Watering Your Lawn
Wise watering practices not only conserve water but help to build a stronger,
healthier lawn. Constant over watering or frequent underwatering promotes
shallow roots, a sure way to damage your lawn during times of stress. These
stressful times for your lawn include not only the hot summer months, but also
the cold winter months when there is really nothing you can do for an unhealthy
lawn. The healthiest lawns have the healthiest roots. The best watering
practices moisten the soil 4-6 inches deep; this is the extent of the root zone,
and requires only about 1 inch of water.
When to water your lawn
Water your lawn at the first signs of
moisture stress. The easiest way to tell if moisture stress is present is to
look for footprints on your lawn. When you can see footprints on your lawn
(meaning your lawn doesn't spring back up after you have walked across it) water
your lawn. Do not water again until you see footprints again. Water when the sun
will cause the least evaporation. Watering in the early morning is best. The
next best practice is to water in the evening, but do it early enough so the
grass is not wet overnight, which could enhance fungal growth. Other signs
include: a bluish gray color, wilted, folded, or curled leaves.
How much water do I need to moisten the soil 4-6 inches deep?
1"
for clay soils
1/2" for sandy soils
How do I know when I've put out 1 inch of water?
This is easy! Put
a few old cans out on the lawn next time you water. When they fill up 1 inch -
you're done. Check how long that took. Next time you water just turn on the
sprinklers for that amount of time.
How else can good watering practices help my lawn?
Overwatering may
cause fertilizers to penetrate below the root zone. This is not only a waste of
water, but a waste of fertilizer too, both of which translate into a waste of
money. Also, this enhances the possibility that chemicals may penetrate
groundwater.
Overwatering can cause runoff. Runoff occurs when the water falling on the
soil exceeds the amount that can be absorbed at that time. This can lead to
fertilizer runoff, erosion, loss of newly sown seed, and water dollars washing
down the street. If the time it takes for you to put out 1 inch of water causes
runoff, then divide that time in two and leave some time in between. This is a
good practice to follow on slopes where runoff obviously occurs more
quickly.
