When the mercury rises, every homeowner is tempted to start pouring water on their lawns to help it cope with the heat. But a savvy homeowner doesn’t water more. He or she waters smart. These tips will keep your grass green and healthy without running up your water bill.
The Right Schedule
If you start with healthy grass and the right schedule, you probably won’t have to water more no matter how hot it gets. The rule of thumb is:
Ӣ One inch of water
Ӣ Once a week
Ӣ Water before dawn
Ӣ Give less water if it rains
Pre-dawn watering prevents excessive evaporation while making sure the grass blades dry off later in the day, preventing disease. If that isn’t possible, go for later afternoon.
Make sure you know how much water each area of your lawn is getting. Set equally sized, empty containers out in a few areas of your lawn and run your irrigation system. Measure the water levels at regular intervals. Make adjustments to your system to ensure equal water distribution throughout.
What Kind of Soil Do You Have?
If you’re having issues with wilting grass, take a morning to watch how quickly water soaks into your lawn. Does it:
”¢ Vanish in the blink of an eye and feels dry by the afternoon? You have sandy soil that doesn’t retain water.
Ӣ Sit on top and turn into a swampy mess? You have clay-dense soil that prevents water absorption, forcing water to pool on top and evaporate instead of letting it soak to your turf.
For the short term, adjusting your watering schedule for the summer can address either issue. If you normally water for an hour once a week, split it into half an hour twice a week. You may have tweak watering times and frequency. Experiment to find what your lawn needs. For the long term, start addressing your drainage issues starting in the fall.
If your grass turns brown, don’t overcompensate. Your lawn has gone dormant. Water it one inch, once a week. When temperatures cool down, your grass will green up again.
