If you crave the greenest, most plush, beautiful yard in the neighborhood then you may wonder about watering your lawn. Often, even people who choose to water their lawn aren’t sure when to water it, how much water they should use, and what types of watering solutions are available to make the process easier. Consider the answers to these questions as a guide to help you take good care of your lawn.
When Should I Water My Lawn?
It is true, you don’t have to water your lawn. The beauty of grass is that it is resilient and can withstand long periods of time without water and then revive itself once it receives a good drink from a heavy rainfall. If you don’t like the looks of a dry, brown, lifeless lawn, then go ahead and water it. However, be careful to not just haphazardly turn on the hose and go to town. Lawn watering should be done in the morning before 10 am. When you water during the hottest part of the day — the afternoon — or in the evening, you run the risk of having the water evaporate before it has time to soak in or worse yet, a diseased lawn because the grass doesn’t have time to dry before nightfall.
How Much Water Should I Use?
For an established lawn, you should water long enough to wet the first 6-8 inches of the ground. Your lawn should get about 1-1.5 inches of water a week whether it’s from rain or watering to ensure the lawn is soaked enough. You can water all at once or split it into two different days. Just be sure to not overwater your lawn.
How Do I Know If I Watered Enough?
Follow these 3 steps to determine if the amount of water provided is enough:
Check the Soil
To establish the length of time it will take to soak the soil, check the soil every 15 minutes by inserting a screwdriver into the dirt to see how much water has been absorbed. Keep track of the amount of time it takes to dampen 6 inches.
Measure It
Place clean empty jars at several places around your yard and see how long it takes to fill up a jar about 1-1.5 inches deep. They may not all fill up at the same rate, but that’s ok — just use the average to determine the amount of time it takes to soak your lawn.
Use a Water Timer
Water timers measure the amount of water output in hundreds of gallons. Multiply the square footage of your yard by 0.62 gallons to determine the number of total gallons it will take to water your entire yard.
What Are the Different Types of Watering Solutions?
There are several different types of watering solutions available. Each one has its own benefits, so consider the pros and cons, as well as the price, and then decide on the one that works best for you:
- Water guzzlers
- Hose-end sprinklers
- In-ground sprinklers
- Smart watering systems
For more information on lawn watering solutions or other lawn care services, contact us today.