Do you keep eyeing your dry and patchy lawn in the hopes of fixing it sometime? Well, this is your sign to pick up that hose and start working on the lawn situation you have at hand. Your lawn may think your lawn needs some watering, which will fix it all. While watering is simple, but only reaps the required results if done correctly. Too much water can cause your lawn to rot and catch diseases, and too little water can cause it to dry up. Bust, we have your back and backyard covered with our bright lawn watering tips. These will take your lawn from zero to a solid ten!
What is the best time of the day to water the lawn?
If you aren’t sure when the best time to water the lawn is, you are looking for an early morning between 4 am and 9 am [1]. You may have noticed the sprinklers in your neighborhood going off all the time throughout the day. But as they as less is more, and work smarter than more challenging. Early morning watering has numerous benefits for your lawn as this is when the most water gets absorbed and retains moisture throughout the day—keeping the lawn greener and healthier. Due to low evaporation at his time, the lawn soaks up most of the water and saves you a lot of water bills.
Other times such as midday, will cause high evaporation; hence most of the water will not be able to get absorbed by the grass. Later during the day, in the evening, the watering will cause moisture to stay longer than needed causing fungus, diseases, and common lawn problems. Which you definitely should stay away from!
What is the best duration, and how many times to water the lawn?
The key to watering the lawn is consistency. More watering and more watering to overcompensate is not good. The correct duration depends upon the vastness of your lawn and the type of grass growing. Although your lawn only needs 1 – 1 ½ inch water, this can take around half an hour. Hence you can water for 20 to 30 minutes three times a week.
You can also perform a test to find out the duration of watering. Use a tuna can which is 1 inch tall or any object of that size. Turn on the watering and time until it reaches the can, about one or ½ inch. You will have the right time to turn on the watering early in the morning.
What are the types of grasses and their watering technique?
One of the main lawn watering tips is that each type of grass needs its kind of attention. If you properly water warm and cool season grass according to their needs, they grow much healthier and more robust.
1. Warm-Season Grass
This type of grass grows from late spring through the early summer. Warm season grass consists of Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Centipede [2]. This grass needs less water than cool-season grass but still requires a lot during hotter days. It needs 1 to 1 ¼ inches of water during the active season and ⅛ in the dormant season.
2. Cool-Season Grass
This type of grass needs more water; it includes fescue, rye, and bluegrass [3]. In the growing season, 1/ ½ to 2 inches of watering and ½ in the dormant season. These grow from fall through winter, especially needing water during the drought.
Is the grass getting enough water?
Suppose you have carefully implemented all the proper techniques for watering your lawn. Then you also need to test if it is working out well. You can quickly tell through different signs whether the property receives sufficient water.
Firstly, you can just observe the color and growth of your grass. If it gets gray with curled grass blades, it needs more water. You can also apply these two tests.
- Simple Walk Test
This is an easy and simple test, as the name suggests. You just need to walk on the grass of your lawn. If the grass you have stepped upon springs back up, it is perfectly watered and healthy. If it doesn’t, then you need to water it more.
- Screwdriver Test
This test is also fairly simple. You need a long-bladed screwdriver. If you can drive it 6 inches into the soil of the grass without much resistance, then the grass is doing well. Otherwise, more resistance shows that it is time you start watering the lawn more.
Lawn watering tips:
- Water according to the type of grass and conditions of your lawn. Always note the tell-tale signs of your grass after watering to adjust your techniques
- Do water during the drought times, and don’t let your grass dormant.
- Always water in the early morning to retain moisture throughout the day. Keep away from watering in the evening to avoid diseases in the grass.
- Be consistent with your watering routine, twice to three times a week.
- Get professional help if your lawn requires it.
- Follow Complete Lawn Watering tips.
Conclusion
People can easily ignore the proper watering technique, as it is a pretty simple thing to do. Although it needs to be done correctly, you may not see better results. You must start observing and noting the conditions of your lawn and then work accordingly to provide it with proper & professional care. Research the best time to water lawns specific to your grass conditions for a healthier and greener life!
FAQs
1. What is the best time to water lawns in summer?
To attain a greener lawn, you must water around three times a week, especially if you do not receive enough rainfall. The best time to water the lawn in summer is early morning, between 4 am and 8 am, so the grass can absorb more water.
2. Should I get a sprinkler system?
The sprinkler system is a good investment. It can save you time and effort while giving you great irrigation. However, you must use it according to the watering requirements of your lawn.
3. Should I water my lawn every day?
Most people water their grass more than the requirements for the lawn. Watering the lawn every day can be more harmful to the lawn. A lawn should be watered around two to three times a week in the early morning, no more!
4. How long can grass stay without watering?
This depends upon the type of grass and its conditions. The soil quality and environmental factors determine how long it can survive. Generally, without watering, the grass can last up to six weeks. You can also revive it in two weeks with reasonable care and proper watering.
References:
[2]https://www.pennington.com/all-products/grass-seed/resources/warm-season-grasses
[3]https://www.pennington.com/all-products/grass-seed/resources/month-by-month-care-calendar-for-cool-season-lawns