Keeping a lawn green and healthy during the hottest months of the year can be a challenge. Here are six ways to reduce brown spots while irrigating within the Water Wise Rules.
- Make sure your sprinklers are working properly. New brown spots are often caused by recent sprinkler system issues. Do a monthly check to scout for leaks and broken, sunken or turned sprinkler heads and make any needed repairs.
- Schedule your sprinklers wisely. Running your sprinklers for the right amount of time helps provide your grass with enough water without overdoing it. Learn how to schedule your sprinkler system based on the type of sprinklers you have. Add in a cycle and soak schedule if you notice water running down the gutter before your sprinklers finish watering.
- Add in smart lawn care practices. Mowing, fertilizing and core aerating regularly create a healthier lawn that is more drought resistant. Avoid fertilizing in midsummer to prevent rapid growth when it’s hot. Visit this page to learn the best practices for the Pikes Peak Region.
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Swap fixed-spray nozzles to multi-stream nozzles. Reoccurring brown spots may be due to poor sprinkler coverage. Consider changing your pop-up fixed spray nozzles with high-efficiency multi-stream nozzles, as shown in this video, for better coverage and less wind dispersion.
- Take advantage of rain. Skip a watering day when it rains by installing a rain sensor or smart controller. A rain sensor prevents a traditional sprinkler clock from watering when it rains, while a smart controller uses weather data to run your sprinklers only when your grass needs water.
- Renovate areas where grass is challenging to grow. Large areas, narrow strips and slopes are all challenging places to grow turfgrass. Think about removing the grass and installing low-maintenance Water Wise plants instead to improve your landscape’s appearance. Discover alternative options at our Water Wise Demonstration Gardens.
By using smart watering practices you can keep a beautiful lawn that provides a usable outdoor space and enhances your property value. Implementing these solutions will help your grass be as healthy as possible as we steward our community’s watering supply wisely.