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Irrigation Tips For Florida’s Driest Season

Your lawn needs to be watered, you know that. But it can be difficult to determine how much water is appropriate when we vacillate between our summer deluge and a particularly dry winter. There are three important things to consider when making your irrigation plan for Florida’s relatively mild winter and we’ll dive into the details of each below.
How Much Water?
Your lawn has lost its lush green appearance, but that doesn’t mean you should drown it in water. As temperatures drop the air doesn’t get warm enough to evaporate all of the extra water which can lead to you unintentionally drowning your lawn. There are some physical signs to watch out for that will alert you when it’s time to water. Keep an eye out for blades that appear to be folded in half, or lose their color and turn a bluish grey. This is a good sign it’s time to turn on your irrigation system, but be sure to only irrigate with less than an inch of water at a time.

When To Water?
The ideal time to water your lawn is in the early morning. This gives the water plenty of time during the day to nourish the lawn and for the excess to evaporate. If you water your lawn during the warmest part of the day you risk losing too much water to evaporation. On the other hand, if you turn on your sprinklers too late in the day you may end up over-watering as the grass gets less exposure to the sun’s warmth. Keep in mind the current weather. You never want to water your lawn if the temperature is going to dip below freezing. This is why residents in many states around the country winterize their irrigation systems each year. But Florida’s mild winters can allow for some watering during the season.

How Often To Water?
During our driest season, your lawn can go two to three weeks between waterings, that is a big difference between the one to five days that it can wait during the summer. So it may be worth it to turn off the timer on your irrigation system and eyeball it until springtime. The risks of overwatering are higher than you might guess as too much water can cause fungus to grow and ultimately damage or kill your grass.

Finding the right irrigation equation for your winter lawn can take a bit of practice. Are you feeling apprehensive about how to water your lawn in the coming, colder months? Or are you suddenly wishing you had a professionally installed sprinkler system? No matter what your watering needs are, give us a call.

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