Again, the advantage is the low toxicity and excellent control accomplished with no contaminate chemicals. When planned and planted correctly, nothing beats turf for the cooling effect it has on a yard. And when installed correctly with a correctly designed irrigation system, the potential for water wastage is greatly reduced. Since turf accounts for over 50 percent of all outside water waste, this is a significant element of the landscape to consider in design. Healthy turf, in a vigorous growing state that is maintained well has a lower need for frequent applications of water.
Most people err here by applying too little water to their lawns too frequently.
The turf develops shallow roots, a poor crown structure and is very vulnerable to damage from both excessive heat and cold. Apply either an inorganic or organic fertilizer now to increase the available phosphorous for the roots that push before the onset of cold. Aerate the lawn with a core plugger that actually removes a plug of crown, root and soil to open the lawn to better nutrient and water penetration. Don't be in a hurry to shut off the water system in October. I've seen winters so dry and mild, we didn't shut systems down until December.