Maintaining a lush green lawn in the Arizona desert requires a strategic approach to watering. Too much water wastes resources and can damage your lawn, while too little leads to a dry, unhealthy landscape.
When’s the best time to water grass? Are there Arizona-specific water conservation tips? What’s the watering schedule for Arizona lawns? This guide will help you develop the perfect watering schedule for your Arizona lawn, saving water and money while keeping your grass healthy.
Understanding Arizona’s Climate
Extreme heat is a problem. Low humidity and scarce rainfall is an even bigger problem. Of course, these factors are the reason that Arizonans need to have sprinkler systems for their lawns. It is important to have consistent, even watering if we are to maintain a lush lawn.
Our region’s limited water supply also works against us. We can’t waste resources. It is essential to develop efficient watering practices.
Choosing the Best Time to Water
Choosing the Best Time to WaterWhen is the best time to water grass? If you are doing it by hand, the most logical time is early morning. At this time, there’s less wind and no sun. The temperature is cooler, helping more water to stay on the ground instead of evaporating.
The worst time to water grass is during the heat of the day. For Phoenix residents, that’s the whole time the sun is out during the summer. It’s not that the plants don’t need water at that time. Water droplets can act as magnifying glasses, scorching your grass.
If you have a professional sprinkler system that can be programmed, the best time to water may be the middle of the night during our Phoenix summers. Once the evening has cooled off, you can minimize evaporation and maximize the absorption rate.
The Importance of Deep Watering
Frequent rainfall encourages deep root growth. We don’t have that luxury in Phoenix. However, you can foster that same deep growth by using a technique called deep watering. This promotes drought tolerance as well as a healthy lawn.
The key to deep watering is to water for longer durations. This allows water to penetrate deep into the soil. The second part of this approach is to water less frequently. That may mean watering twice a week rather than every day.
Determining Watering Frequency
Determining Watering FrequencyHow often should you water? In general, the type of grass and soil will factor into this decision. Likewise, the weather conditions and seasons will be important.
In Phoenix our rainiest season doesn’t provide much rain. That means we will probably maintain the same watering schedule for more of the year.
Water Conservation Tips
Water Conservation TipsWater conservation starts with what you plant. Drought-resistant grasses and native plants are a good fit for our Arizona lifestyle. You shouldn’t pull up thriving plants to achieve this, but as you need new plants, make sure to go with what’s right for our desert climate.
To protect plants or flowers, use adequate mulch to help the ground retain water.
A good sprinkler system is an essential step. By automating your watering schedule, you’ll reduce water waste and encourage healthy growth.
You should choose a schedule that waters deeply rather than watering every day. You want to reduce your watering needs by encouraging deep root growth.
Conclusion
ConclusionIt can be frustrating to lose your lawn or plants to drought. The best way to avoid this is to maintain watering at the right levels for success.
If you want to be confident that your lawn will survive, call on the expertise of the Sprinkler Doctors. We can repair any broken system or put in a new state-of-the-art irrigation system for your lawn and plantings.
For expert advice on sprinkler system optimization and water conservation, contact Sprinkler Doctors. We can help you design a system that keeps your lawn healthy and your water bills manageable.