We can’t always rely on Mother Nature! The most basic element caring for your lawn is ensuring a steady stream of moisture. Good soil structure and a healthy soil food web will promote a healthy lawn that requires less watering. While it may seem like you can irrigate your lawn anytime during the day, your lawn actually needs more specific care. When you do need to water your lawn in hotter or drier weather, follow these tips from our landscapers:
- Set your lawn mower to mow your yard higher. Longer blades of grass will mean deeper-rooted turf that is more resistant to dry weather.
- Irrigate your lawn in the morning.
- Your sprinkler should spray in an even pattern and provide a uniform amount to the entire yard.
- Sunny lawns, south or west-facing slopes and highly fertilized lawns will need to be watered more frequently.
- Newly planted lawns need more water because their root system is not developed yet.
- Irrigate long enough for the soil to be moist 6 inches deep. This promotes a deeper root structure. (You may have to dig a hole once to see how long that takes.)
- How often you need to water your lawn depends on the weather and your site’s conditions. In general, that might mean once a week if you have clay soil or 3 times a week if you have sandy soil. Check the soil to see if you need more water.
- If your footprints upon the grass don’t fade quickly, it it probably because the individual blades of grass don’t have the moisture they require to spring back.
- Remember that too much water can be just as bad for a lawn as not enough water.
- Northern grasses are drought tolerant and will green up naturally as the weather cools and more frequent rain occurs. If you decide to start watering during a dry period you should continue to water your lawn regularly throughout the dry period.
Want more information, need a water system built on your lawn, or have any other concerns? Contact us and we will be glad to help you with your landscaping endeavors.