Monitor your landscape closely and make adjustments to watering times as needed. Shaded or protected areas may need less water than other zones, and you may even be able to water less frequently.
Schedule all cycles in early morning, so watering is complete by sunrise during the summer months. This avoids water lost to daytime evaporation and afternoon and evening winds. Evening watering cycles are not necessary for lawn health.
Combat Compacted Soils:
Compacted soils also can stress your lawn. Sometimes simply aerating a stressed area and giving it a good soaking solves the problem. Purchase a hand-operated coring aerator at a nursery, or hire a professional to do the job. Aeration should be done at least twice a year.
An extremely dry lawn becomes hydrophobic, or water-repelling. Add a tablespoon of liquid soap to a gallon of water and drench the dried area. This breaks down the surface tension of the grass, making it hydrophilic, or water-loving. Then give it a good soaking.
Above all, water between 2 and 5 a.m. through September. This is the coolest time of the day and your lawn will more effectively soak in the water you give it.
Leaf scorching and burning:
Leaves usually are stressed for one of two reasons: improper watering or improper fertilization. Since both overwatering and underwatering can damage plant leaves, the best solution is to water deeply and infrequently. This allows oxygen in the soil, washes salts away and encourages deep rooting. For most trees and shrubs older than three years, water deeply once every seven to 10 days (Run your drip system one to three hours to soak the root zone). Newer plants may need water twice as often until established. Add a layer of surface mulch 2- to 4-inches thick to conserve water between waterings and cool and enrich the soil.
Make sure you have the right fertilizer both for your specific plants and for the time of year. Some fertilizers release much faster in hot weather, increasing the potential for damage. Follow package directions exactly and err on the conservative side. Then, irrigate well to move nutrients to the soil.
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