When it comes to maintaining a lush and healthy lawn, there is no task more important than watering.
When it comes to maintaining a lush and healthy lawn, there is no task more important than watering. A healthy lawn needs about an inch of water per week during the growing season, as both droughts and over-watering can damage your lawn. Many factors contribute to how much water your lawn requires, but the point of hydrating is not just to keep your grass alive but to promote deeper root growth. Let’s go over the importance of proper lawn watering.
Timing Matters
In general, the best time of day to water your lawn is when temperatures are at their lowest and when there is dew on the grass. This means you should water your lawn early in the morning for most homeowners. But if you’re not an early bird, the next best time is late afternoon, somewhere between 4 pm and 6 pm. Watering when the air is cool and the wind is still will give you the best results.
Check Your Soil
When you water your grass, you should also be checking how long water takes to soak the soil. The most common technique for this is the screwdriver test. During the first watering, use a screwdriver every 15 minutes to check how deep the water has soaked into the grass. Once it reaches 6 inches into the soil, your grass is sufficiently watered. Do not forget to track the time it takes for the water to reach 6 inches because you will need to water your lawn for the same amount of time in the future.
How Long?
Mother nature will take care of watering for you with rain during early spring but if it is dry, watering 15-30 minutes per zone two times a week is plenty. Once the temperatures rise in the summer, 30-60 minutes per zone three to four times a week is sufficient.
Hose vs. Sprinkler
If your lawn is small to medium-sized, a hose will do the trick, but sprinklers are more effective and convenient for most homeowners. By installing timer-activated sprinklers, you will never have to worry about forgetting to water your lawn. In fact, you can even set the sprinkler system to activate when you’re sleeping or otherwise busy.
Know the Signs of an Unhealthy Lawn
It’s essential to be able to recognize the signs of an unhealthy lawn. An under-watered yard might have a bluish-green color and blades of grass that curl. Also, your lawn will bounce back more slowly from foot traffic. On the other hand, an over-watered lawn could have high runoff from thatch buildup or increased fungal growth. Keeping track of your lawn’s health ensures lush, beautiful grass all season.
Maintaining your lawn can be hard work, but it can also be gratifying. If you need help maintaining the health of your soil and grass, the pros at On The Green, Inc are here to help! Reach out to us today to get started.
On The Green Lawn Care is Here for You!
On The Green, Inc. was established back in 1994. We started as a small business that served the local area. In the decades since, we’ve expanded tremendously. Incorporated in 1997, our brand has become renowned throughout the state of Maryland. Email us at [email protected], call us at 410-695-0444, and find us at our street address: 777 Annapolis Road, Gambrills, Maryland 21054. Grow with us on Facebook and Google!