When the temperature rises, you may notice that your lawn start to look a little dry and droopy. That's because the lack of moisture is starting to damage the grass and plants that make up your lawn. To combat the effects of hot summer days, it's important that you start a good lawn watering routine. Many people reach out to us because they're trying to establish the best way to water their lawn. If this is something you've been pondering during these warm weeks, then you're in the right place. Today we're going to explain the best way to water your lawn to keep it looking green and luscious whatever the weather!
Achieving the right balance
As with all plant care, the first element you need to get right when it comes to watering your lawn is balance. Water your lawn too much or too often, and your grass will become oversaturated and start to die. On the flip side, if you water your lawn too little, your lawn will dry out and die. The best way to work out the proper balance of water for your lawn is to monitor it and check the grass conditions regularly. Pressing your finger into the top layer of soil should indicate how wet or dry the lawn is. Ideally, you want the soil to remain slightly moist but not saturated.
Watering at the right time of day
The best time to water your lawn is in the morning. Why? Because the cooler air prevents the water on the surface of the grass from evaporating too quickly! By watering in the morning, the water has a chance to penetrate the soil and reach the roots before the hottest part of the day. Watering your lawn on your lunch break might be convenient for you, but most of the water will likely evaporate before it has time to nourish your lawn.
What if I can't water my lawn in the morning?
If you forget to water your lawn in the morning, don't panic. You can also water your lawn late in the afternoon when the hottest part of the day has passed. Ideally, you want the water to absorb into the soil before it gets dark. A lawn that's sodden during the night is prone to lawn diseases and fungus, so try to water your lawn around tea time!
How far should the water penetrate?
Checking that the water is penetrating down into the lowest parts of the root system is vital for keeping a healthy lawn. Of course, unless you have x-ray vision, you're not going to be able to see what's going on under the surface - so how do you check the water's penetration depth?
- Water your lawn (either in the morning or the afternoon) and leave the water to absorb into the lawn for 30 minutes.
- When you can see that most of the surface water has disappeared off the surface of your lawn, take a long metal skewer and plunge it into your lawn.
- As the skewer enters the damp soil, it should glide through the earth easily. When it hits dry soil, you will feel some resistance. At this point, stop pushing!
- Place your finger at the point where the skewer meets the ground and remove it slowly.
- Take a look at the depth of skewer that penetrated damp soil - this should give you a good indication of the depth the water is reaching.
What am I looking for?
The water should be soaking the ground beneath the surface up to around 6 inches deep. If you notice that the ground is firm or dry above this level, you probably need to up your watering frequency or amount of water you're adding to the lawn. If the ground is soaked further than 6 inches, you should adjust the amount of water you're adding and water slightly less often.
Should I get a sprinkler?
If you have a large lawn and a busy lifestyle, the best way to water your lawn might be using a sprinkler! Sprinklers can be set to come on at the right time of day (the morning), apply the right amount of water, and limit the amount of work you have to do to keep your lawn healthy. They're a great option if you forget to water your lawn, or if you want to be certain that your lawn is being cared for while you're out at work.
So there you have it, our tips for the best way to water your lawn! Here at Lawn and Weed Expert, we offer a great range of summer lawn care services to see your lawn through the warmer months. To find out more about these, give us a call on 0800 111 4958.
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Read More: How to Prepare Your Lawn for Summer
