All living organisms require
water in some form or the other. Water for the plant system works similar to what it does
for ours. Water carries food photosynthesized from the leaves to the roots and returns to
the leaves carrying nutrients gathered by the roots from water in the soil. As we can
become dehydrated so can grass plants and the water absorbed is used as the cooling system
and in the return of oxygen into the air.
The majority of all water used by the plant enters at the
root level and the excess is given off in the form of vapor by the leaves. Germination and
cell development needs water. Too much water in the ground causes the roots to become
overloaded and the lack of oxygen makes them start to deteriorate and in some grasses
cause iron deficiency. That is why most of the recommendations are for well draining
soils. Lawn grasses love water but not to be water logged.
Grass plants are adapted to the different climates and
weather conditions in nature. Seeds germinate, grow into seedlings, mature, set seed and
in the winter or drought conditions go back into dormancy until the conditions are
favorable again. We have decided that we like grass as our permanent ground cover for
lawns, parks, athletic fields, anywhere and everywhere. Since that time we have coaxed and
bred and produced the different varieties of the different species into almost year round
service. This has been achieved through the ability to water more than any other practice.
Extreme cold weather is the only factor in having a year round lawn almost anywhere on the