I water once a week and probably get less rain all summer than you get in a month. Having clay can actually be a help in this, since clay retains water so well once you can get it to absorb it.

I have clay, so what I do is water in cycles. I have an automatic sprinkler system, so it was fairly simple to do. I water the different stations for different amounts of time based on things like overlapping coverage, etc. It takes a little less than an hour to go all the way around all the stations. I set the cycles to run at 1 AM, 2:10 and 3:20. That gives the water time to soak in between cycles.

I actually think the clay absorbs water much better now than it used to, but I still water this way.

The water pressure has dropped since the time the sprinklers were installed, so there are a few areas that get very little coverage. Rather than water the entire lawn, I take the hose to those areas once every two or three weeks and turn it on to a trickle and let it run until the water just won't soak in any more.

I don't know anything about the water needs of Bermuda, but most fescue varieties require less water than KBG. If the fescue is showing signs of stress, that's a sign that it needs water, so give it more water. It may be that it doesn't have deep enough roots, especially if it has been getting relatively shallow and frequent water. Grass won't produce deep roots if there is enough water near the surface. If the water isn't penetrating, you may need to do something like I do. You may also need to cut down on the frequency gradually to train the grass to "dig deeper" for the water. If the roots are currently short, a sudden change won't work.

Click on the link. It's from NC State's Dr. Brunneau, who knows all about this stuff.

Here is a link that might be useful: Irrigation tips

I think both types of grass should recive 1" water per week. I would try to do it all at once. Like bpgreen said, you could run each zone to apply .5in water. Let it soak in for about an hour or so. Then run each zone again to apply the other .5in.

I thought you might want to know. Hunter just came out with a new blue nozzles for the PGP's. The are suppose to give you more even distribution, at both the close-in and mid-range areas. Supposedly eliminates the problem of under- and over-watered areas of the landscape.

I am picking up some samples today, and I will report back after I test them.

Watering schedule changes during the hot summer months. The best recommended practice is water more frequent ONLY to prevent stress.

The best signs are the grass leaves turn dark-blueish gray color, and they (leaves) also become more fine bladed (they roll up like a cigar)

During the summer months, when mother nature does not provide rain, the lawn needs more than 1" of rain per week. At the minimun, you should apply 1/2" or water every few days (3-4) in most locations. Sun exposure plays a big role here, so be careful not to water areas that are able to hold water longer.

Watering schedule is also based on the type of grass you are growing, for example:

I water my Perennial Ryegrass every 3 days during the summer in order to keep it cool and soil moist. I also fertilize at half the rate with a special summer fertilizer in order to keep the grass healthy and to prevent stomata from shutting down.

Stomata are the openings in the epidermal layer of the leaves through which water leaves the plant in the process of evaporation called transpiration.

I hope it helps.

Not sure exactly where you live, but in Raleigh, we seem to be getting enough of these sporadic evening showers to keep bermuda going with no extra water. I also haven't watered my fescue that is in mostly shade at all this year. The sunny areas seem to be staying green with a once a week watering, but the growth has slowed way down.

Posted by auteck (My Page) on Tue, Jun 19, 07 at 10:31

During the summer months, when mother nature does not provide rain, the lawn needs more than 1" of rain per week. At the minimun, you should apply 1/2" or water every few days (3-4) in most locations. Sun exposure plays a big role here, so be careful not to water areas that are able to hold water longer.

That's fine for PR, KBG or TTTF, but not needed for bermuda. Depending on how established your bermuda is, you could have roots very deep, 12", 18", 24" or more.... Even during drought periods of 100+ degrees my bermuda doesn't see the sprinklers but twice a month.

Good day, Dan

Dan,

You are right for the most part. The warm season grasses have better resistance to drought, however, I've seen Zoysia and Bermuda lawns look just as stressed out as the cool season grasses. I was in Apex 3 weeks ago visiting a friend, and on the way there I spoted 1 bermuda lawn and one zoysia that looked as they were just coming out of winter dormancy - 70% brown in May!

That's why I said that it depends on the grass that you have, the cool season grasses will require water more frequently than the warm season grasses.

I'm sure your bermuda does not look picture perfect during drought and 100 plus degree weather with sprinklers once a month.

I said
Even during drought periods of 100+ degrees my bermuda doesn't see the sprinklers but twice a month.

You said
I'm sure your bermuda does not look picture perfect during drought and 100 plus degree weather with sprinklers once a month.

Here's what twice a month watering in 100 degree heat produces with established bermuda with deep roots:
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(Click the Thumbnail for larger view)

Looks absolutely beautifull...

Nice ranch house, too. Where in Raleigh are you located?

Yes, I meant to type "twice" not once.

okcdan - oh sure, half of the yard is covered in shade and whole picture is almost long distance...how are we supposed to tell anything from that?!? Huh?!? LOL!!

He he he. Don't take any offense, please. Just teasing a little (in Ga. we say "cuttin' the fool"). Very nice looking grass and homestead. You must have established that grass a while ago. My fescue is about stressed to the max already and it's not even July. Gonna be a long summer for my lawn.

"My fescue is about stressed to the max already and it's not even July. Gonna be a long summer for my lawn."

No worries, overseeding is just around the corner. Labor day weekend is just over 2 months away, and if you're planning on overseeding with Bluegrass, you can put down seed as earlier as mid August!

Have you dicided what you're going to overseed your lawn with?