Watering the lawn, How long is best?

[RottnDogue]

Ok I am going to finish the job my buddy did with the backhoe and Rototill my front lawn throw some good topsoil down and re-seed. after seeding how long do I water in one spot for? What is best? once a day for 1 hour?



Darren

 

[illflem]

An hour or two would be good for the first time to settle the tilled soil. After that you only need to keep the top 1/2" moist until the seed germinates, about a week. This can be a battle depending on the weather, sunny, windy days can require a 5 minute watering every hour. This rapid summer drying is part of the reason starting a lawn in the spring or fall is usually suggested. Too much water can be just as bad, cools the soil and encourages disease. Just a hand watering a few times a day will be good until you've got green then an hour every three days should be fine.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

illflem just had to chime in, if it's not Trucks it's water well witching and now growing grass Seriously what he told you is good info, I'm not sure what grass you guys grow up there, but here I grow Bermuda and Fescue together and they weigh each other out depending on temp and I have a lawn from Feb till Nov.



Jim

 

[RottnDogue]

Thanks Bill, is there anything you don't know... , oh still haven't bought the switch for my 4wd light staying on..... I know, I really haven't driven the truck much lately, and I keep forgetting to pick it up, but once I do, I'll let you know if it worked, and $.



Jim I'm not sure what the seed mix is, My Brother in-law works for a turf farm and got me a 50lb (will never use this much) of there best seed. He said if I get it to come up (by watering) it should look like a golf course. I hope I don't have to mow it daily like they do.



Darren

 

[illflem]

I haven't mastered brain surgery or women, yet! Click my profile and you'll see why I know about diesels and lawns. At the research station where I work we have a couple acres of 4'x8' turf grass plots. Each one of these over 1000 plots is different in some way, planting methods & dates, seed types & rates, fertilizer, water, mowing, etc. Some folks may not think lawns apply to agriculture but with the urbanization of much of our farmland lawns are becoming one of the predominate crops grown in this country. Over 15,000 acres per day of Ag land is lost to houses in the US.



People gripe about farm subsidies but without them American farmers couldn't compete with cheap foreign labor and lack of laws, they would go under. Many are even with help. Sure we could import our food from China and Latin America but what happens when they get POed at us and decide to cut off our food supply? We'd be up that well known creek.

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by RottnDogue

Jim I'm not sure what the seed mix is, My Brother in-law works for a turf farm and got me a 50lb (will never use this much) of there best seed. He said if I get it to come up (by watering) it should look like a golf course. I hope I don't have to mow it daily like they do.



Darren

Darren, beware. My brother gave me some of the fertelizer used on the golf courses around here, think it's called Ocean grow?

I have to mow at least twice a week now.

Eric

 

[milehiscott]

Dogue,

I don't know about the low, humid areas, but up here where it's dry (ave. humidity ~17%) they recomend that you water first thing in the morning. Just before dawn if you can.

Scott

 

[RottnDogue]

Thanks Everyone for the advice, Eric I guess I'll sharpen the blades on the mower in anticipation... ... .



Darren

 

[Okie-Go]

I don't know how long to water but the wife will water and I will mow. Guess that makes us partners.