Cool Season Turf Types

To encourage roots of cool season turf to grow deeper into the soil profile, it is recommended to water less frequently but for a longer duration. Short, frequent watering sessions can lead to shallow rooting depth, which ultimately decreases the survival rate of the turf under stressful conditions. The objective is to maintain adequate soil moisture in and just below the root zone, rather than keeping the grass blades wet. In fact, it is essential for the grass blades to remain dry for 10-12 hours per day to prevent disease development, especially during warm, humid weather.

The irrigation guidelines suggest applying 1” to 1.5” of water per week, including any rainfall. It's beneficial to track precipitation using a rain gauge and perform manual adjustments if your irrigation system does not account for rainfall. To determine how long to run your irrigation system, you need to know the time it takes to distribute 1” of water. You can use empty tuna cans (approximately 1