Watering is one of the most important tasks in caring for your lawn, but it's not as easy as setting up a sprinkler system. If you don't water enough, your lawn will become dry and patchy. If you water too much, your grass may rot or become diseased. We'll give you tips on how to water your lawn to get the greenest, lushest grass in the area.
Best time of day for watering
If you do the lawn correctlywant to irrigate, the best time to water is before 10 a.m., preferably between 4 and 6 a.m. At this cool time of day, moisture is less likely to evaporate before the grass roots can absorb it from the soil. If you can't water before 10 a.m., don't make the mistake of watering late at night. It may be cool then, but if the moisture sits on the grass overnight it can make it more susceptible to disease.
How long to water the lawn
It is ideal to water one centimeter per week. To determine how long you need to water to get an inch of water, place a plastic container in your garden and set a timer. On average, it takes 30 minutes to get half a centimeter of water. So if you water for 20 minutes three times a week, the grass will receive about an inch of water. This formula works best with healthy, well-cultivated soil. Healthy soil provides excellent drainage while providing just the right amount of water retention in the root zone where the grass needs it most. Poor soils with inadequate drainage lead to waterlogging, while soils without organic matter allow water to drain away and theSoil drylet.
How often should the grass be watered?
Watering the grass daily will result in a shallow root system and shallow root systemsdry out quickly, which weakens the lawn. Infrequent, deep watering encourages grass roots to go deeper and develop strong systems underground. This makes the grass more resistant to weather changes and disease. An average lawn needs to be watered three times a week during the warm months, with a total of about an inch of water administered over the course of the week. During cooler seasons, when natural evaporation is lower and rainfall is more likely, the grass can be watered once or twice a week to achieve the same goal.
How do you determine if you have watered adequately?
There are some simple tricks to determine if the grass has been watered adequately. First, does he look healthy? If he looks healthy, he probably is - which means you should stick to the previous measures. Another way to determine if your lawn needs watering is to dip a screwdriver into the grass. If the screwdriver is slightly submerged 12-14 cm deep, your lawn will receive an adequate amount of water. If not, it's probably time to change your watering routine. If you see mushrooms growing in your grass, it is most likely due to overwatering. The best next step is to reduce watering until the fungi are gone.
Watering lawns: different types of lawns
The duration of watering and maintenance of different types of lawns depends on several factors, including the time of year, the region you are in and, most importantly, the type of grass you are growing. Different lawn types have different watering and general care needs. When you know how much to water for a particular type of lawn, you can easily set up a schedule that provides thirsty grass with the perfect amount of water all season long.
Warm season grassessuch as Zoysia and Bermuda grow best when the air temperature is above 26 degrees Celsius. They still slow down their growth when daytime temperatures dropthey need moistureto stay healthy. Keep them watered as long as the grass grows and requires regular mowing.
cool season grasses,such as B. bluegrass, fescue and rye, grow actively in the fall and recover from summer dormancy. The cool fall temperatures keep the evaporation rate low, but these grasses still need an inch to an inch and a half of water each week until frost ends the growing season.
Typical irrigation errors
The idea of watering a lawn may sound like a no-brainer, but in reality, there are numerous mistakes you can make that will prevent the lawn from looking its best. Luckily, there are effective grass watering tips that can help you become an irrigation pro.
An “any sprinkler fits” setting
No two lawns are the same, and therefore no two sprinklers are the same. Save water by spraying only where needed. It is important to consider the size and shape of the lawn. Then choose the best sprinkler for the area.
First, determine the square footage of the lawn. Next, you should think about the shape of the lawn. The lawn sprinkler should cover the specific shape and size of a garden.
Ignoring the needs of your grass
It is important to consider the age of the lawn. A mature lawn can tolerate heavier watering, while newly sown lawns require gentler treatment. If you only have a small area with freshly sown seeds, a stationary square sprinkler is well suited for gentle spot irrigation, while an adjustable-length, wind-resistant rectangular sprinkler can cover a larger area.
Watering at the wrong time
For onegood wateringtiming is crucial. As mentioned above, water early in the morning – between 6 and 10 a.m. An electronic watering timer with two outputs comes in handy if you are away in the morning or want to sleep in.
Incorrect watering amount
While overwatering is a common mistake, it is also one of the most damaging. Unless you are watering newly planted grass seeds, do not water every day. Frequent, superficial watering wastes water and money. It also leads to a number of problems, including disease, insect infestation, and damage from heat and cold.
