Quick Question about watering almost fried grass...

How much water should be applied to a fried lawn to get it to come back? It was sod, but the owners had some guy ride up on their lawn and wipe out 4 sprinkler heads, and didnt get them fixed in time... Is it better to water heavily or water gradually?

 

Heavy at first then gradually. Once sod is dead it's dead. If signs of life don't appear in a week or so, it will probably need replaced.

 

every day for an hour until it comes back

 

Actualy depends how long it's been burnt. If it just burned and has been for a couple days. It can come back in decent shape with everyday watering, though it will never look the same as it did when new.

We opt to replace. Customers are happier not having to look at their mistake.

If it is an older seed lawn or a very old sodded lawn that we have seeded into over the years, then watering to get as much to recover, scratch and seed. We will not seed at this time. Hot weather can get to extremes and that is not good for seedlings.

 

It (the sod) was instaled 4 years ago. I just said it was sod to say "no weeds". It still has a little green to it, but its pretty brittle. The sprinkler sys, was just gurgling out of the ground so it still got a little water in some places. Heres a pic. Its along the side of our church (afternoon sun), and the part thats REALLY bad is the part closest to the road.

 

I took this pic awhile back, but its MUCH worse now. Where you see the front flower bed end, the dead grass now begins ALL along the side. ITs just 3' circles around the sprinkler heads now that actualy have green grass.

 

OK, thanks for the pic.

Set the system, that zone for twice a day every day 45 minutes. Early morning then again at 5pm. Do that 10 - 14 days. Towards the end of that time you will see lawn it start to recover.

After the 10 - 14 days cut back the water to early morning everyday. Hit it with a slow release fertilizer, no less than 50% slow release, and only in the damage area. Continue the everyday watering through the third week. Verti-cut and seed or aerate and seed. Can do the seeding at the second week if it is a high profile lawn or the customer has no patience.


John

 

OK

Water that zone 45 minutes twice a day up to 14 days, then once a day the third week.

Can verti-cut / aerate and seed the second or third week. Second or third week hit the area with no less than a 50% slow release fertilizer or even a starter fertilizer (what ever open bag you have laying around)

Continue the everyday watering a fourth week. After that back to every other day. By then your damage is no longer visible.