Best Time To Water Lawns
Gardening Question From Debbie:
I live in So California, inland valley in Temecula, and with the extreme heat I need to know when the best time to water Cool Season lawns. Mainly Fescue I believe. I was watering in the mornings, however, someone told me I should only water in evenings. When and for how long? Repeat or not? I would appreciate your expertise. I tried to look up someone asking you this in your web page but could not find.
Answer From Pat:
The best time to water all lawns in hot climates is evening, but most people these days are phasing out lawns, especially cool-season lawns, in favor of drought-resistant and heat-resistant plants.
Pat,
I live in Paradise Valley, AZ. Is your inland CA climate like mine? Would your books be of help to me????
Thanks,
Janie Horn
Here in Southern California we are living in a Mediterranean climate. This is a mild, frost-free climate with rainfall in fall and winter. You live in an interior Southwest desert climate which has a dry winter and monsoon rains in summer. Because of this, the garden timing will not be correct. On the other hand, the general recommendations on the care of annual flowers and vegetables will be helpful but once again the timing will be all wrong. Petunias, for example, are a summer flower in Southern California but in your climate zone you should be able to grow them in winter. Also, hot temperatures make flowers fall off tomatoes so you would be unable to grow them as a summer crop.