Quick Facts On Lawn Watering

• Lawns in Missouri may require as much as 1 to 1-1/2 inches of water per week from irrigation or rainfall during summer to remain green and actively growing.
• When managed properly, tall fescue requires 25 percent less water and zoysiagrass requires 50 percent less water than Kentucky bluegrass to maintain a green, actively growing lawn in Missouri.
• Turfgrasses in Missouri rank as follows in resistance to leaf wilting and browning during summer dry periods — bermuda, zoysia, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass.
• During extended periods of summer drought, dormant lawns (browned-out leaves) containing Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue or perennial ryegrass should receive 1-1/2 inches of irrigation every two weeks to maintain hydrated grass crowns and allow for full lawn recovery when more favorable moisture and temperature return in the fall.
• Deeper roots draw moisture from a larger volume of soil and therefore require less supplemental irrigation.
• Taller grass has deeper roots and a lower tendency to wilt.
• Taller grass provides shading of the soil surface and reduces lethal temperatures near the base of grass plants.
• Lawns mowed weekly at a taller mowing height are less likely to be scalped. Scalped lawns lose density and have shallow root systems.