We Southerners love our lawns and most of us spend a good deal of time and money for it to look green and lush. But did you know there is a right way and a wrong way to water your lawn so it stays in optimal health?
Some lawns can take a lot of water and sometimes it’s difficult to know what the right amount is – or you can be hampered by water restrictions. The amount of water depends on the type of grass, the type of soil (or percentage of Georgia red clay in it) and the amount of sunlight your grass gets daily. These tips will help you determine the correct amount of water for your lawn.
1 – Watering your lawn once deeply and for a longer period of time is better to deepen the roots of your grass than to water frequently and for less amount of time. You should water each time to allow the grass to receive from 1 – 1.5 inches of water per week. At that rate, once or twice per week is typically enough.
2 – A well-adjusted in ground irrigation system is the most effective way to water most lawns. Observe your system in action and make sure the sprinkler heads are pointing in the right direction and are rotating. Make sure your system is not watering the streets in excess or minimally on sidewalks. If your system needs adjusting, feel free to contact us!
3 – Take advantage of the timers that come with your system and set them to water at optimal times. Watering your lawn is best done in the early morning, pre-dawn hours. This allows the water to enter your grass’s root system with as little of evaporation as possible. Watering at night can lead to mold and lawn disease.
4 – Take your soil type into consideration. One of the (few) advantages of clay is that it does retain moisture longer. If you have a high clay content, most likely you will have to water less often.
5 – A shady lawn will require less watering than a sunny lawn. The exception is grass close to trees will need more watering as the grass is competing with the tree roots for water.
6 – Every now and then, your lawn may need to be aerated to get the water to the roots better.
Follow these simple tips for a beautiful lawn all summer. Need help? Contact us and we will be happy to set an appointment.