Using Water Wisely

A healthy lawn needs water. How much you water and when you water can have an effect (positive or negative) on your lawn.

Water is essential!

• Without water, grass can’t grow.
• Most perennial grasses will go dormant (turn brown) during dry spells. Brown grass is still very much alive and can survive for weeks until moisture returns.
• However, allowing grass to brown will provide an opportunity for weeds to take root.

How much water do I need?

• Lawns need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week during the growing season (May to October).
• Buy a rain gauge – they are inexpensive and are available at local hardware stores.
• Monitor rainfall and only apply what is needed to equal 1 to 1.5 inches of water.
• Watering too much wastes time and money and creates an insufficient root structure.

How often should I water?

• Only once or twice a week (depending on the rain).
• If you water twice a week, be sure to only apply half of the lawn’s weekly needs (0.5 to 0.75 inches at each watering).

Water deeply, not quickly.

• If you’ve been mowing high, then your lawn’s root system has grown deep and strong.
• Allowing water to seep into the ground will help the grass stay healthy.

When should I water?

• Between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. is ideal.
• The afternoon is too hot and sunny, most of the water will evaporate.
• Watering at night increases the risk of fungal diseases

Tip: Determine your sprinkler output by placing jars on the lawn and timing how long it takes for them to fill with an inch of water.

Credit: Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District.
Learn more at: http://cumberlandswcd.org/site/yardscape-2/