When To Water Your Lawn
As youve probably heard, watering early is the way to go. Cutler recommends the window between 5 a.m and 10 a.m., and for a couple of reasons. Not only do you want to beat the heat of day, when too much H2O gets lost to evaporation, you also want to get the job done before the wind kicks up and messes with your sprinkler patterns, making it tough to water evenly. Breezy conditions = inefficiency.
Golf courses sometimes water in the dead of night, but thats out of necessity, Cutler says , and he doesnt recommend it. When you water after dark, you open the door to fungus and mildew, which creep in when moisture sits for too long on the grass.
When you water after dark, you open the door to fungus and mildew
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The perils of these problems are especially pronounced right after mowing, when turf is in a bruised and vulnerable state . So, when you cut your turf, allow it time to recover before you water . And, of course, if you mowed that afternoon, its an especially bad idea to water that night.
Recipes With Epsom Salt And No Vinegar
This section looks at methods to use when you have Epsom salts but no horticultural vinegar handy for weed killing. Vinegar is an effective medium for the Epsom salts, but you can put together a highly effective herbicide without it to make a homemade creeping Charlie killer or to get rid of virtually any other type of weed.
With our assistance, you wont have to let a lack of vinegar or chemical weed-killers prevent you from achieving your goal of a perfect lawn.
How Dry Is Too Dry
Conserving water is a good idea. Golf courses do it. Homeowners should do it, too. But how long can you let your lawn go without?
As with so much else in turf care, it depends. A hardy grass like Bermuda is camel-like in this regard: It can survive long bouts of deprivation. Not so with bentgrass in searing summer heat.
In drought conditions, grass does what it does in colder seasons: It goes dormant as a means of self-protection, redirecting moisture and nutrients to its roots. Its leaves turn color as a result. Dormant grass can be brought back to life; just add water.
But dead grass? Well, dead grass is dead.
As with so much else in turf care, the durability of your lawn depends on many factors. But as a general rule, Cutler says, grass starts going dormant after two weeks without water. After a month, its apt to die.
How do you tell if your grass has crossed that line? One faithful indicator is its crown. Thats the thick, light colored part of the plant, just above the soil, right where the roots meet the shoots. Look closely. If theres still green in the crown, theres still life in your grass. If not, you might be out of luck.
Another way to tell is pretty simple, too: tug on the grass, Cutler says. If its roots remain intact, its probably still alive. If it uproots easily, its toast. Youll need to reseed to get it back.
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Stick To The Watering Hours
Hot summer afternoons will only cause water to evaporate faster before it can get to the roots of the grass. Against this backdrop, stick to the general watering schedule:
- Before eight oclock in the morning because of minimal heat and wind
- Between four oclock and six oclock in the afternoon to give time for the grass to absorb and dry
As to the length of watering time, tread between thirty and forty minutes for as long as you dont overwater, which may result in fungal diseases and discoloration in the grass.
Smart Sprinkler System Controller
Add a smart irrigation controller, which acts like a thermostat for your sprinkler system by telling it when to turn on and off, to save water. Denver Water offers rebates for WaterSense-labeled controllers.
- During irrigation season, be aware that smart irrigation controllers must not operate between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. In rare conditions, the controllers may operate more than three days a week.
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What Type Of Grass Do You Have
Most lawns in West Michigan feature a mix of Kentucky bluegrass, creeping red fescue, and perennial ryegrass. These are all classified as cool-season grasses that do great in spring, fall, and even a good chunk of the summer.
But when temperatures start to reach and exceed the middle 80s or so, they start to get stressed and can go dormant in order to conserve what little water they have remaining. Giving your lawn a little extra water at these times can be especially critical to maintaining their health.
Bluegrass and ryegrass are particularly fickle, as they require a fair amount of sun and good soil drainage, but they also tolerate drought relatively poorly.
That said, unless you know you specifically have a type of grass different from the norm in West Michigan, the general advice in this blog should apply to your lawn.
Knock Out The Weeds With Essential Oils
This recipe performs weed control similarly to the previous one, but the essential oil improves the vinegar scent with a refreshing fragrance. The oil also coats the plant and inhibits respiration in the same manner as dish soap, but with a less sticky residue and spillover in the yard.
We love the way this recipe smells and works for killing weeds, and you will, too. This formula is an excellent spray for removing bind weed or thistle from Bermuda grass and works well in large areas.
- 20 drops peppermint or citrus essential oil
Combine the weed killer ingredients in a garden sprayer. Get into all the safety gear to protect yourself from the acid in the weed killer. Dont spray weeds if its been less than a day since the last rainfall or if youre expecting rain within the next day. Spray each plant from top to bottom.
Pay extra attention to the area near the ground and the underside of the leaves. Clear mulch out from the bottom before you spray so that you hit the entire plant. Repeat every day or so for two or three weeks.
Instead of weeds, if you need to get rid of a tree stump or two, Epsom salts can also help you there. Drill as many deep holes as you can in the stump and pour in Epsom salts to the top. Add water and cover the stump.
We hope you had a fantastic experience reviewing our weed killing recipes and tips. Our lawns make us happy, but a few invasive plants can spoil the yard in a hurry.
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Why Do You Need To Water Your Lawn
The deeper the roots- the less often you will need to water- and a;healthier lawn withstands drought.; Deep watering actually encourages deeper roots as they grow deeper into the soil to search for water.
Deep roots enjoy the lower soil temperatures during the heat of the summer and less fluctuations in moisture levels and temperature.
Best Time To Water New Grass Seed
The best time to water grass seed is in the morning and evening. These are the coolest parts of the day, which allows water to absorb into the ground instead of evaporating. A water timer can simplify the process of when to water grass seeds, so you can easily and efficiently water your newly seeded lawn with no hassle at all.
How to water new grass seed depends on the area youve seeded. Large areas can benefit from the use of a quality rectangular sprinkler. Use a small spot sprinkler for smaller seeded areas.
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How Long Does Grass Seed Take To Grow
How long it will take for your new grass seed to begin to grow really depends on where you live, your climate and what type of grass you plant. It can take anywhere between 3 and 28 days for new grass seed to begin to grow.
A beautiful, vibrant lawn not only looks great, but it also provides a place for you and your family to play, relax and enjoy. A consistent water schedule for watering new grass seed is key to making sure youre growing a healthy, lush green lawn that will give you years of enjoyment and beauty.
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Ignoring Your Grass Needs
Taking a lawns age into consideration is important. A fully-grown lawn can handle a more powerful spray, whereas newly seeded lawns need a gentler touch. If you only have a small area of newly planted seeds, a Stationary Square Sprinkler works well for gentle spot-watering, while an Adjustable Length Wind-Resistant Rectangular Sprinkler can cover a bigger area.
For a sprinkler that will grow along with the grass, try the Circular Sprinkler Spike with on/off switch. The diffuser pin allows for a customized force of spray, from a steady shower for new grass to a more powerful stream for mature lawns.
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Spread The Piles Of Topsoil Out With The Back Of A Rake
Now youve got little piles of soil everywhere, take your landscaping rake and turn it over so youre using the back of it instead of the tines.
Move the soil around and work it into the lawn. You need to make sure that at least 75% of the grass leaf is poking through the soil.
Spread the soil out as evenly as you can. Your lawn will be pretty black at this point.
Misconception #: The Worst Thing I Can Do Is Under
We hear a lot of concerns about under-watering, but the truth is that overwatering can be just as badmaybe even worse. When soil becomes oversaturated, it can become waterlogged and you can actually drown your grass roots. An overwatered lawn is also more prone to lawn diseases.
Lawns need approximately 1 to 2 inches of water each week in order to stay healthy and green. The best way for lawns to receive that water is through a slow and soaking rain . Just be careful not to assume a downpour has given you ample water. Stick a finger down into the first few inches of soil and get a sense of how moist it is.
We also recommend putting a rain gauge outdoors to measure rainfall. When you do need to water, place a shallow can halfway between your sprinkler head and its furthest point of spray. This will help you tell how much water your lawn is receiving during your supplemental watering sessions. You dont need to be watering your lawn every day, but instead just need to ensure that its getting its weekly 1 to 2 inches of water with about 2-3 waterings per week.
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Watering Your Lawn Automatically
There are many different ways to efficiently and automatically water your lawn. There are a few factors you should take into account. Ask yourself the following questions: How much water will I need? How large an area do I need to cover? What shape is my lawn? Is there anything nearby that cant get wet?
Here are a few popular types of sprinklers to consider:
- In-ground sprinklers These systems can be expensive, but are highly efficient. The sprinkler heads pop up automatically to water, and pop right back down when the watering is done, delivering a precise amount of water.
- Pulsating sprinklers This type shoots out water horizontally in a powerful stream, covering a large area easily. Grassroots get the level of moisture they need quickly. However, the pulsing might be too intense for newly seeded or sodded lawns.
- Oscillating sprinklers These are a good alternative for newly seeded lawns, since the force of the water is weaker, and you still get good coverage.
- Hose-end sprinklers These traditional sprinklers are the most common and come in many different types.
Make sure your automatic sprinkler is doing its job, when it needs to do its job. If the forecast calls for a lot of rain, adjust the settings accordingly. Also, make sure it isnt pointed at the streetyou dont want to soak any passersby.
How Often Should I Water My Lawn In The Summer
Every living thing needs water, and your grass is no exception.
But simply remembering to water your lawn isnt enough. Theres a right way and a wrong way to do it, as anyone in the PA landscape construction industry can tell you.
For example, if youre not generous enough with your watering, the roots of the grass wont grow deeply, leaving your lawn in trouble at the height of summer.
And if you decided to run your sprinkler system after dark, your lawn can become too moist, leaving it open to mold and, eventually, disease.
Before you start watering, follow these steps.
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How Long Should I Water The Lawn
You should water your lawn once or twice a week, giving your grass 1 to 1.5 inches of water each time. The precise number of minutes for each watering will vary from lawn to lawn, depending on factors like the size of your lawn, the type of sprinkler you have, and its settings.
Here are a few methods for finding the number of minutes you should water your lawn.
- Do a can test: Tuna cans are 1 inch tall, and work best for this method. Empty one out, and set it in an area that your sprinkler hits. Turn your sprinkler on, and check the can periodically to see how long it takes to get ½ of an inch of water in there. You can use that to find how many minutes you need to water either once or twice a week.
- Break it down mathematically: Your sprinkler system will have a designated flow rate of gallons per minute, which you can find out from the manufacturer. To find out the number of minutes to run your sprinkler, multiply your lawns square footage by 0.62 gallonswhich is 1 inch of water per square footthen divide that total by the sprinkler flow rate.
- Look at a flow timer: Youll need a timer that measures flow in hundreds of gallons. Multiply the square footage of your lawn by 0.62 gallons, and that will tell you how many gallons you need to give your lawn the water it needs.
Determine The Water Volume
The consensus is to give the lawn an inch of water that penetrates six to eight inches of the soil, which is the ideal depth for healthy roots to grow. The severity of the weather warrants an additional half inch. Break down this amount to a watering schedule of twice or thrice a week, allowing the grass to drink deeply. The Lawn Institute recommends rehydrating the grass slightly to revive it in times of drought that lasts more than four weeks.
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Include A Mix Of Plants
Be sure to include a mix of many different plants and grasses in your lawn. A diverse landscape is better for the environment and can be easier to maintain, because it prevents pest problems from spreading to the whole lawn.
For places where it is hard to grow a lawn, try plants more adapted to the area. See Plant diversity for more information.
Fight Weeds Using Vinegar Epsom Salt And Dawn
This section includes Epsom salt and other home made weed killer recipe options that feature vinegar. In this section, youll get a top-notch recipe for a natural weed killer with Epsom salt and vinegar that uses dish soap as a secondary agent.
We also give you our favorite Epsom salt herbicide formula, which replaces the dish soap with essential oil for a bonus fresh scent and extra weed killing power.
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When Watering A Warm
- Zoysia, St. Augustine, bermuda and centipede grasses develop deep root systems, making them better able to withstand drought.
- In general, warm-season grass types require less water than cool-season grasses. Where you live determines how frequently you need to water because of differences in rainfall and summer weather conditions. Grass requires the most water in conditions of heat, drought, low humidity, and high winds.The type of soil you have also plays a part: Clay soil holds water longer and can be watered less frequently than sandy soil, which drains very quickly .
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.
I Water Every Day Of The Week Yet My Lawn Is Brown Why Is This Happening
Daily lawn watering is extremely damaging for a lawn. Daily lawn watering prevents the roots of the grass from growing deep into the soil. These shallow grass roots will make the lawn unable to stay green during the heat of the summer.
The best way to promote the grass roots to start digging deep into the soil is to water deeply and infrequently. After changing the lawn watering to the 1-2-3-2-1 lawn watering technique the lawn might look worse before it starts to look better. The lawn will start to look healthier as soon as the grass roots start digging deep into the soil.
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