Las Vegas Lawn Care Tips

Las Vegas is located just about in the middle of the Mojave desert. Although the city was founded because of its proximity to fresh water springs, those springs have dried up, and finding new sources of water for the valley's residents is a challenge for its leaders. Because of this, the Las Vegas Valley Water District places restrictions on water use. Some residents, finding it hard to give up the lush, green lawns they've grown in other parts of the country, still plant grass and pay dearly for the water and labor needed to maintain it.

Decreasing your watering time by just one minute can lower the amount of water used by 25 percent, according to irrigation specialists at the Las Vegas Valley Water District. It's easy to measure how much water is being supplied to the lawn during a routine irrigation. Place six empty soup or other cans in random areas of the lawn and run the sprinklers for 10 minutes. Pour the contents of all the cans into a large coffee or other can. Use a ruler to measure how much water is in the can. This number indicates the inches of water per hour your sprinklers provide.

Water requirements vary, depending upon turf species and soil type. A general rule is 1 inch of water a week, up to 2 inches in very hot weather. Water the Las Vegas lawn as early in the morning as possible, preferably before sunrise, in the summer. While even early morning hours in the valley can be hot in the summer, the hottest part of the day is in the evening. Additionally, water restrictions prohibit irrigation between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from May 1 to October 1. Determine how long you need to run your sprinklers to supply the necessary amount of water and break that time into thirds. Water the lawn in three cycles, with one hour between cycles, according to the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Remember to water only on your assigned watering days.

Cut back the amount of water you supply in the winter and change the schedule so that the lawn is watered during the day. Nighttime watering may cause ice to form on the sidewalks and other walkways.

Fertilizer burn is a common problem in Las Vegas, especially for new residents. It occurs when the lawn is fertilized during the hottest part of the day. In the Las Vegas valley, in the summer, the weather doesn't cool off, even in the middle of the night, so summer fertilization should not be attempted. Use a slow-release fertilizer, at the rate recommended on the package, and apply it in May and then again in early December. Use a fertilizer high in potassium and nitrogen in December. Always water deeply after fertilizing.

Crabgrass and spotted spurge are particularly pesky in Las Vegas lawns. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide, according to the rate and instructions on the label, during the first week of February and again six weeks later.

Mow your lawn high. Taller grass grows longer roots, making the turf more drought-tolerant. Recommended mowing heights are 2 1/2 inches to 3 inches if you are growing tall fescue and 3/4 inch to 1 1/2 inches for Bermuda grass. Grass can be mowed shorter during the winter months to help it thicken. Change the pattern every time you mow. If you mow in north to south strips one time, mow in east to west strips during the subsequent mowing session.