Irrigation is a practice as old as the cultivation of plants. As soon as people learned plants needed water to sustain life, they began to provide that water. When it’s your turn to start watering, the most important thing to know is how much water your lawn and garden need to thrive and grow.
The amount of water you can provide to your plants at any given time depends on the pressure and flow rate from your water source. With this information, you can find the perfect sprinkler and create an accurate watering plan for your plants and climate.
For more information about solutions for your specific lawn, garden, or hobby farm, reach out to the experts at Big Sprinkler. Their knowledge and experience will help you understand which Big Sprinkler products will best fit your needs.
Watering Your Lawn
When choosing grass for your yard, you must take a list of factors into account. Those factors include the climate you live in, the amount of activity taking place in your yard, the soil type, and the amount of shade (or lack thereof) available.
There are cool- and warm-season grasses, those that are hardier and stand up better to foot traffic, and some that require full sun (or more shade). If you don’t get to choose, it’s important that you identify which type of grass is growing on your lawn as the amount of water you use will depend on the type of grass you have.
Bermuda grass is hardy, warm-season grass that is incredibly popular. If your yard is full of Bermuda grass and you take care of it, your yard will stay healthy during lengthy periods with little rainfall. However, it will thrive if you supplement the precipitation by watering correctly. Bermuda grass needs one to one and a half inches each week.
Fescue is a popular cool-season grass. It requires slightly less water per week but is not as hardy. It needs three-quarters of an inch to an inch of water per week to sustain and grow like it should.
There are many popular grasses, and each is best suited for different clients and requires different amounts of water. No matter which type of grass you have, doing your research to learn more about your specific variety is always a smart idea.
Watering Your Vegetable Garden
The best vegetables are arguably the ones you grow in your own garden. Some gardeners only plant one or two plants while others fill their plots to the brim with choices. We’ve listed three of the most popular garden vegetables in the country
- Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown in American gardens. While you can choose from countless kinds of tomatoes, they all need between one and one and a half inches of water.
- Cucumbers come in two varieties known as vining cucumbers and bush cucumbers. The vining cucumbers are more popular, but bush cucumbers produce big results in a small space. Both require about one inch of water each week. They are delicate plants, and there are plenty of things you can do to help grow them successfully.
- Sweet peppers, also known as bell peppers, are a popular ingredient in various types of American cuisine. They need between one and two inches of water each week depending on the climate.
Watering Your Flower Garden
Adding flowers to your outdoor space can magically transform any area. We’ve picked three of the most popular flowers found in American gardens as examples.
- Roses need about two inches of water per week. It’s important to remember not to get water on the leaves and the buds more than once a week to keep the chance for disease low.
- Zinnias are another popular flower. When planted, they require quite a bit of water. Once grown, they require about one inch of water each week for maintenance.
- Lilacs are more specific in their water needs. They need water every 10 to 14 days, but they need two full inches of water.
There are as many options for your flower gardens as there are flowers in the world. Keep researching to find just the right flowers for you and to learn how much water they need.
How Much Rain Do You Get?
If your kids and neighbors have been sloshing through the rain, you’ll likely spend less time watering your lawn. If you’re not sure how much rain you’ve gotten or how much you’re supposed to get, there are some tools to help you figure it out.
As you plan when to water your lawn this week, use maps like these from Intellicast. They show how much precipitation is expected for the week. This can also help you figure out whether to leave the dog outside while you’re at work or to make other arrangements.
If you’re concerned that your area is in a drought and you’re curious how it compares to other regions of the country, check the Drought Monitor. When you’re living in a drought zone, it is especially important to pay attention to any laws that govern when to water your lawns and to water during appropriate times.
Start Irrigating Your Lawn and Garden
Whether you’re connected to city water or you’re pumping water from a pond, Big Sprinkler has irrigation solutions to fit the needs of your lawn and garden. We hope our article helped you understand how much water your lawn and garden needs. If you’ve got questions, check out our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us for more information.