Every week, you water your lawn, mow the grass, and try to keep weeds and pests under control. So, after all that effort, why does the lawn still look so dry and unhealthy?
Most of the time, this means one of two things. Either you’re watering too much or not enough.
So, how can you tell if you’re watering your lawn properly? That’s the easy part. We’re going to explain everything you need to know in this complete watering guide.
First, we’ll describe why it’s important to water your lawn correctly and what happens when you don’t. Then, we’ll teach you the ideal watering routine. This includes how to measure the amount of water your lawn gets and the best times of day to water.
For a green, healthy lawn, follow these watering tips precisely.
The Problem With Underwatering
As you know, water and sunlight are the two primary needs of any plant. So, naturally, your grass will wither and dry up if it doesn’t get enough H2O.
The good news is, grass is very hardy and can survive pretty well even when it isn’t watered enough. So, it won’t die immediately in these dry conditions.
But you will start to see brown patches of grass on top of hard soil when your lawn is too dry. Plus, weeds that do well in dry conditions will show up to steal lawn space from the weakened grass.
Fortunately, your grass should bounce back into good health once it starts getting enough water. If the dry patches are too damaged, though, you may have to reseed.
The Problem With Overwatering
Next, there are also certain lawn pests that thrive when your lawn has too much water. You see, you’re not just watering the grass but the weeds also.
Nourishing these weeds with lots of water makes them strong enough to overpower your grass. And, besides weeds, there are sod webworms and other parasites that move in and devour your lawn in overly moist conditions.
Does your lawn always seem soggy with patches of brown, unhealthy grass? This probably means you’re overwatering.
How Much to Water Your Lawn
Your lawn needs a total of 1.5 inches of water every week. You can measure how much yours is getting by putting empty containers on your lawn when you water. After watering, measure the inches of water in each container.
You should use many containers spread out across the lawn. This lets you make sure that the lawn is receiving water evenly.
When to Water Your Lawn
Don’t water every day. You want to water deeply, but only every other day.
The best time to do this is early in the morning, while it’s still cool outside. This way, the water can sink deeper into the soil before the hot sun dries it up.
Account For Rain
The 1.5-inch guideline is the total amount of water your lawn should receive each week, period. So, you’ll need to water less during rainy weeks.
Get Professional Help if Necessary
You don’t have to deal with all this hassle if you don’t want to. You can hire a lawn mowing service to water and take care of your lawn for you.
They’re the best at lawn maintenance, anyway. Besides, if your lawn’s in really bad shape, you should hire professionals to get it thriving again.
Keep This Watering Guide and Follow These Tips
Stop wasting your time and effort on an ineffective lawn maintenance routine. Instead, keep this watering guide and follow these tips for a greener, healthier lawn.
Next, we can teach you the major factors to consider when selecting a new bathtub or hiring roofing services. Find these and other excellent tips in our Home Improvement archives.