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Lawn Care

Managing & Maintaining Turf (Grass):

Turf (grass) is the largest crop grown in the United States and it can also be one of the most water intensive to keep green.  Whether you're planning out your new landscape or redesigning your existing landscape, you may want to consider minimizing or eliminating turf areas in favor of Xeriscape.  However, if you're going to plant turf, make sure you select the right kind of turf for Colorado. When considering turf types, there are several factors to consider including foot traffic, drought tolerance, location (sun/shade), etc.  One of the most versatile grasses that can handle high traffic, lots of sun and little water is Kentucky Blue grass.  Other grasses like Buffalo or Fescue are often considered to be less water intensive, Buffalo grass specifically does poorly in areas of high traffic and both Buffalo grass and Fescue will not survive drought situations without water.  Conversely, recent history shows Kentucky Blue grass survives droughts.  Still, any turf you choose can become a water waster if it's not irrigated efficiently.

When watering a lawn, it's very important not to over-water.  Over-watering hits your pocket book and it hurts your grass' ability to survive a drought.  When grass is over-watered, roots remain shallow.  By watering less frequently, you can actually help grass roots dig deeper into the soil and it becomes more drought tolerant.  Your grass doesn't need as much water as you think.  Follow a practical lawn watering schedule to reduce water use.

Last Updated on Monday, 04 March 2013 11:13