Other Watering Guidelines To Consider:
- Proper watering is critical to your lawns health and vigor. Deep and infrequent watering is the best practice. During the hotter months of the year, the lawn will require more water, so that may mean ¾ of irrigation at a time rather than the ½ of irrigation typically required in the cooler months. This means wetting the soil to a depth of 4-6 inches per irrigation.
- Water at times of low wind.
- Water during the very early morning rather than in the afternoon or evening to minimize the risk for disease.
- To reduce water runoff and to help water penetrate and soak deeply into the soil, we recommend a Cycle and Soak watering schedule. Instead of watering for a long period of time and allowing the water to run off into the street, divide the total watering time per zone by 3. Water 3 shorter intervals . For example at 3am, 4am, and 5am, before winds pick up. Each cycle, water for 15 minutes for rotor heads, 8 minutes for stationary pop-ups, and 30 minutes for low volume MP Rotator heads. Water less in shaded or poorly drained areas.
- Do not water every day or two. Frequent, short watering encourages shallow roots, unhealthy grass, plants, and leaves turf susceptible to drought, weeds, and disease.
- Water newer trees using soaker hoses or direct hose drips once every couple of weeks.
Proper Lawn Watering For A Greener Lawn In The Lehigh Valley Or Buxmont Pa
If you have more questions about watering your lawn, were here to lend an ear and help you answer those questions. At Joshua Tree, we view lawn care as a partnership between us and our clients. Were doing everything we can on our end to ensure your lawn is healthy and green but it also takes some help on your end, including proper watering.
We are always available to help make that process easier and ensure that you know what your lawn needs to thrive. Theres a lot of misinformation out there but were here to help you set the record straight.
If youd like to find out more about our three lawn care program options so that your lawn can receive the best possible care, contact us for a free consultation or give us a call at 610-365-2200 so that we can answer any questions.
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How Long Should You Water Your Lawn After Fertilizing
The fertilizer and soil should be thoroughly moist, but dont water so much that the water begins to form puddles. About 20 minutes should do the trick. You dont want to wash away all those good nutrients or let the fertilizer get carried away by the water, where it could contaminate groundwater and nearby streams, ponds or rivers. If youre using hoses and sprinklers to water after fertilizing, not an irrigation system, be sure you move them around to provide nice, even coverage over all areas of your lawn.
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How Much Should I Water My Lawn
Weve had a whirlwind of weather these last few weeks. After weeks of drought, we had nearly a week of cold and rain, and now were right in the middle of some crazy, uncomfortable, butt-sticks-to-everything heat. Spring may be super unpredictable up here, but summer is coming, and long, hot, sunny days are ahead. So before we truly head into the dog days, I wanted to share some insights into one of the most misunderstood aspects of growing grass: Water.
Just like us, our grass needs three primary things to survive – Food, water, and haircuts . We’ve talked about feeding and we’ve talked about mowing, which means it’s time to talk about irrigation.
Irrigation seems like it should be a no brainer, but there are actually a lot of myths and misconceptions around it. I’ll give you the good stuff first, and then for you nerds who want to stay after class, I’ll answer some common questions and get a little into the sciency stuff.
Should I Water My Lawn Every Day When Its Hot
Between irrigation and natural rainfall, your grass should receive between 1 and 1.5 inches of water each week during the summer. Water deeply every other day for the best results. Your turf should receive about 1/3 an inch of water every two days in order to maintain deeper roots, thus helping protect against drought.
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Can You Over Water Grass
Yes, your grass can get too much water. If your grass gets too much water, it doesnt get oxygen and can actually suffocate. Too much water also makes your grass more susceptible to disease. Watering Guidelines for New Lawns: New lawns need to be watered every day and sometimes more than once a day to keep soil moist.
What Are The Benefits Of Proper Lawn Watering
- Encourages deeper root growth, making grass more resilient against damage from pests, disease, and drought
- Supports a thick lawn that crowds weeds out by making it difficult for them to germinate
- Promotes efficient water use by reducing the amount of water lost through evaporation, and watering at times or in areas it is not needed
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How Much Water Does Your Lawn Need
Most lawns typically need about 1 1 ½ inches of water per week. This will vary, as hotter weeks may require more water to make up for evaporation. On average, a sprinkler can distribute an inch of water per hour, but that will vary by the model of sprinkler. You also have to account for the size of your lawn and may require multiple sprinklers or an irrigation system to properly cover it.
How To Tell When Its Time To Water Your Lawn
A lawn that has dried out and needs watering will often fall dormant and turn a duller shade of green or even brown. Before reaching the dormancy stage, some types of grass will even begin to wilt or bow when they are in need of watering.
A screwdriver or a hand spade are also good tools for assessing the moisture in your lawn.
If it is difficult to get your tool into the ground, then it is very likely too dry. Do this test intermittently while watering to ensure that it has reached deep into the soil. Its best to saturate the soil with moisture to a depth of 6 to 8 inches when watering.
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Watering The Wrong Amount
While overwatering is a common mistake, it happens to be one of the most detrimental. Unless watering newly planted grass seed, dont water every day.
Frequent, shallow watering wastes water and money. It also leads to a number of lawn problems, including diseases, insect infestations and damage from heat and cold. On the other hand, watering longer but less frequently, deep watering, produces deep roots that mean lawns can better survive periods of drought. The ideal watering schedule is once or twice per week, for about 25 to 30 minutes each time.
Taking care of a lawn doesnt have to be an overwhelming, all-consuming task. Once all the tips and tricks are in your back pocket, it will be easy to come up with a routine that results in a gorgeous green lawn.
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How Long To Water Your Lawn
Knowing how often, how deeply, and for how long to water your lawn can be tricky. Just read this handy guide to learn everything you need to know about the proper way to water.
Watering is one of the main things when it comes to taking care of your lawn. But watering isnt as simple as setting up a sprinkler system. Water too little and your lawn will become dry and patchy. Water too much and your lawn may fall victim to rot or disease.
Luckily, This Old House has created a guide to watering your lawn, teaching you how long to water, how often to water, and more. Read these tips to find out the best way to keep your lawn hardy, healthy, and hydrated.
This Old House Reviews Team recommends hiring a lawn care company like TruGreen. With five annual plans and many a la carte services, TruGreen can keep your lawn lush. If youd like a free quote, call 866-817-2287 or fill out this simple form.
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How Much To Water
Thoroughly wet the soil to a depth of 6 inches with each watering. Shallow watering produces weak, shallow-rooted grass that is more susceptible to drought stress.
Soil type, sprinkler style and water pressure determine how much water is needed to wet the soil to a depth of 6 inches and how long a sprinkler must run. Use the following steps to determine how long to run your sprinkler or irrigation system.
- Set five to six open-top cans randomly on the lawn .
- Turn the sprinkler head or system on for 30 minutes.
- Measure and record the depth of water caught in each individual can.
- Calculate the average depth of water from all of the cans. For example, you have used five cans in your yard. The amount of water found in the cans was as follows: 0.5 inch, 0.4 inch,0.6 inch, 0.4 inch, and 0.6 inch. Add the depths together and then divide by the number of cans you used
- 1.5inch + 0.4 inch + 0.6 inch + 0.4 inch + 1.6 inch = 2.5 inches, 5 cans = 0.5 inch of water in 30 minutes
Watering Different Lawn Types
How long to water lawn varieties and how to care for the different types will depend on several factors, including the season, the zone you are in and most importantly the type of grass you are growing. Different lawn types will have different watering and overall care needs, so it is important to pay attention to the type of lawn that is growing. Once you know how much to water a specific lawn type, it is easy to set a schedule that will give thirsty lawns the perfect amount of water all season long.
Warm-Season Grasses Warm-season grasses such as zoysia and bermuda grass grow best when the air temperature is above 80 degrees. They slow down when daytime temperatures start to drop, but they still need moisture to remain healthy. Continue to water them as long as the grass is growing and needs regular mowing. Fall is not the time to fertilize warm-season lawns. Wait until spring, when the active growing season begins.
Cool Season Grasses Cool-season grasses, such as bluegrass, fescue and rye, are actively growing in the fall, recovering from summer dormancy. Cool fall temperatures keep evaporation rates low, but these grasses still need an inch to an inch and a half of water every week until frost ends the growing season. Cool-season grasses are also typically fertilized in the fall, and watering after fertilizing is important to wash the fertilizer off the blades of grass and down into the soil.
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How Often Should You Water The Lawn A Guide To Turfgrass Irrigation In Southern California
When trying to determine the best way to maximize the water you use to maintain a beautiful lawn in Southern California depends on a variety of factors, like what type of grass you have, what So Cal microclimate you live in, what time of year is it, and how youre mowing the lawn. Given that our area has been suffering through years of especially dry winters, drought conditions and local regulations also play a role in how often you are allowed to water your lawn. Regardless of your unique situation, our staff has put together the following guidelines to help you maximize the efficiency of your lawn watering to maintain the most beautiful grass possible.
Check The Sprinklers
The first step when setting up a watering schedule is to first turn on the lawn sprinklers and check to ensure that everything is working properly and all the areas of the grass are being hit with water. Make any repairs to pipes or sprinkler heads as needed. If youve recently replaced your lawn, you may also need to clean some dirt or debris out of the sprinkler heads to ensure water flow from the head is optimal. We recommend checking your sprinkler system at least once a year during the spring when new watering patters might be set.
Determining Sprinkler Head Volume
Calculating the Water Requirements
Spot Check Your Estimates
Select A Sprinkler That Best Fits Your Needs
Automatic irrigation systems with pop-up sprinklers are often associated with excessive irrigation. However, properly designed and operated systems supply water uniformly over an entire area without wasted runoff.
Missouri soils generally have low water-infiltration rates. Automatic controllers can be set to supply several short cycles so that the total amount of water desired is supplied without runoff.
The most common type of watering occurs with hose-end sprinklers. Some studies have shown that the average homeowner applies 2-1/2 times the amount of water required for overgrowth when using hose-end sprinklers.
Several types of hose-end sprinklers are available . Select one that best fits the size and shape of your lawn, and operate it efficiently. All hose-end sprinklers can be attached to inexpensive timers that can be used to shut off unattended sprinklers and avoid overwatering.
Figure 1Some sprinkler types and their applications
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Best Time Of Day To Water Your Lawn
The best time to water your lawn is before 10 a.m., preferably between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. At this cool time of day, its less likely the moisture will evaporate before your grassroots can absorb it from the soil.
If you cant water before 10 a.m., dont make the mistake of watering late at night. It may be cool then, but if the moisture sits on your grass overnight, it can make your lawn more prone to disease. The second-best time to water is between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Keep These Tips In Mind When Watering A Cool
- Tall fescue has a deep root system and the highest drought tolerance of all the cool-season grass types.
- Lawns that are a mixture of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescues will go dormant during drought if not watered, but will revive when rain returns.
There are tons of ways to water your lawn, from sprinklers to smart watering solutions. Each has their own sets of benefits, so choose the solution that works best for you and your lawn. Below are a few methods to consider.
Pulsating sprinklers : These shoot water horizontally at a high velocity so the water isnt affected by wind.
Hose-end sprinklers: Great for small- to medium-size lawns. There are many different types, so you can choose the one that fits your lawn best.
In-ground sprinklers: These can deliver water in the most efficient pattern. Choose sprinklers that are low to the ground and use a horizontal spray pattern for best results.
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Misconception #: Watering My Lawn By Hand Is The Best Method
Watering your lawn by hand can be deceiving. It seems like youre getting ample water everywhere but you may actually be causing it to pool in certain areas or even run off. Oftentimes a lawn that is watered solely by hand is not receiving as much as you think.
The best method to water your lawn is to use sprinklers that mimic slow, soaking rain. Hand watering works fine for very small patches of grass where youve planted new grass seed or for container plants but when it comes to your lawn as a whole, stick to sprinklers for the best results.
Is It Bad To Water Grass At Night
A wet lawn at night is the perfect condition for fungus to grow. Along with cutting grass too short, watering at night is about the worst thing you can do to a lawn. As a general rule, you should water long enough to moisten the soil down to about 6 inches, which is the average depth of a healthy grass-root system.
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The Best Time To Water Your Grass
Follow these eight tips for healthy grass with a deep, strong root system.
Proper watering is as important to maintaining a lush, green lawn. Too little water and the grass will shrivel up and die too much water and itll become over-saturated and die. Watering a lawn seems like a simple enough task, but for most of us knowing the best time to water your grassand how long to water your lawncan be confusing.
To provide you with a time-proven, easy-to-follow strategy for watering lawns, we contacted lawn care expert Matt Maurer, owner of PureLawn Lawn Services, with branches in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. Matt shared with us the following eight DIY-friendly tips for growing a resilient, healthy lawn with a deep, strong root system.
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The absolute best time to water your lawn is the early morning, before 10 a.m., says Maurer. Cooler temperatures and calm breezes help keep evaporation to a minimum. And watering in the morning keeps the turf cooler during the hottest parts of the day, which means less stress on the grass.
As a general rule, you should water long enough to moisten the soil down to about 6 inches, which is the average depth of a healthy grass-root system. It takes about one inch of water to properly hydrate normal lawns to that depth. But, Maurer warns, “Each lawn has different soil. You have to water for your specific property.” There are a few ways to determine whether your lawn is getting the right amount of water.
