Crops and landscapes can be watered wisely

Water right: guide to landscape survival

By Brent Q. Mecham

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During water shortages, a few easy changes can help your landscape survive.

Adjust your attitude. Our lawns will not be lush green. Brown spots indicate the grass is not over watered.

Prioritize. Don't water what can be ignored. Use water for the important things, like large trees. Allow water to soak deeply into the soil. The majority of the feeder roots for large trees are not near the trunk, but rather at the outside edge of its canopy. Trees will compete with grass for water.

Minimize. Fertilizer stimulates growth and increases water demand. Reducing fertilizer and irrigation helps your lawn become more drought-hardy.

Mow less. This is a natural consequence when you don't fertilize and water the grass as much. The preferred mowing height is 2.5 to 3 inches. Cut no more than one-third of the leaf blade off at a time. Mulch mow to return nutrients without over-stimulating turf.

Water right. During drought, soak the lawn as deep as the roots are growing, and then let the soil dry out before watering again. Watch for signs of a stressed lawn: a change to a grayish-blue color and signs of footprints hours after you've walked on the lawn. The best time to water is between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Avoid watering if it's windy or rainy.

Reduce use. If you don't have an automatic system, cut back the time you set sprinklers by 10 percent. With automatic sprinklers, try cutting back the run times by 20 percent. Watch how the grass is doing over a period of time. If stressed areas show up prior to the next irrigation, then you are probably watering about right. If your lawn still looks lush, trim run times another 10 percent.

Shut it off. Before you decide not to water your lawn, identify what type of grass is growing. Fescue should be watered or the grass could die.

Kentucky bluegrass will go into summer dormancy when it's hot and it doesn't have sufficient water. To prepare a bluegrass lawn for summer dormancy, avoid fertilizing in the spring, but irrigate it enough to help it green up and replace the moisture lost during the winter. After it greens up, begin to withhold water so it will go dormant. It will turn golden brown, like wheat ready for harvest. Keep weeds under control so they don't steal soil moisture. The grass can stay in this condition during the hottest time of the season. Once a month, water enough to replenish soil moisture, but not so much the grass comes out of dormancy. Around Labor Day, water the grass as usual and fertilize to prepare it for winter.

Buffalograss and other drought tolerant species should be watered sparingly. You may have the greenest lawn on the block this year.

Think cool. If you're landscaping this year, spend more time planning and prepare to plant in the late summer or fall. Lawns installed on well-prepared soils are better able to withstand drought. Design and install a high-efficiency sprinkler system. Add quality organic soil amendments free of harmful salts or weed seeds. Rip and till the soil as deep as possible to improve the soil structure.

Brent Mecham is the landscape water management and conservation specialist for the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.