Posted on May 17th, 2016
The average lawn requires 1.5 inches of water each week to prosper. However, the exact amount necessary to grow a lush, green lawn can vary based on the region’s climate and recent weather conditions, as well as your soil and grass type. If you’re having trouble getting your weekly watering just right, here are a few smart tips to keep in mind.
Determine your soil type. Depending on your soil, your lawn will may absorb water at a faster or slower rate. For example, soil high in clay content are less likely to absorb quickly, and more likely to pool. Sandy soil absorbs quickly, but doesn’t retain water as well.
Know your numbers. How much water is your sprinkler actually delivering to your lawn each time you water? If you don’t have an automated system, it might be difficult to tell. To measure water output from a manual sprinkler, set our tupperware containers, let your sprinkler run for 20 minutes, and check the result.
Take sloping into account. Remember, water will runoff an area if it slopes downward. This can make providing irrigation at the top or a hill or peak challenging. If your landscape is particularly hilly, try using multiple short watering cycles instead of one long one. That way, the soil will have a chance to absorb the water instead of allowing it to pool and run.
Account for shady areas. When an area is heavily shaded, it’s able to retain water much longer. That means it will require less irritation overall. However, in cases where grass is shaded by trees, this does not hold true since the grass would be competing with tree roots for water in this area.
The easiest and most successful way to irrigate your lawn is with a programmable sprinkler system. A good irrigation timer will not only turn on when it is set to do so, but it will also hold off on watering based on recent rainfall and weather conditions.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Turf Unlimited can design a custom sprinkler system for your yard, call 888-649-9919 to schedule a free consultation today.
