Getting sod in the middle of summer sucks. I know the builder's like to delay spending money as much as possible, but they could drop sod in like March and have to water it for like 1 week, then let the rain take over.
Ankeny water ban
- Thread starter ISUcyclones11
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Watering your lawn is a waste of water and money. Just wait for it to rain and it will come back.
Because people are weird and think that "having a nice lawn" is some sort of status thing.
I work in local government and this did escalate quickly. There are some FAQs out there online that get into the details.
The basics are that Central Iowa Water Works enacted their Stage 3 water shortage plan. Stage 3 is a ban on irrigation. This is limited to watering of lawns. Newly installed sod and grass is exempt at this time but its asked the watering is cut back to the minimum to ensure the sod survives. New sod shouldn't be laid until the Stage 3 is lifted.
No other conservation efforts are required at this time, but people can do voluntary stuff to help like watering plants less, shorter showers, etc.
Somebody else mentioned boiling and that shouldn't be done as it actually increases the nitrate levels in the water. If you're particularly concerned about nitrate levels right now, bottled water is probably the answer for you even though the drinking water is currently safe.
The basics are that Central Iowa Water Works enacted their Stage 3 water shortage plan. Stage 3 is a ban on irrigation. This is limited to watering of lawns. Newly installed sod and grass is exempt at this time but its asked the watering is cut back to the minimum to ensure the sod survives. New sod shouldn't be laid until the Stage 3 is lifted.
No other conservation efforts are required at this time, but people can do voluntary stuff to help like watering plants less, shorter showers, etc.
Somebody else mentioned boiling and that shouldn't be done as it actually increases the nitrate levels in the water. If you're particularly concerned about nitrate levels right now, bottled water is probably the answer for you even though the drinking water is currently safe.
$900!!! It's been 20 years since I've had sod but I don't remember it costing more than $200 month. What is your normal water bill?
Yep, and one of the dumbest things to measure yourself against. "My grass is green and my neighbor's is brown...I'm better than him?".
Always reminds me in Korea where they think less of someone if they have a tan and prefer "the whiter the better" as a status symbol. Societies can be weird. For me personally, I don't give two ***** what color my grass is.
Not everybody that likes the look of a nice lawn cares about status though. I like the look of it and couldnt give a rats ass what the neighbor does, this is for me. I just enjoy having the color outside. Iowa is so brown and gray much of the year, a little green brings me joy. I also geek a bit after I edge it along the concrete. Its probably OCD, but it brings me some happiness.
I live in Ankeny and I guess I picked the wrong spring to invest hundreds in seeding my lawn. Since I don't normally water my lawn, I don't have one of those fancy irrigation systems. I just use an old fashioned sprinkler.
The new grass has been starting to fill in pretty good, but if I don't keep watering I'm afraid it will die and all that investment will be wasted.
Maybe I should set my alarm and water between 3-5am so one you don't rat me out?
The new grass has been starting to fill in pretty good, but if I don't keep watering I'm afraid it will die and all that investment will be wasted.
Maybe I should set my alarm and water between 3-5am so one you don't rat me out?
automatic sprinklers maybe, I see that around here - day after a rain and sprinklers pop up and water **** like what the hell are you doing, just let it go brown, it won't kill you
You need a little something called black dirt for this to work. Most black dirt gets graded out and you are left with clay soil. My grass dies and doesn't come back unless watered. If this last longer than about 2-3 weeks, I will need to re-seed or re-sod next year.
I live in Ankeny and I guess I picked the wrong spring to invest hundreds in seeding my lawn. Since I don't normally water my lawn, I don't have one of those fancy irrigation systems. I just use an old fashioned sprinkler.
The new grass has been starting to fill in pretty good, but if I don't keep watering I'm afraid it will die and all that investment will be wasted.
Maybe I should set my alarm and water between 3-5am so one you don't rat me out?
Even with old fashioned sprinklers you can get electronic timers that’ll turn the water on at set times. Just gotta have your sprinkler positioned ahead of time.
that sucks. horrible timing.I live in Ankeny and I guess I picked the wrong spring to invest hundreds in seeding my lawn. Since I don't normally water my lawn, I don't have one of those fancy irrigation systems. I just use an old fashioned sprinkler.
The new grass has been starting to fill in pretty good, but if I don't keep watering I'm afraid it will die and all that investment will be wasted.
Maybe I should set my alarm and water between 3-5am so one you don't rat me out?
If only we could figure out where these cancer-causing nitrates are coming from in this state that has the highest rates of new cancer diagnosis in the country. I guess it will have to remain a mystery. We're all gonna die anyways.
Nitrate levels at the USGS gauge on the Raccoon River at Van Meter, from
waterdata.usgs.gov
Levels are indeed way up. Fortunately they tend to drop fast as well. For those that don't remember chemistry class, a mg/L is roughly the same as a part per million.
Raccoon River at Van Meter, IA
Discover water data collected at monitoring location USGS-05484500, located in Dallas County, Iowa and find additional nearby monitoring locations.
Levels are indeed way up. Fortunately they tend to drop fast as well. For those that don't remember chemistry class, a mg/L is roughly the same as a part per million.
Anecdotal, but I see businesses like HyVee watering their grass all the time. Morning, noon, night, during the rain, etc.
I have a system that I use sparingly (haven't turned it on this year) but I always water super early in the morning. Most effective use of watering, without causing disease issues.
I have a system that I use sparingly (haven't turned it on this year) but I always water super early in the morning. Most effective use of watering, without causing disease issues.
I moved into a new house a few years ago, they installed the sod in mid Aug, it took a lot of water the first few weeks to keep it alive, but then sept hit and it just went nuts. Aug seems to be the perfect time for it, so if you can, hold off till then.
