White is gone and green is filling in the landscape! Are you a bit envious of your neighbor’s lawns as you look down the street? Take heart! It is possible to make the grass greener on your side of the fence, too! If you are ready to bring some green to your lawn and save some green in your wallet, read on for some great tips on watering.

 

When to Water

While it may be convenient to water the lawn on your schedule, it’s not always the best time for the grass. The best time to water your lawn is before ten in the morning when the winds are calm and there is less sunlight. Watering in the morning allows less evaporation of the water. And as the sun heats the air and ground in the afternoon, the thirsty grass will draw the water into its root system. 

 

Watering in the morning helps you save money, too. As the day progresses, wind speed tends to increase. Windy conditions can blow the water off course from where you intend it to land and increase its evaporation. The result is greater water consumption to reach the correct watering amount on the grass and higher water bills for you.

 

Just as important as when to water is when not to water. Avoid watering in the evening hours. A wet lawn overnight is more susceptible to disease. Once the grass is infected with disease, it will turn ugly and even die. This will cause you to incur the expense of purchasing treatment supplies or the greater cost and labor of replacing entire sections with new sod.

 

If you use an automatic sprinkler system, remember to turn it off during storms or when there has been significant rainfall. This will prevent overwatering and save on water consumption, resulting in more green cash in your pocket!

 

How Much to Water

A general rule on how much to water is one inch of water approximately once per week. The plan is to water the grass deeply and less often. This will encourage the roots to grow deeper into the soil. Stronger and deeper roots keep grass green even during drought or extremely hot weather. Healthy roots also give the grass strength to compete with weeds and disease. 

 

Here’s how you can check the amount of water you are giving to the lawn. Set out a few shallow containers around the yard and water until you measure about 1 inch of water in most of the containers. If you use an irrigation system, this test will help determine if the sprinklers are watering the grass evenly. If the amount of water in the containers varies too much across the lawn, you may need to adjust the sprinkler heads. Either the amount of water coming from each sprinkler head is different, or their arrangement needs to change. In the long run, using an irrigation system saves money because it’s an efficient way of watering.

 

When the top 3 to 4 inches of soil are dry to the touch, it’s time to water again. Use a garden trowel or a screwdriver to open the soil and feel it with your fingers. Grass must have enough water on a consistent schedule to remain green and healthy. Keep note of the amount of rainfall and the heat index throughout the week and mark your calendar to check the status of the lawn.

 

Get Help from the Pros at Createscape

In addition to watering, there are other ways to create the lush lawn you desire. Check out our blog at www.createscapelandscaping.com/blog for more great tips. And as you work to grow a healthy lawn, tackle one task at a time to keep from being overwhelmed. Remember that grass growth and development take time, so be patient and trust the process.

 

At Createscape Landscaping Service, we offer lawn maintenance services such as aeration, dethatching, mowing, weed, disease and insect control, fertilizer applications, seasonal pruning, mulch, topsoil, and more. Our commitment to superior service and quality has solidified us as one of the best landscaping companies in Waukesha County and the Southeastern Wisconsin area. Reach out to us for an estimate and more information at (262) 662-0201 or www.createscapelandscaping.com/contact-us