Won't give up on the season yet, can still hope for drought to break. But yeah, zero effs being given right now. No irrigation, scorching dry heat, dealing with dead spots that are either brown spot and/or compaction/debris and/or heavy-handed application of propiconazole for dollar spot right before leaving for 10 days just as the heat wave started, and the scalping after getting back from vacation...just ignoring the lawn for the most part until the weather improves.

 

No shame in taking a break.

I'm sort of in the same boat. We haven't had any measurable rainfall here in almost a month now, and the 10-day forecast doesn't look good. Temps are hovering around 100°F this week with heat indexes closer to 110°F. I can't irrigate 3.5 acres, so I'll be letting it go dormant and enjoying the A/C until the weather improves. :thumbsup:

 

Not giving up, but certainly starting to plan a water collection system for next year. Hydretain and peat moss has helped. Cheaper than a water bill!

 

Not yet, but it's getting pretty bad over here

 

I am definitely not trying to keep up with the heat wave we're having. I let it struggle between my allowed watering days and just ride it out without any increase in watering times. In the end, Mother Nature is going to win unless I strictly use my entire monthly income towards watering haha.

 

Not giving up but started backing off a little on the water. Here is the thing about mother nature--moves in a cycle and this cycle will end and return to the mean. Supposedly the heat dome is moving to the southwest starting next week which can increase the chances for rain.

 

I haven't seen rain in a month and the 90°+ days have all the lawns brown around here. Even the guys with lawn services are looking rough. I am looking better than most but still not that great. The thin spots over the septic leach lines are burnt. The other areas look 'meh'. The free Sunday ferts I have been squirting are helping but I can't keep up with the water.

 

I'm glad you brought this up. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only thinking these thoughts.

 

@Ware Is the Coastal bermuda well adapted to drought conditions? Seems like it would be, or at least better than most common turf types.

 

I'm just about to get strated.. irrigation goes in Thursday and sod next week. Will probably apply hydretain to soil before laying sod. Right now it's bare clay

 

I turned off 4 of 6 zones and just keeping moisture around the house. I did notice that my irrigation zone with mp rotators does 10x better than my I-20/rotor only zones.

 

Week long stretch of 100+ started yesterday. One of the localized hot spot in the backyard already showed up after work. Front is still looking good and I put down Penterra on the 4th. Going to see how well it does in this heat wave as well as testing my cultural practice. Water bill is gonna out the hoohah. Don't have a system so my plan is to water every 2 days (sometimes overnight) to get around 2" a week. Not really worry about fungus because this heat is drying up everything so fast.

 

I haven't completely given up but I definitely don't care like I did the previous few years. I'm not willing to blow up my water bill to compensate for the lack of rain so whatever happens the rest of this year happens. I'm not big on the YouTube lawn care gurus but the guy from Lawncology did say something that stuck with me when dealing with recurrent issues; "it's just a lawn." Time to put my energy into different pursuits.

 

I don't got irrigation and I had 25% if my new tiftuf go dormant due to lack of water despite drenching it for 2 weeks straight, now I'm still drenching it 4 weeks later and it's coming back but my water bill is another $50 higher. It's a tradeoff you have to either accept or reject, like anything else in life

 

I guess I should explain I'm not giving up completely. I will still mow but I don't think it is worth the extra water to try and keep the grass from going dormant.

I also want to express my discontent for the lawn youtube community pushing hydretain as if it is some miracle cure. After two applications, following directions, that stuff had absolutely no effect on my lawn at all.

I think I will spend some mowing time adjusting the height of some of my sprinkler heads and work on more spot leveling if the grass doesn't go totally dormant. Also need to work on clearing some thatch if possible.

 

I also want to express my discontent for the lawn youtube community pushing hydretain as if it is some miracle cure. After two applications, following directions, that stuff had absolutely no effect on my lawn at all.

I think if you look at the label, it says "up to" 50% less watering or whatever. In other words, that is probably under ideal conditions, including perfect K levels. Hydretain is probably best for lawns that still get receive some rain, but not drought-like conditions.

 

I had the luxury of placing drip irrigation under my 1800 sqft TifTuf front yard. Very little restriction on drip. And I have my septic sprinklers augmenting my back yard sprinklers. Nice and green here. Helps to have a nice bermuda like TifTuf.

 

My idea of watering really can't change. Having a pool in 115 degree heat with evaporation is a two edged sword. It is so hot you must swim, but constantly keeping the pool full is not cheap. Plus purchasing pool chemicals after the chlorine price spike and shortage. Watering the yard and garden is the least of my concerns.

I should suggest to everyone to redo their irrigation. I replaced all of my sprinklers with rotary nozzles at my home and the football field I work on has all rotary nozzles like golf course. It saves a lot of money and prevents run off. My water bill was greatly reduced after changing all my nozzles and bodies to pressure regulated.

I will say I am tired of mowing 3/4" in 115 degree heat though. I am considering doubling to 1.25" or higher so I am not out there every other day. Is that giving up in a way?

 

I also want to express my discontent for the lawn youtube community pushing hydretain as if it is some miracle cure. After two applications, following directions, that stuff had absolutely no effect on my lawn at all.

I think if you look at the label, it says "up to" 50% less watering or whatever. In other words, that is probably under ideal conditions, including perfect K levels. Hydretain is probably best for lawns that still get receive some rain, but not drought-like conditions.

I recall that the label also says you may need up to 5x the standard rate. I had to really hammer my drought stress areas with Hydretain to see a recovery. The stuff does work. Details in my journal.

 

My idea of watering really can't change. Having a pool in 115 degree heat with evaporation is a two edged sword. It is so hot you must swim, but constantly keeping the pool full is not cheap. Plus purchasing pool chemicals after the chlorine price spike and shortage. Watering the yard and garden is the least of my concerns.

I should suggest to everyone to redo their irrigation. I replaced all of my sprinklers with rotary nozzles at my home and the football field I work on has all rotary nozzles like golf course. It saves a lot of money and prevents run off. My water bill was greatly reduced after changing all my nozzles and bodies to pressure regulated.

I will say I am tired of mowing 3/4" in 115 degree heat though. I am considering doubling to 1.25" or higher so I am not out there every other day. Is that giving up in a way?

Did you move to MP rotators? I've noticed they are much better than the rotors in my yard

 

My idea of watering really can't change. Having a pool in 115 degree heat with evaporation is a two edged sword. It is so hot you must swim, but constantly keeping the pool full is not cheap. Plus purchasing pool chemicals after the chlorine price spike and shortage. Watering the yard and garden is the least of my concerns.

I should suggest to everyone to redo their irrigation. I replaced all of my sprinklers with rotary nozzles at my home and the football field I work on has all rotary nozzles like golf course. It saves a lot of money and prevents run off. My water bill was greatly reduced after changing all my nozzles and bodies to pressure regulated.

I will say I am tired of mowing 3/4" in 115 degree heat though. I am considering doubling to 1.25" or higher so I am not out there every other day. Is that giving up in a way?

Did you move to MP rotators? I've noticed they are much better than the rotors in my yard

I actually have the Rainbird rotary nozzles. I was debating between the two companies, but I wanted tool-less access to the nozzles.

I will say I do have to "flush" a small portion of them semi frequently so I wouldn't suggest them to anyone not watching their irrigation somewhat regularly. That said, I do have a good relationship with Rainbird and get 35% off and free shipping on all my orders.

 

My idea of watering really can't change. Having a pool in 115 degree heat with evaporation is a two edged sword. It is so hot you must swim, but constantly keeping the pool full is not cheap. Plus purchasing pool chemicals after the chlorine price spike and shortage. Watering the yard and garden is the least of my concerns.

I should suggest to everyone to redo their irrigation. I replaced all of my sprinklers with rotary nozzles at my home and the football field I work on has all rotary nozzles like golf course. It saves a lot of money and prevents run off. My water bill was greatly reduced after changing all my nozzles and bodies to pressure regulated.

I will say I am tired of mowing 3/4" in 115 degree heat though. I am considering doubling to 1.25" or higher so I am not out there every other day. Is that giving up in a way?

Thanks for the advice/input. I plan to switch my fronts over to MP Rotators to help with runoff, seems my soil is really hydrophobic. It is a new build and I know they did not bring in any good topsoil nor allowed me to. Trying to amend the soil but waiting on my soil sample results to see what I am working with.

 

My idea of watering really can't change. Having a pool in 115 degree heat with evaporation is a two edged sword. It is so hot you must swim, but constantly keeping the pool full is not cheap. Plus purchasing pool chemicals after the chlorine price spike and shortage. Watering the yard and garden is the least of my concerns.

I should suggest to everyone to redo their irrigation. I replaced all of my sprinklers with rotary nozzles at my home and the football field I work on has all rotary nozzles like golf course. It saves a lot of money and prevents run off. My water bill was greatly reduced after changing all my nozzles and bodies to pressure regulated.

I will say I am tired of mowing 3/4" in 115 degree heat though. I am considering doubling to 1.25" or higher so I am not out there every other day. Is that giving up in a way?

Did you move to MP rotators? I've noticed they are much better than the rotors in my yard

I actually have the Rainbird rotary nozzles. I was debating between the two companies, but I wanted tool-less access to the nozzles.

I will say I do have to "flush" a small portion of them semi frequently so I wouldn't suggest them to anyone not watching their irrigation somewhat regularly. That said, I do have a good relationship with Rainbird and get 35% off and free shipping on all my orders.

Are you talking about RVAN? After doing some research this seems like it could have huge gains for not much money.

 

My idea of watering really can't change. Having a pool in 115 degree heat with evaporation is a two edged sword. It is so hot you must swim, but constantly keeping the pool full is not cheap. Plus purchasing pool chemicals after the chlorine price spike and shortage. Watering the yard and garden is the least of my concerns.

I should suggest to everyone to redo their irrigation. I replaced all of my sprinklers with rotary nozzles at my home and the football field I work on has all rotary nozzles like golf course. It saves a lot of money and prevents run off. My water bill was greatly reduced after changing all my nozzles and bodies to pressure regulated.

I will say I am tired of mowing 3/4" in 115 degree heat though. I am considering doubling to 1.25" or higher so I am not out there every other day. Is that giving up in a way?

Thanks for the advice/input. I plan to switch my fronts over to MP Rotators to help with runoff, seems my soil is really hydrophobic. It is a new build and I know they did not bring in any good topsoil nor allowed me to. Trying to amend the soil but waiting on my soil sample results to see what I am working with.

Not knocking rotators, but its gpm output is just way less than a traditional spray head. You can achieve the same result using your current setup with less runoff by running multiple short cycles with breaks in between to allow the soil to absorb its output.

 

@Bombers

I do this with my Rachio 3 controller using the smart cycle, still seems to run off within 3mins of running. I may just swap some MP rotators in and see if the same results happen, worse case I just return them.

I do know I have a soil issue being hydrophobic and trying to figure out how to amend this issue. Waiting on my soil sample results as of now.

Update:
I will try to run manual soak and cycle through the Rachio with 5min cycles and 12mins soak in and see if this improves. Didn't know Rachio had a manual option. The smart cycle was allowing things to run for 15mins and that is not going to work on my new lawn until the soil is amended.