At first glance, it may not seem all that complicated to water your lawn. It is a no-brainer, right? You turn on the sprinkler or the soaker hoses, making sure to soak the bushes and trees. You typically do it when you have the time; after work or dinner. What more is there to it? Sorry to make something so simple a little bit complicated, but knowing when and when not to water your lawn is actually a science. With the help of a rain gauge and rainfall data, you can help your yard become healthier and more beautiful.
There are a few issues to consider when watering your lawn, such as the time of day, new rainfall, the method of watering, the weather and the use of chemicals, such as fertilizers in the water. These are all important factors to think about.
Typically, water as early in the day as possible when the grass and plants are already wet with dew. If you water later in the day when the temperature is higher, it can lead to evaporation of the water. If you water mid-day, this can leave water droplets on the plants, which become small magnifying glasses and the sun’s rays will burn the plants. This can lead to a brown lawn in spite of adequate watering. It is probably fine to water later in the afternoon or early evening, but avoid late night watering, as it can lead to problems with disease, since the water tends to sit on the lawn longer. Keep a rain gauge in your yard so you know how many inches rainfall you have received.
In areas where your lawn slopes, watch for runoff. Steeper slopes and hills may require extra watering to accommodate runoff and allow for better penetration of the soil. Whether it’s loam, sand, peat, silt or clay, knowing the kind of soil you have is important. The percolation rate of your soil type is based on penetration. This means that some lawns may require short periods of watering followed up by another period of watering to let the first application sink in. It is always best to have a rain gauge on hand to measure current rainfall data so that you know exactly how much to water.
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