Ever wonder just how much water is too much or too little for your Bermuda grass? The trick is the screwdriver test. It needs to push into the ground after watering at least 12-18″. Bermuda grass does best with deep watering.
January
Bermuda grass: water every 30 days. Rye grass: water every 14 days.
February
Bermuda grass: water every 21 days. Rye grass: water every 10 days.
March
Bermuda grass: water every 14 days. Rye grass: water every 7 days.
April
Bermuda grass: water every 7 days. Rye grass: water every 4 days.
May
Bermuda grass: water every 4 days. Rye grass: water every 3 days.
June
Bermuda grass: water every 3 days. Rye grass: none (grass dies in summer)
July
Bermuda grass: water every 3 days. Rye grass: none (grass dies in summer)
August
Bermuda grass: water every 4 days. Rye grass: none (grass dies in summer)
September
Bermuda grass: water every 4 days. Rye grass: none (grass dies in summer)
October
Bermuda grass: water every 6 days. Rye grass: water every 3 days.
November
Bermuda grass: water every 14 days. Rye grass: water every 10 days.
December
Bermuda grass: water every 30 days. Rye grass: water every 14 days.
Signs of under-watering your Arizona lawn:
- Bermuda Grass turns bluish-grey and doesn’t spring back after you step on it.
- The soil is too hard to push a screwdriver into.
- The turf still feels warm in the evening after the sun has gone down.
Signs of over-watering your Arizona Lawn:
- Water is constantly puddled in areas
- Turf has a musty odor
- Soil is extremely soft or mushy
- Moss, dichondra, or mushrooms are present
Tips for watering your lawn:
- If water runs off your yard, irrigate more often for shorter periods of time.
- Install sprinkler heads vertically and flush with the soil surface. Make sure grass is not blocking the spray.
- Adjust sprinkler heads so they don’t spray walls, driveways or sidewalks.
- Hand water dry areas rather than increasing overall watering time.
- Replace broken and missing sprinklers immediately.
- consult and irrigation supplier or irrigation specialist for more information about the most efficient types of sprinklers and irrigation control clocks.
- Water shaded areas about 30% less than sunny areas.
- If it has rained, reduce irrigation accordingly.
You can see the entire Phoenix Lawn Watering Guide, by Water – Use It Wisely online at http://ag.arizona.edu/azmet/phx/. You can also access this handy Monthly Water Conservation Planner and sign up for a monthly newsletter containing water conservation tips and reminders.
