Texas Heat!

[Bird]

I ran 2 sprinklers 3 hours last night and have them running again this morning. I may not make the yard pretty, but I'd like to keep the grass from dying completely. If I just let it go, will it come back when it rains or would it have to be started from scratch? I have a large area of St. Augustine in the back that gets full sun and grows faster then the Bermuda in front. But I don't know how much lack of water either can tolerate and still recover.

 

[jinman]

There ain't much moving out there now except to the auction barn.

I'm with you Jinman this drought needs to break......and soon.

Charlie

Charlie, the evening news last night had stories on two channels about the Decatur, TX cattle auction. They said the number of cattle coming to the auction is more than they can safely take because if you pen too many cattle too close together in this heat, some will die of heat stroke. They are selling cattle at a maximum rate and prices are still good. If the ranchers wait much longer, the cattle will suffer from the drought much more and not be nearly as marketable. It's a "sell now or lose later" situation. Because of this, the price of beef will see a spike in the near future because early sales create a hole in the market that has to be replenished.

I had a funny call yesterday from the northern Sierra range in CA. The lady said, "Mr. Inman, I got your number from your neighbor who says you have a source for good soaker hoses." I couldn't believe it! Here is a lady I don't klnow in No. CA who is calling me to ask about the flat nylon soaker hoses made by Gilmour.:confused2::laughing: While talking to her, she asked me to wait a moment because there was a fire spotter plane flying overhead and she wanted to see what direction it was going. Sheesh! It sure brought home that we are not the only ones getting close to fire danger. I gave the lady all the info she needed when she returned to the phone. I have to admit that it made me feel like a watering superstar.

 

[jimmyj]

You guys are in a spot for sure. I hope it rains for you all. I can't imagine that heat and it's scary with the cattle and trees etc.

 

[jinman]

I have a large area of St. Augustine in the back that gets full sun and grows faster then the Bermuda in front. But I don't know how much lack of water either can tolerate and still recover.

Bird, my experience with St. Augustine is that it will survive as long as the roots have some moisture. Once it drys completely, it will die and not come back. That's why I make sure I keep it watered some even in winter when it goes brown. I had an area dry out at my house in Grand Prairie one summer when I was away a lot taking care of my dad. I had to sod and sprig to get it restarted. When it drys out completely, all you see is dry runners across the top of the ground. If it is just yellow, it is surviving, but just in stress.
It sure looks pitiful when it wilts though. Bermuda can go dormant in drought conditions, but St. Augustine self-destructs when allowed to completely dry out.

 

[Bird]

Thanks, Jim. I do water the St. Augustine when it starts to yellow.

 

[pacerron]

Jim
Watering at night would certainly be more efficient to your water use and beneficial to your yard. I recall you saying you watered for 6 hours most days in a previous message. Don稚 know how long you can stay in bed at night but 6 hours is usually max for my old joints and usually a little trip in the middle to boot. The meter might give you a number but I submit it will take a lot of sample times and then averaging to give you a number that could really represent something.
Since you run enough sprinklers at once to keep your pump constantly running you might stick one of them in a big pail or barrel with a top and turn on all your sprinklers as usual. Time this for a few minutes and then do an actual volume measurement of the water in the tub. Multiply by the number of sprinklers.
Even more accurate to collect from each sprinkler at the same time if you have enough containers. The sprinkler heads create back pressure reducing volume output themselves.
How many gpm is your pump rated at? Checking it痴 actual output volume at one of your hose bib痴 could be interesting too.
If your pump actually produces 10 gpm at the hose bib x 60=600gph x 6 hr.= 3600 gallon.
It appears you have some slope to your yard so there may be some runoff factor.
Have you considered getting a liner or used tank for your dump trailer to haul water from your pond?
Ron

 

[pacerron]

I see this site does not (doesn't ) like words with apostrophes.

 

[Bird]

I see this site does not (doesn't ) like words with apostrophes.

I think they're just fine if typed on this site, but if typed on some other software, then copied to this site, there might be a problem.:laughing:

 

[pacerron]

Bird,
I think you are correct. I was using my windows live email to compose, check spelling and copying to this site. I see now a spell checker in the upper right corner of the TBN message box. You know the saying... "might be an engineer, but can't spell it."
Please excuse my old eyeballs poorly connected to my old brain!
However, just clicking on the spell checker box brings up a message wanting me to download some ie-spell add on for Internet Explorer. Does it work on
IE-9 with no problems? A lot of browser add-ons create more problems than they are worth and sometimes are difficult to remove.
spell
Ron

 

[pacerron]

Here is a site that has a lot of information and formulas to help assemble an irragation system that works... Landscape Irrigation Formulas

I have no connection with this site or any other that I might post.
Ron

 

[kelloggguy]

Here in Houston, we're starting to get our typical scattered summer afternoon thundershowers. While they're not reliable, it is definitely a pleasant surprise to get home after work and see that it rained at your house.

 

[NativeSon]

Charlie, the evening news last night had stories on two channels about the Decatur, TX cattle auction. They said the number of cattle coming to the auction is more than they can safely take because if you pen too many cattle too close together in this heat, some will die of heat stroke. They are selling cattle at a maximum rate and prices are still good. If the ranchers wait much longer, the cattle will suffer from the drought much more and not be nearly as marketable. It's a "sell now or lose later" situation. Because of this, the price of beef will see a spike in the near future because early sales create a hole in the market that has to be replenished.

I had a funny call yesterday from the northern Sierra range in CA. The lady said, "Mr. Inman, I got your number from your neighbor who says you have a source for good soaker hoses." I couldn't believe it! Here is a lady I don't klnow in No. CA who is calling me to ask about the flat nylon soaker hoses made by Gilmour.:confused2::laughing: While talking to her, she asked me to wait a moment because there was a fire spotter plane flying overhead and she wanted to see what direction it was going. Sheesh! It sure brought home that we are not the only ones getting close to fire danger. I gave the lady all the info she needed when she returned to the phone. I have to admit that it made me feel like a watering superstar.

I think of you more as a watering Guru:thumbsup: Sounds like some consulting jobs in your future. Demand during a drought is high so those rates have to go up.

Charlie

 

[Western]

I saw the rains down around Houston, you guy's need to send us a tropical storm!!

I put out a water trough, since my pond has dried, you wouldn't believe the wildlife after a few day's. If my daughter will show me how to use her camera, Ill post some photos. We have a large Owl that comes in in the evening, he has started hanging around the house which is cool. The deer are eating about 4#'s of a corn pellet mix per day. Normally they have plenty to eat.

Jim, I have the same ideas on the sprinkler system, water at night. I think that way we will maximize the water longevity and soaking. I notice going to various jobs in the "big" city, most of them are watering at night too.

 

[Bird]

Bird,
I think you are correct. I was using my windows live email to compose, check spelling and copying to this site. I see now a spell checker in the upper right corner of the TBN message box. You know the saying... "might be an engineer, but can't spell it."
Please excuse my old eyeballs poorly connected to my old brain!
However, just clicking on the spell checker box brings up a message wanting me to download some ie-spell add on for Internet Explorer. Does it work on
IE-9 with no problems? A lot of browser add-ons create more problems than they are worth and sometimes are difficult to remove.
spell
Ron

I don't know because I've never used the TBN spell checker, so I've never downloaded that software.

 

[kelloggguy]

I saw the rains down around Houston, you guy's need to send us a tropical storm!!

I put out a water trough, since my pond has dried, you wouldn't believe the wildlife after a few day's. If my daughter will show me how to use her camera, Ill post some photos. We have a large Owl that comes in in the evening, he has started hanging around the house which is cool. The deer are eating about 4#'s of a corn pellet mix per day. Normally they have plenty to eat.

Jim, I have the same ideas on the sprinkler system, water at night. I think that way we will maximize the water longevity and soaking. I notice going to various jobs in the "big" city, most of them are watering at night too.

We try to water at night, or perhaps even better, very early in the morning, since that's the coolest time of the day with the highest humidity, so you have less evaporation.

We'd be glad to send you a tropical storm, once we sucked a good bit of rain out of it. But we'd try to leave enough for y'all too.

 

[Bird]

I would love to have an inground, head to head, sprinkler system, but I'd like one without the timer, electrical components, etc.; just a plain old manual valve for each zone. But I'm afraid they're just too expensive for me.

 

[kelloggguy]

I've got one with a timer and 6 zones, but it wasn't that expensive, since I have a very small lot, 65x120, with a good sized one story house and 2.5 car garage taking up a good bit of the lot. But even though I have a timer, we operate it manually most of the time.

 

[sseelhoff]

I would love to have an inground, head to head, sprinkler system, but I'd like one without the timer, electrical components, etc.; just a plain old manual valve for each zone. But I'm afraid they're just too expensive for me.

That is exactly what I have. Put it in myself when we bought the house. The expense depends on size of the yard. They must be easy if I was able to do it and get it to work. (Disclaimer-I did have a plumber put in the backflow preventer)

 

[Western]

Well, the Owl came in for a drink about the same time,(3:30pm) It's odd he would use this trough since he is so mobile.

This photo is of the Painted buntings we have coming to our feeders. It took about 4 different brands of seed to find what would attract them. They are so shy and tend to stay in the thicker brush. They sure are a pretty bird though.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Painted Buntings are beautiful. I see them eating seeds on skinny grassy weeds that grow about 18" high. They like to use my tomato cages as a perch while they eat. Yes, I have weeds in my garden that should be a xeroscape.

I'M ANGRY. It has rained all the way around us now for a week and NOTHING here...Not even enough to get the top of a cow wet.