Properly watering a lawn is key to maintaining it in a healthy condition. Most lawn problems are related to irrigation. Failing to apply sufficient water will result in dry areas, which will turn brown and ultimately die if left too long. On the other hand, excess water can lead to disease.
The key to proper irrigation is learning to recognize the signs of a thirsty lawn. Turfgrass indicates its dryness by wilting, which is expressed through changing color from its typical green to a slightly blue-gray tint; closer inspection of the turf will show that it is limp and will not bounce back if stepped on. Testing for lack of water can be done by probing the soil with a knife or screwdriver in the wilted area and in a green area. More difficult penetration in the wilted area is confirmation of lack of water.
Usually, certain sections of the lawn will repeatedly show wilting before others. These areas likely receive the least water due to poor irrigation uniformity, top of slope or the most direct sunlight. Check for uniform sprinkler coverage by placing empty cans in the wilted area and green area. After running the sprinklers for about fifteen minutes check the amount of water in each can. If it is not the same, sprinkler adjustment or an additional sprinkler may be necessary. Sloped areas will require shorter more frequent irrigation cycles. Full sun areas should not be on the same irrigation valve as part sun areas.