Midday irrigation

Hello,

My mother insists that one cannot water the lawn during the midday hours when the sun is out as this will damage the grass. Is this true or is it an old wives tale?

Cheers Nicholas

 

Here’s the thing. I’ve seen the damage that can be done to plants with the combination of sun and water. OTOH, one sees green keepers (on the golf course) watering the greens in full sun, with no ill effect. I would say that it’s probably best to water later in the day, to nullify the effects of evaporation. Just my opinion

 

So much water evaporates in the sun so sensible to water in the evenings but some plants like lettuce, hostas and the like are best watered in the mornings because the foliage is then dry overnight and less attractive to slugs I think.
I dont think watering the lawn in sunshine damages it/burns it but I see no sense in doing it.

 

There's a belief that droplets of water on of leaves can magnify the sun's rays and cause burning. I don't subscribe to it.


The head green keeper of my golf club turns on the greens and tees sprinklers during the day for a few minutes if it's really warm (although on those days they warn you in the pro shop that it might happen while you're out on the course). He's very knowledgeable and has a lot of greenkeeping qualifications. When he does something to the greens, that's when I try to do the same to my lawn.

Not only do I turn my lawn sprinklers on mid day for a short time if it's very warm, I'll also give our three acers a "mist" spray with the hosepipe around 2.00pm just to cool down the leaves and stop them burning. I cut our grass quite short so as our soil is quite sandy it can quickly dry out if it's very warm. At other times I only water in the evening.

As you'll see this regular practice of mine isn't causing any problems. Our lawn's none the worse for it.

 

The reason why golf greens need more water, hence the use in the day is that they have a high sand content and a shallow soil content over the drainage plus they are mown closely which means they need more water than a domestic lawn and will have shallow root systems. Without irrigation they would quickly suffer.
In saying that irrigation systems differ in complexity so the best have sensor systems which are very good at efficiency. Club run golf courses will have basic systems and the green keeper will have an educated guess, the pro courses have better irrigation setups, sensors and moisture testing and in general the keepers have a better understanding of turf management to insure the surface area is at its best for play.

When you see them watering the greens on hot days it’s called syringing, it helps toward stopping wilting on cool season grasses.

Last year was very hot and the lawns feed on the good old weed and feeds that were not watered daily soon went over, those fed on a low N, higher K and a Fe withstood it better. I’ve come across several lawns last year that I was asked to look at but I declined as the customer would not agree that his feeds were incorrect and they went brown quickly in the heat. You can but try comes to mind.

 

Interesting info liz the pot.
Alongside the woods where I often take my dog the golf course greens are mown every day to almost nothing yet look green and healthy. If we did the same to our lawns they would soon wither away to nothing.
Here my own lawns are maintained at a generous height ...not suitable as putting greens but look good I think