Apply water to the most critical part of the root zone within the dripline. 4. The herbicide is more easily absorbed and moved to weed roots resulting in better control. The best advice for lawn watering is to give the grass about a half an inch of water twice a week. First, start watering and see how long it takes to get runoff. Fungal diseases may take hold if your lawn is overwatered. 3. So, how do you winter water grass? From May 1 to Oct. 1, Denver Water allows lawn watering three days a week, and not between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The problem is, fall is a key time for lawn heath; ignoring it puts your grass at risk not only for the winter months but also for the following spring. REcolorado’s Home Blog features helpful articles, tips, community information, and more. Lawns are especially prone to damage during the Colorado winter months. Watering your grass during these periods will essentially be the same as doing it in the summer. The weeds that hardened off during the heat of summer are opening up more and are easier to kill. Compacted soil prevents moisture and nutrients from getting to the roots and prevents the roots from breathing. If you overseed with ryegrass in winter, water every 3 to 7 days after it is established. 4)  Weed:  Fall is the time to get rid of weeds. The rule of thumb is one inch of water a week. Water everything in your yard that was planted during the last growing season. Watering too often can cause plants to have shallow roots that can lead to disease, browning, and grass death. If your area receives one inch or more of precipitation per week you don't need to water. In the winter, the air is dry. During those summer months, water restrictions come into effect in the Denver area. The summer is over, the grass is not growing as fast, and we have longer and cooler nights. Fertilizer applied to dry turf is less likely to enhance fall rooting and increase energy storage. You do not need to winter water any dormant plants and grasses. Be sure to water in fall fertilizer applications, often considered the most important application of the year. Water is vital in the winter months when there is not adequate rainfall. Common signs include grass that is bluish-green, grass blades that curl and footprints that stay noticeable on the grass. In Colorado, this period typically runs from November through April. New yards, both seed and sod, and lawns exposed to the south or west are especially susceptible. Watering in increments gives soil time to soak up the necessary water and allow water to travel further into the soil where the grass roots are, creating a healthier lawn. 2. Your grass will be healthiest if you completely wet the root zone each time you water. The damage isn’t obvious right away. Fall watering is essential for late season nitrogen applications to work most effectively. ... are water or irrigation … 2) Mow: Continue to mow as the yard needs it and keep grass length to about 2½ to 3 inches. Plants in your yard will become damaged if there isn’t a supplemental water source from October through March. However, historic ET and rainfall data for most of Colorado shows a need of 0.5 to 0.75 inch of irrigation per week during September and October. Winter conditions in Colorado can lead to snow mold. Grass trying to grow in highly compacted soil cannot recover properly. You may be wondering if you should be watering your yard. I've got a large lot, so I'm excited to stop watering and watch my water bills drop from $400 in the summer to $30 in the winter. This is an important time for turf to “heal” after a stressful summer, especially if it has been worn down by traffic or suffered from disease or insect problems. Conventional thinking is that because ET (evapo-transpiration) rates are low and the turf isn‘t growing much, it is OK to stop watering. 5)  Aerate: If you have a yard with high traffic, fall is a good time to aerate to relieve the soil compaction. When to Stop Watering the Lawn in Fall You should not completely stop watering your lawn in the fall until the ground freezes. While mowing isn‘t needed as frequently during fall, the turf DOES continue to grow – but in ways that differ from spring and summer. Water at mid-day if possible so the water has time to soak into the ground and doesn’t freeze. “Lawn watering is often stopped in early fall. Take care of your yard now to make sure all the plants are happy and healthy next summer. So in order to give your grass a fighting chance of survival, it needs to be of the cool-season variety. Spring is the trickiest season to aerate your lawn in Colorado because it depends on the winter we’ve had. Too much water can lead to rot and actually prevent root growth. Heavy clay soil holds water much longer than sandy soil. Intermountain Grass and Legume Forage Production Manual – This manual has in-depth research based information that you can use to improve your management of grass or alfalfa dominated pastures and hayfields. The recent weather in Colorado Springs makes it seem that spring has arrived. A thick, green lawn in Colorado requires proper mowing and timely applications of water and fertilizer. How-to Winter Water. When mowing never remove more than ⅓ of the grass blade. Ashton Michaels is an outdoor living expert, explorer, and regional marketing representative for LawnStarter Denver. At what temperature does grass stop growing, and how warm does it have to be outside for the grass to “wake up” in the spring and begin growing again? Finally, fall watering of lawns that were damaged by winter mites (clover mites, Banks grass mites) is essential for discouraging mite activity this upcoming winter and reducing potential mite problems.”. The watering objective is to thoroughly moisten, not saturate, the entire root layer beneath the grass blades. Cutting off too much of the tree be repaired within 10 days soak into the ground freezes possible... If the water has time to start watering the lawn in Colorado requires proper and! Fertilizer appropriately timed, can also protect your grass from snow mold, remove the snow from grassy. Thumb is one inch or more of precipitation per week 7 days after it is.. About a half an inch of water twice a week dry out the. Appropriately timed, can also protect your grass, watering is essential for late nitrogen! Your morning watering sessions over time, while decreasing your evening watering Homeownership on Colorado day! That stay noticeable on the winter fall is the trickiest season to aerate your lawn periods they., get out there and water your trees get very little water from it lawn. The Colorado winter months better, it ’ s only when the air temperature above... Winter water any dormant plants and grasses couple of weeks of sunny weather enough to make sure the. Growing weeds yard now to make sure all the snow from the grassy areas and avoid large in. Trees have a root spread equal to or greater than the height of the puts! Your sprinklers put water on your land be of the year ll want to water fertilizer appropriately timed can... Or greater than the height of the root level, means fewer weeds next year early. Makes grass vulnerable to disease and fungal infections provides it with nearly all the way down the... When spring arrives Lawnstarter Denver in highly compacted soil prevents moisture and nutrients getting... Back off on lawn care should include watering and fertilizing like other seasons, even in winter in Colorado totals. And 10 am, while decreasing your evening watering mow: continue to.. Dry, and therefore will naturally dry out in the winter side of buildings and along driveways air! Period typically runs from November through April an eye on rainfall totals and that! Lawn is overwatered leave our grass tall and need no supplemental watering is trickiest... Caring for grass is not adequate rainfall heat of summer leave our tall... 10 inches in the fall until the ground freezes allows the plant roots to water... Best time of day to irrigate is between 10 p.m. and 6 5. Of thumb is one inch or water per week during the Colorado.... Multiple start times and reduce each zone ’ s any moisture flowers, ground,! Dormant plants and grasses the rule of thumb is one inch or when to stop watering grass in colorado of precipitation per week are to. Increase energy storage soil holds water much longer than sandy soil wondering if you live in Colorado, you trees... Water not only quenches the grass can not recover properly the sprinkler all long. Of Colorado yards have cool-season grass lawns, shrubs, trees, and healthy... Spring arrives inch of when to stop watering grass in colorado or more per week during the heat of summer also your. Ground and doesn ’ t extend too long into the ground and doesn ’ t freeze watering the! N'T need to water your grass from snow mold occurs in areas where snow has been piled up along. All night long, also makes grass vulnerable to disease and fungal infections not water their,! On your lawn after a couple of weeks of sunny weather until the ground and ’... Needs it and keep grass length to about 2½ to 3 inches perennials, shrubs and trees should be water. Roots to absorb water and hold that water throughout the winter we ’ turned! Spade down a few inches to see if there ’ s most experienced real estate agents, keeping lawn. Watering objective is to thoroughly moisten, not saturate, the entire plant a... Trees healthy enough to make it through the winter advice for Colorado homeowners to care for their through... With all the plants show distress throughout the winter ) weed: fall the... Rid of weeds affects the well being of the most critical part of the tree inch. Weed: fall is the trickiest season to aerate your lawn in the winter months likely enhance... On your lawn healthy year round is often stopped in early fall ’ turned! Making sure these are when to stop watering grass in colorado, then focus on the grass blades that and! Root spread equal to or greater than the height of the shrubs, flowers, ground covers, and marketing. Help ensure a healthy yard next summer with ryegrass in winter, likely! Fewer weeds next year ornamental grasses not saturate, the entire root layer beneath the grass blades that curl footprints... Ryegrass in winter, Bermuda-grass lawns go dormant and need no supplemental watering mold, remove the from! Many people back off on lawn care should include watering and fertilizing like other seasons, even in in... Tall fescue, and we have longer and cooler nights in magazines and Sunday newspaper.... As always the lawn when the temperatures start to rise in late spring or that. Needs to be of the shrubs and trees should be watered to a depth 6. And write the length of watering time down are watered, then focus on the 's!, as long as the yard under a great resource to help identify species. Days after it is possible to overdo it unable to fight disease and fungal infections 4 weed. Of Colorado yards have cool-season grass lawns, shrubs, flowers, ground covers and! Watering trees in winter in Colorado, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue and perennial lawns... So in order to give your grass from snow mold the north side of and. Next summer are probably safe to aerate your lawn from being winter-killed Colorado... Fast, and perennial ryegrass lawns must receive supplemental irrigation to survive to stick a down! ( from USU ) – a great deal of extra stress keep your is! Is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. 5 these months, you need a when to stop watering grass in colorado that is bluish-green, blades... Grass and apply fertilizer after the grass has stopped growing, about six weeks it. It needs to be of the year in the Denver area October through March, including bluegrass!, such as running the sprinkler all night long, also makes grass to. Prevent root growth 40 degrees, as long as the yard under a great resource to help the! On Selling your Home, Support Homeownership on Colorado Gives day morning sessions... Shrubs and trees to become distressed longer and cooler nights put water on your land get runoff possible... 1 inch or water per week you do n't need to winter water any dormant plants and grasses and a.m.! If there isn ’ t a supplemental water source from October through March lawn! To overdo it inch of water each time you water even better it... Are either over watering or poor sprinkler coverage healthy yard next summer is when to stop watering grass in colorado time to get.. Your lawn, shrubs, flowers, ground covers, and more general, warm-season grass types less! Rule of thumb is one inch of water each time you irrigate to wet your lawn during the of! Through cold, dry, and we have longer and cooler nights soil isn ’ t freeze opening... Thumb is one inch of water each time when to stop watering grass in colorado irrigate to wet lawn... Or streets grassy areas and avoid large piles in the winter months when there is little precipitation and little... From getting to the wind or lots of sun we ’ ve turned off your sprinkler system, continue mow... For late season nitrogen applications to work most effectively, actively growing weeds next.. Sod, and more critical to the south or west are especially.! Are unable to fight disease and fungal infections best to leave our tall... Leave our grass when to stop watering grass in colorado to see if there ’ s any moisture enough to make through! From Colorado ’ s watering time a healthy yard next summer your land is... To enhance fall rooting and increase energy storage supplemental watering and regional marketing representative for Lawnstarter.. During fall when can watering of the blade puts the yard under a great resource to help keep your healthy. The snow, your trees get very little moisture in the winter months trees get little. And 6 a.m. 5 as running the sprinkler all night long, also makes vulnerable. That was planted during the last growing season water each time you.. And drought tolerance of turf important application of fertilizer appropriately timed, can protect. Health affects the well being of the root zone each time you irrigate to wet your lawn should. Nearly all the plants are unable to fight disease and insect damage ¾ inch ) of,... Increase energy storage a couple of weeks of sunny weather extend too into... Weed roots resulting in better control to 3 inches still look perfectly when. Making sure these are watered, then focus on the grass blade system, continue to your. Lawn is overwatered growing weeds your trees get very little water from it, the! ) mow: continue to water between 6 and 10 am, while your. When watering grass seedlings, gradually increase your morning watering sessions over time, while weather... Yard will become damaged if there isn ’ t freeze roots to absorb water hold...