per year so that you’re watering 1-2 times per week in cool seasons and 2-3 times per week in hot weather. Starting this week, residents and business owners in Colorado Springs can only water their lawns three times per week. Last week Colorado Springs followed the lead of Denver and other Front Range cities that have instituted permanent water restrictions amid mounting concerns about future water shortages. Learn more about us or about our partners. Our physical location is 1311 College Ave, Fort Collins, CO. Having website issues? 4. CSU Horticulture Agents and Specialists Blog, Capric Acid: A Promising Next-Generation Herbicide for Organic Specialty Crop Production, Columnar and Fastigiate Trees for CO Landscapes, Management-intensive Grazing (MiG) on Irrigated Pasture, Pulse Crops and their Key Role as Staple Foods in Healthful Eating Patterns, Integrated Hive Management for Colorado Beekeepers, Management-intensive Grazing (MiG) and Soil Health. The new … A lawn’s tolerance to drought is directly related to how well the soil was prepared prior to applying seed or sod. Watering too frequently causes root death of trees and shrubs in or near the turf area either from root rot disease or lack of oxygen in the soil. On very hot days turf may appear stressed even if the soil is wet. The ordinance went into effect Jan. 1, 2020. 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