So we got letter about water restrictions saying we can only water 2 days a week. We have St Augustine grass, how long should I water on those 2 days to keep it from burning and dying. I'm currently watering 4 days a week about 15 minutes each zone and it's looking fine. Also I'm assuming if I leave it longer then that will help to keep it from dying also? TIA

I agree with all above
now for inches/duration
https://kamu.tamu.edu/garden-success-skips-tips-for-your-lawn/

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I'm currently watering 4 days a week about 15 minutes each zone

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What type of heads? Rotors, sprays, MP rotators?
Not all zones are created equal.

They are just sprayers

St Augustine , partly shaded. Deep watering every 7 - 10 days with irrigation system depending on how stressed the grass looks. A couple spots get hand watered as needed.

I like twice a week with 15 for fixed heads and 30 for rotors, expanded to 20 for fixed and 40 for rotors if needed

We're on a once a week restriction. My system comes on at 12:01 am on Monday morning with each station running one hour. At 7:00 pm, it repeats. I still have to hit "hot spots" by hand on Saturday.

All I know is the ****ing chinch bugs are the worst I have ever seen. I have been spraying bifenthrin and imidacloprid every month and these MFs still managed to destroy half of my lawn.

Cromagnum said:

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All I know is the ****ing chinch bugs are the worst I have ever seen. I have been spraying bifenthrin and imidacloprid every month and these MFs still managed to destroy half of my lawn.

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Yep. About 3 weeks ago they ate up my side yard in about 24 hours. This is after I already treated the entire yard about a month before. Even after I treated the second time I've seen a few. They thrive in this dry heat and can do serious damage before you even realize it. I've been battling them for 3 years now.

GCRanger said:

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St Augustine , partly shaded. Deep watering every 7 - 10 days with irrigation system depending on how stressed the grass looks. A couple spots get hand watered as needed.

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This is the way.
Especially with an established lawn. Anything more is a waste of water.

And don't shave the lawn low.

GCRanger said:

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St Augustine , partly shaded. Deep watering every 7 - 10 days with irrigation system depending on how stressed the grass looks. A couple spots get hand watered as needed.

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What do you consider "deep watering"?

One thing that I have changed until 100+ temps daily and no rain stops is that I've started to water the crap out of my grass for at least double the normal run time per zone, starting about midnight. I've read that the risk of fungus is when the leaves are wet for 12-13 hours. Well, with temps hitting 90+ by 10am, I have not found the grass to be wet for long after the sun comes up. So far, no sign of brown patch.

I had been starting everything around 4-430am for years to reduce the risk of fungus, but noticed recently that the lawn was bone dry by noon, so a lot of it was still evaporating.

Once we get a break in the weather and some rain, I'll go back to my normal schedule.

I'm doing two days a week 30 minutes each. St Augustine yard. Can't complain given this ridiculous summer.

So now our lovely water company (Aqua) has mandated a stage 3 restriction to where we can't water grass at all. Yippee. Suggestions to help preserve grass as much as possible with no end in sight of this relentless heat?

Put down rock.

We are now restricted to two days a week, Tuesday and Thursday for my address. Stupid because I can't water for 5 days, yet I can two out of three days…have mine starting at 12:01am and I run a couple of zones that get a lot of sun and dry out quicker again starting at 11:00pm

Yea that's dumb. At least mine is Tues/Friday

I only care enough about my grass to keep the roots alive. .5" once a week. I have no interest in paying more for water than I have to. Never understood the obsession.

aggiecody06 said:

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So now our lovely water company (Aqua) has mandated a stage 3 restriction to where we can't water grass at all. Yippee. Suggestions to help preserve grass as much as possible with no end in sight of this relentless heat?

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SSS

Sundown
Sprinkler
Shutup