Proper watering is essential to having a beautiful lawn
for the entire growing season. Knowing when to water, and how long to water,
can save on watering bills and improve the quality of your lawn.
Watering should be done early in the day, between 6am and 10
am. Watering in the morning hours is recommended because it is usually less
windy in the morning which reduces water drift and evaporation. Watering in the
morning also provides your lawn with the water it needs to stay healthy during
times of stress such as extreme heat and foot traffic. Watering in the evening
or at night is strongly discouraged because when water is left on the plant
surface for prolonged periods disease and fungal activity increase. In general,
watering should be done for thirty to forty five minutes in sunny areas and for
between fifteen and thirty minutes in shady areas. I have found that many people
water for only ten to twenty minutes at a time. Light watering such as this does
not provide the needed water to the plant and actually wastes water. Deep
watering is needed to get the water down to the root system. Remember when you
water some water evaporates due to wind and drift. Water also evaporates from
the dead material and thatch in your lawn that needs to be soaked by the water
before any water gets to the root systems. As much as fifty percent of the water
you provide is wasted due to these factors so deep watering is recommended.
Knowing how often to water is not an exact science. Different
seasons have different watering needs. Your lawn needs much less water in May
when the temperatures might be in the 60’s or 70’s as opposed to July or August
when temperatures can be in the high 80’s or 90’s for several days. Many people
set their sprinklers to come on every other day, for ten to twenty minutes per
zone all season long. This practice wastes considerable water. Your lawn is over
watered in the spring when it is not necessary and under watered in the summer
when it needs the water. Typically you should water once a week for 30-45
minutes, when the temperature is below 75 degrees. When the temperature is
between 75 degrees and 85 degrees you might need to water two to three days a
week. During periods of heat when the temperature is above 85 degrees, you might
have to water three to four days a week. I’ve seen very rare cases where
temperatures stayed above 90 degrees for several days where lawns needed to be
watered daily during that time. Mother Nature provides your lawn with water so
that we will not need to use irrigation. Many people continue to irrigate their
lawns even though it may have just rained recently. For example, if we have
temperatures in the low 80’s for a few days to a week then you know you should
water two to three times a week. If it rains during that week you should cut
back on running your irrigation once during that week to compensate for the fact
it rained during that period. This will in turn save water and will reduce your
water bill, or you may need to use that water later in the year. Not all lawns
are the same, the guidelines I have pointed out are generalities and you need to
adjust things accordingly. Changing your watering practices a little bit can
have a great benefit to your lawn and to your water bill.
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Spring/Fall Cleanups
Mulch
Lawn Watering
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Lawn Irrigation
Mowing Tips
Lawn Dethatching
Lawn Aeration
Fertilization
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