04/03/2017
Welcome back for another tip from Gilliam Lawn Care Services Plus! With all of this rain we are having recently you luckily don't have to worry about watering your lawn. What about the months when the rain is not so frequent?
Knowing When to Water
Lawns typically require 1 inch of water per week, whether the water comes from your hose or from rainfall. However, you may need to provide more or less water depending on your soil type and weather conditions. One way to tell if your lawn needs water is to walk across it. If your footprints remain after two hours, your lawn needs water. For another method to determine if you need to water, dig 1 inch deep into the lawn's soil with a butter knife or screwdriver. If soil sticks to the tool when you pull it out, your lawn doesn't need water.
Worst Times to Water
If you water in midday when the sun and temperatures are highest, much of the water you intend to give your lawn will be lost to evaporation. Watering in the evening leaves your lawn wet through the night and can increase the risk of fungal diseases. Watering during windy weather increases water loss through evaporation and makes it difficult to water evenly. To conserve water, avoid watering your lawn heavily during droughts.
Watering Tips
To determine how much water you're giving your lawn, place empty 5.5-ounce cat-food cans / tuna cans in various places in your lawn as you water. When the cans fill to 1 inch, your lawn has enough water. To save water, aim your sprinklers so they water only your lawn, not sidewalks or decks. Water your lawn only once a week. This encourages the grass roots to grow deeper into the soil to obtain moisture and makes a stronger, healthier lawn.
