How many minutes to run the sprinkler? It's not time, it's amount of water. So you have to measure it. The rule of thumb is 1 inch per week. You can check by getting either a rain gauge (it's just a piece of plastic with markings on it, you can get it at any big box store) or everyone says use a tuna can and you just put it down and check how long it takes to get an inch. Keeping in mind that you'd have to cover the entire lawn, in theory, so you would need multiple sprinkers.

It's hard to see in your picture because it's not too big, but it looks like you have a lot of brown (dormant) grass and maybe areas of bare dirt. You probably want to wait on addressing the bare patches for now, since you're already having trouble with the general lawn. So just live with it for now. You might want to try watering first and see if the lawn comes back. Or alternatively you could just let it be dormant and brown. If you're going to water it, the rule is water deeply but infrequently. If you just have one sprinkler, then just put it in the middle or something and see what happens. Then let it run while measuring the watering. Your lawn should get a little green if it's just dormant from underwatering.

I'm going to assume the green spots are probably weeds because those are the hardiest things usually. If so, you probably want to kill those, but you'd need to ask someone else about that because I'm a hand pulling person, not a chemical person.

If the lawn responds to watering, then just keep watering it (if you want). If it doesn't, then you'll probably need to restart because it's dead. But don't do that right now in the dead of summer. Wait until fall.

 

This is lack of water. We are seeing more of these posts than I can remember from previous years.

When it's hot and dry you need 1/2" water every 3 days to keep it green. You need to make sure your getting even coverage.

 

This is lack of water. We are seeing more of these posts than I can remember from previous years.

When it's hot and dry you need 1/2" water every 3 days to keep it green. You need to make sure your getting even coverage.

This is a good rough guideline.

And depending on the area, that might not be enough, or may be too much. There are so many variables.

For an example of a situation where it's not sufficient: I have a section of lawn bounded on two sides by driveway and sidewalk. A lot of it is sloped. I've been watering a half inch twice a week for the last few weeks. But now that we haven't had significant rain in almost 3 weeks and the forecast calls for high 80s near 90 for the next week or two, I'm switching to 0.4 inch 3x per week because of drought stress and past experience. It came as no surprise to me; I've been managing the area for 10 years plus now.

Always use a straight sided container with flat bottom to measure water. Or buy the set of NRG mini gauges.

If you water too much, on the other hand you deplete oxygen/air spaces in soil, which is bad. It's a balancing act.

I also think the 5.3 pH and whatever nutrient deficiencies are causing it, is playing a role. For CT, a pH like that is not uncommon, and it takes years to fix it using Lime. I think mine was around that level ten years ago. The grass doesn't burn up as fast now as back then.

I would stop mowing if you haven't already done so. It's not going to grow as it's dormant. But it still needs water. Your goal should be to keep as much as possible alive now. Trying to bring it out of dormancy now is unreasonable, in my opinion.

Don't keep tilling up the soil when renovating, year after year. It needs to settle. You don't want soil to be too loose or the grass roots can't anchor well. No more tilling from this point forward. Also, there is no reason to do a full renovation every year. You can simply overseed if not enough makes it through Summer. But with enough water this Summer, you might not have to.

If it pulls out easily, it's dead. If not, it's probably just dormant and you can keep most of it alive by watering properly from this point forward, and then it'll green up again later in the Summer.

 

Thank you, everyone!
I have a big problem with my sprinkler system (orbit), the rain sensor stops the irrigation system also when the forecast is clear.
The lawn is big 24000sfqt and I have only a well. I don't use too much from there every year. The sprinkler system for each section runs for 12 minutes but I am thinking to run 24 for each section (double time).
I hope this is helping the grass. My big concern now also is the seeds, is it good to have only tall fescue, or do I need to mix with KBG?
Thank you!

 

Thank you, everyone!
I have a big problem with my sprinkler system (orbit), the rain sensor stops the irrigation system also when the forecast is clear.
The lawn is big 24000sfqt and I have only a well. I don't use too much from there every year. The sprinkler system for each section runs for 12 minutes but I am thinking to run 24 for each section (double time).
I hope this is helping the grass. My big concern now also is the seeds, is it good to have only tall fescue, or do I need to mix with KBG?
Thank you!

I think it is best to grab a tuna can or some Tupperware with straight walls and measure how many inches of water you get in the 24min.

 

Heyyy Flavio,

Agreed it's been super dry here in CT. Definitely listen to all of the above. This would be called an irrigation audit. Spread some cans and containers out to see how much or I bet how little water your irrigation system is delivering. Recommendations can be made after!

How does the well run? Have you ever had water issues or run it dry?

 

24k sqft is a lot to contend with.
Have you had a recent soil test?
What did you do to correct PH?
What would you call your soil composition?
Do you know how many gallons per minute your system is capable of ?

Someone might correct me here if Im wrong but 1000sqft needs 600 gallons to put 1" on it. IF IF you can keep the water there.

My garden hose from the house delivers aprox 7.5 gallons a minute.
So we are talking more than minutes to deliver enough water.

I dont irrigate my entire lawn. Only the high traffic areas directly around the house and drive way.

Maybe take a step back and take a new soil sample. Get your irrigation in check and go from there.
It can take time….

Still cant figure out how to get the pictures to post in the order I want?

 

@MacLawn

Your numbers sound perfect to me. I put out 3450 gallons in a 5 hour cycle to water 11,500 sq feet as close to 0.5 inches.

You are totally correct though, takes a long time to deliver the appropriate volume. And we are assuming 100% makes it to the ground..... it doesn't..... 0 runoff, it runs off.....

I'm really interested in this guy's results of the irrigation audit!

 

@MacLawn

Your numbers sound perfect to me. I put out 3450 gallons in a 5 hour cycle to water 11,500 sq feet as close to 0.5 inches.

You are totally correct though, takes a long time to deliver the appropriate volume. And we are assuming 100% makes it to the ground..... it doesn't..... 0 runoff, it runs off.....

I'm really interested in this guy's results of the irrigation audit!

The area in the pictures is al mother nature. If we dont get any rain soon it will go brown until late Aug early sept
Its showing now but also whats showing is my weed treatment, a triv or poa "die off. All the seed stalks from spring and a host of other issues.
Plus its mostly pea stone and sand just below the top soil.

 

Correct PH