Since Mike and alot of you know way more about gardening then anybody I know personally, I thought I would ask for some advice that is totally not related to Hummers (like you'd expect anything less from me )

We are having a really bad drought here in the Chicago area, specifically where I live because we are amonst the farms. Anyway, it's rained once in the past 3 or 4 weeks and our grass is turning brown. Granted, our grass is probably in better condition then most in the area because everybody seems to be too lazy to water their grass. I started waterring it every other day as we are allowed and it's slowly coming back to being green, but I have no idea how much I should waterit or for how long. Most people don't want to spend the money on the water bill but it's honestly not all that much around here.

My back yard seems to be ok but the front is patchy brown but is getting better, but one spot is really bad. I'll have to take pics. Anyway, I would say my front lawn is about 30 feet by 15 to 20 feet. I use a sprinkler that covers the entire area in one swoop (we have great water pressure). How long do all of you typically let your water run? I have been letting it run for an hour each time I water it. I only water after 8 PM when the sun goes down and I always make sure to turn my water softener off. Everybody tells me to just let it die and when it starts raining it will grow back in, but I honestly don't want a dried up hay lawn. I'd like to keep it semi-decent and I think so far we have the best on the block.

 

I'm in the very same spot Mike ... except I don't adhere to the no watering on these days rules .. I pay for it and I'll use it when I want to .. besides, there's no water shortage here so what's the deal anyways?? LOL!
Anyhow, I water my lawn every other day, well, every day but different spots. I let the water go for about 2 hours in each spot, then move it to the next. I cover the entire property in two days and then I start over so each spot gets water every other day. My lawn is green, plush, and thick :-) I also keep my grass short during the summer as it takes less water to keep it green ... at least that's what I've been told .. anyone got some input on that one??
I do have a sprinkler system I need to put in but there will be a pretty good cost on the additional water meter for it and I'm just not ready to spend that money just yet. It handles up to 8 zones which would include my entire property plus dedicated lines run in to the flower beds to water the flowers. It's an ethernet enabled controllerso it isexceptionally easy to use through the usual IE interface. I really would like to get it, and my ethernet enabled thermostats installed but I just never seem to get around to getting it done. Hell, I even bought a POE punch down block to give it power, yet I have done nothing .. somebody kick me in the butt so I get my azz in gear and get some things done!!!!!!

 

2 hours? That's a LONG time and alot of water. Your water bills must be rediculous!

 

In all honesty, I don't even know how much it is ... all that crap goes against my credit card and I pay it off every month ... I guess I should have a look huh ...

 

Just a suggestion...

 

Wow, Dennis learned how to use MS Paint.

 

You're just jealous.....

 

dye it green like the golf courses do.... solves two problems in one swoop....

p.s. I would water it after sundown for 30-45 minutes....

 

Green spray paint

 

Hey Zyne..................I don't know about the cutting it short thing for the water. But I do know that cutting it short just invites all the weeds to grow as they please.

I use the Scotts 4 step lawn thingy, and cut it to about 2&1/2 inches. I hardly have any weeds to deal with throughout the summer. When you leave your lawnlonger and keep a good fert down, it won't dry out and turn brown as quick as other lawns