The summer heat can be brutal on many living things, including your lawn. The situation gets even worse in drought conditions. Even while some grasses go dormant during the harsh summer season, they could still use a good drink now and then. Here are some summer lawn watering tips to help your grass get through this time of year.

Summer Lawn Watering Tips

Believe it or not, there’s a right and wrong way to water, and it’s different from plant to plant. Taking the wrong route not only affects your grass and garden, but it can also invite pests and diseases to take over in poor situations.

While you may think you’re not watering enough in the summer, there’s also a chance of watering too much. There’s also a better time of day to break out the hose or watering can to make the most of the chore.

Whether you use an underground irrigation system, sprinklers, hose, or can, there are a few key points to keep in mind when watering your grass and plants.

Best Time of Day to Water

Water is a precious commodity, especially in the summertime. Since it’s so important to the health of your plants and grass, you want to make sure every drop counts. This could also help keep your water bill low. The key is to water at the right time of day to ensure your plants and grass get the water they need and you’re not setting up a situation that invites pests and disease.

The best time of day to water is in the morning. This way it’s not too hot yet and the water won’t instantly evaporate. It also gives the water enough time to absorb and dry before it gets too cool again. Leaving wet grass and plants overnight has a greater chance of attracting pests and fungal diseases. Also, be sure the wind is calm enough so the water isn’t blowing away from your plants and grass.

How Much Water is Needed

Some days may be hotter than others and you may be tempted to refresh your plants every day with short sips of water. This isn’t necessary. In fact, shorter drinks may lead to shallow root systems. You want the roots to dive deep to look for water, which ends up strengthening your grass and plants. Therefore, deeper, less frequent watering periods are best.

The goal is to give your grass and plants about an inch of water every week. You can help gauge how much this is by timing how long it takes to fill a water receptacle with an inch of water. This way you know how long to stand there with the house or leave the sprinkler on.

Inspecting Irrigation Systems

Proper care and maintenance of underground irrigation or sprinkler systems will help ensure it’s working as efficiently as possible. Keep in mind the size and shape of your yard and what areas need the most water.

The type of sprinkler also affects performance:

• Stationary. Best for watering specific plants or grassy areas.
• Rotary. Use in the middle of an average-sized or large lawn to cover more area in a circular motion.
• Oscillating. Fan water over a more rectangular area.

Adjust the stream and frequency based on the area and amount of natural rainfall. Remember, there is such a thing as overwatering, so save money on some water and energy bills when possible. One sure sign of overwatering is puddles and run-off. You also want to adjust if the street is getting wet. That water could be going into the ground instead.

Tips to Avoid Over and Under Watering

In addition to puddles and excess run-off, you may also notice more weeds and fungi growing in wetter areas. Too much water doesn’t allow as many nutrients to reach the roots. This means the roots will stay closer to the surface where there’s a greater chance they’ll become exposed and eventually decompose. Do you know who loves decomposing grass? Pests and fungus.

On the flip side, if you notice patches of dry, yellow grass, this is a sign it needs more water. Taking a closer look, you’ll also notice the soil is dry and cracked. It’s not going to be able to retain a lot of water all at once. So here is where watering smaller amounts more frequently can help bring it back to life. But once it’s good, you’ll want to go back to the deeper, less frequent schedule.

Professional Summer Lawn Watering Tips

If you’re still unsure of how to best balance the amount and frequency of water for your lawn and plants, turn to an expert for help. Contact Cardinal Lawns for a consultation of your specific lawn and garden situation. You’ll get advice on how much and how often to water, plus tips on getting your lawn back into shape if needed.

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