It Is Crucial To Keep Watering Your Lawn
Read MorePosted on: Jul 17, 2024Luis M Pérez
Your grass usually tells you when it needs water by turning grayish, dull green, and eventually yellow. It will also feel dry and crusty when you walk on it. Watering your lawn is crucial to keep it out of dormancy. In this recent heatwave, many lawns have been drying out and experiencing heat stress, and the only way to prevent this is to water a lot more than usual. While normal conditions call for lawn watering two to three times per week, it is good to water almost every day in a heatwave. Even a healthy lawn can dry out quickly and go into stress. Try to cut a little higher in the summer to provide extra shade for the roots.
When is the best time to water your grass?
It might seem like you can go out and water your grass whenever you want, but watering needs to be done at specific times. We suggest watering your grass in the morning (before 9 a.m.), as it is the best time for your lawn to absorb the water most effectively. Morning watering will allow your grass roots to absorb the nutrients in the water before it evaporates. It will also hydrate the roots before a long, hot day.
We strongly recommend avoiding watering your grass at night (after 5 p.m.) as your grass will not have enough time to absorb the water before nightfall. A wet lawn at night, although it might seem like a smart idea, will make your lawn susceptible to diseases. Think of your lawn as hair; you would not want your kids to run around at night with wet hair because it can make them sick; your lawn is the same. Rule of thumb: the later you water, the greater the chance of disease.
What should you keep an eye on when watering your grass?
In a heatwave and regular watering, we suggest keeping an eye on water distribution when watering your grass. Specifically, please pay close attention to your yard’s flat, hard surfaces, as they can cause runoff. Many people don’t realize that certain parts of their lawns are not receiving water because of sprinkler placement. Also, look out for pooling or puddling on your lawn, as you do not want to “drown” your grass by applying too much water too quickly to absorb.
We also suggest that you keep an eye on turfgrass, ornamental trees and shrubs, and large native shade trees when watering your grass to avoid developing a fungus or disease due to shade. Watering, cool, shady grass also makes your lawn extremely susceptible to insects. Therefore, Dr. Green suggests watering your lawn in a “smart” way to avoid any unwanted issues in your yard.
The Smart Way to Watering Your Grass
Water your lawn in the morning to ensure it gets the nutrients it needs to be healthy, lush, and green.
If you live in Texas, water in short cycles, allowing your grass to absorb the water. Longer watering cycles may lead to runoff and puddling.
If you live in Illinois or Indiana, we recommend deep watering for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour each so that the water gets deep enough to reach the bottom of the roots.
Ensure your watering system is effective and inspect it often, as leaking sprinklers or water-filled valve boxes lead to poor watering practices.
Key Message
The key message of watering is that it’s crucial to water to keep the lawn out of dormancy. Also, cut a little higher in the summer to provide extra shade for the roots.
Question
To learn more, visit us online at doctorgreen.com, email me at luisp@doctorgreen.com, or 800-465-2934.