Like sunlight and a nutrient-rich soil, proper watering is vital for maintaining a lush, green garden or lawn. Indeed, if there is too little water the grass will wither and die while excess of water will lead to oversaturation in the soil and cause the grass to die. Watering your lawn may appear to be simple enough but if you’re not familiar with the nuances, it can create confusion.
Well, to make sure that you water your patch of green in the right way, check out the following tips:
Choose the Right Time
The best time to water a lawn is the early morning, ideally before 10AM. This is because the cooler temperatures and calm breeze during this time minimize evaporation. Also, watering in the morning keeps the ground cooler during the hotter part of the day, which exerts less stress on the grass.
If it is not convenient for you to water in the morning, choose the late afternoon. This is the next best time. However, it’s better to avoid waiting for too long. Watering in the evening, after sundown, keeps the lawn wet overnight, which in turn can make the grass vulnerable to disease.
Soak a Bit into the Soil
You want to water for some time such that it moistens the soil down to about 6 inches – the average depth of a strong grass-root system. It generally takes about 1 inch of water to hydrate the typical lawn to that depth. However, keep in mind that each lawn has unique soil.
One of the simplest ways to determine if your soil is properly watered is to carry out the screwdriver test. Post watering, take a long-blade screwdriver and push it down into the lawn. The blade should easily shove the soil up to a depth of 6 inches. If it doesn’t, the soil is dry and does not have enough water.
Water Deeply for 2 to 3 Times a Week
If you are watering your lawn daily, give it a second thought. Why? Well, watering daily can give your grass quite a shallow root system. And that is a danger as shallow root systems tend to dry out fast and degrade your turf. Watering deeply for 3 times in a week will provide your grass with a deep root system, making it and stronger and more resistant to drought.
Don’t Water for so Long That It’s Flowing
If you find your lawn overflowing with water before it even reaches half an inch of the soil, stop. Turn off the water and give it a few moments. Wait for the water to soak in before you resume watering. This coulkd take place if you were not able to water for a while. If the problem occurs every time you water, either you’re probably waiting for too long in-between watering. Alternatively, you may have a compaction problem that needs to be fixed. Compaction takes place in heavy clay soil or in areas of high traffic. Aeration may relieve the problem temporarily, but you need to alter the conditions causing the compaction for long standing relief.
Keep an Eye on the Brown Area
If your sprinkler covers all areas adequately yet there is a brown area or spot in your lawn, take note of it. You may have Spring Dead Spot, a fungus, chinch bugs, or construction debris buried a foot under the soil. There could also be other problems that manifest the signs of drought stress. It’s better to have it treated via professional landscaping services.
Make sure your lawn is not just neat and clean but healthy too. Water it properly and see the difference for yourself. And in case you’re short of time, you can always avail expert services.
