Spoiled grass -- like spoiled kids -- just wants more, more, more!

Kids who are spoiled keep asking for more stuff. And grass that is spoiled by over-watering will also ask for more water.  Just like a psychologist will tell you not to spoil your child with overindulgence, a turf scientist will tell you not to spoil your lawn by overwatering it in the spring. Whether applied to kids or grass, good science is good science.

So here's the science that will give you great grass. Turf scientists at CSU and elsewhere know that grass only grows its feeder roots in the spring. Later on, it will grow more grass blades and in the fall, it will store nutrients for the winter. Only springtime, however, is root growing time.  Now is when we all decide whether we'll spoil our grass by over-watering or train it to grow deep and resilient roots that will be its staying power in the heat of July.

When watered frequently, all those new spring roots will stay in the top inch or so of the soil. But if that top area is allowed to dry out while the roots are in growing mode, the roots will grow deeper in search of moisture. That is ideal because deep roots that seek out moisture help to build a healthy and water-wise lawn.

How you train the roots to grow deep
-If we have a good rain or snow every 7-10 days in the spring, do not water.
-As the days get warmer and especially, if there is wind, move up the watering to about every 5-7 days.
-If there is no precipitation, it's OK to water.
-Use a screwdriver to test soil moisture. If it pushes into the soil easily, the soil has good moisture and you don't need to water. As the soil dries out, it will be harder to push the screwdriver into the soil which indicates it may be time to water.
-The exception to these long watering intervals will be very dry, stressed areas of the lawn such as south facing slopes that often suffer winter stress.  Spot water only these areas to give them the moisture they need.

When you water
Use the cycle and soak method. If you usually water an area of lawn about 15 minutes, then break up the time into3 intervals of watering that are each 5 minutes long. Cycle the water, take a break to let it soak in and then run the water again. This method prevents run-off and allows the water to soak well into the soil.

What's next?
When the heat of July arrives, you won't need to water the lawn excessively because the roots have grown deep. You will have trained your grass well and the hardy lawn gnomes will thank you for being a good parent!

Tip of the Week reprinted courtesy of Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) of which Harbor Landscape Company is a member. ALCC is the only professional organization for Colorado's landscape contracting industry statewide. Tip of the Week is copyrighted by Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado and may be forwarded or copied by its members provided proper credit is given to ALCC.

Please visit the ALCC website for more information:
www.ALCC.com