How to Properly Water your Yard
If you want a lush, green lawn, water is a must. You might wonder when, how much, and how often to water your lawn. If you’re like most people, you have probably even wondered what is the best method? Fear not! For a great looking lawn that will be the envy of all of your neighbors, Follow this guide. To begin with, there are several different ways to water your lawn. Here is a brief overview of each. Visit this link on lawn watering.
Watering by Hand
For this method, you use a hose with a nozzle attached. With your hose, you manually water your lawn. While this method works well for individual plants, it is not the best way to water the lawn. However, hand watering is good for small areas where you may have planted grass seed.
Sprinklers
This is a common method. There are a variety of sprinkler types. You can choose from impact sprinklers, which discharge water pulses in a roundabout motion, oscillating sprinklers that spray back and forth, or stationary sprinklers that constantly spray in a singular pattern and are good for watering places that are difficult to reach. There are also traveling sprinklers that move across your yard, good for big, level lawns.
Irrigation Systems
The handiest, and most effective, way to water your lawn is an irrigation system. Unfortunately, it is also expensive. For this method, you need only set a timer, the rest is automatic. You must dig trenches and run pipes in order to install an irrigation system. Yearly maintenance, like winterizing, is also necessary.
Drip Irrigation
If water is expensive or lacking where you live, you might consider drip irrigation. A drip hose lets water seep out, saturating the roots. Of course, to apply any of these watering methods correctly, you must also know when, how much, and how often to water. More info on drip irrigation.
Times to Water
If your lawn looks dull or grayish, it needs water. Walking across your yard is another way to test. If your footprints remain, it means the grass doesn’t have enough moisture. For best results, you should water your lawn before 10 a.m. This time of day tends to be cooler with calmer winds, allowing water to saturate the soil and seep into the grass roots.
If you have to water at night, after 4 and before 6 p.m. is best. This allows the grass to dry before sunset. Watering too late at night can result in a diseased lawn.
How Much to Water
Generally, lawns should be watered until the uppermost 6 to 8 inches of soil is moist. A typical lawn requires 1 to 1-1/2 inches of water weekly to saturate the soil to that extent. The water can come from one watering, or from two waterings within the week. Be careful not to over water the lawn.There are several methods you can use to check if you have watered enough. Here are a few. Find out about environmental lawn care concerns.
Simple Math
If you are using a sprinkler system, some simple math is the best method. Just multiply the total square feet of your lawn by 0.62 gallons (equivalent to 1 inch of water/square foot) and divide by the flow rate of the sprinkler (provided by the manufacturer). This lets you know how many minutes to run the sprinkler.
Can Measurement
Put empty, clean tuna cans in various places around your yard and time how long it takes to gather 1 to 1-1/2 inches of water in the cans. Use the average time needed to fill every can.
Flow Timer
Select a timer that measures the flow of water by hundreds of gallons. Multiply the square footage of your lawn by 0.62 gallons in order to figure the total gallons required for your whole lawn.
Regardless of the watering method you choose, you want to be sure to water in just the right amounts, at the right times. Grass develops healthy, deep roots when you water infrequently but deeply. Generally, water needs 1 to 1-1/2 inches of water each week and should be watered early in the morning for healthiest results.
