The Importance Of Watering Your Lawn

As an Ohio homeowner you may be paying for a lawn care service, but not receiving expected results. There are a lot of factors that go into receiving an all-around healthy lawn. Just as important as sunlight, oxygen, and nutrients are to your lawn, watering is just as important.

To keep your lawn healthy and to encourage growth, there are a few watering tips you can follow. Not only does it need a proper watering schedule, but it also needs the correct amount of water to prevent lawn disease, pests, and any other damage that can happen throughout the year. 

When To Water

Watering daily may seem like the best option for your lawn, but really you only want to water a few times a week depending on temperatures. Watering daily actually prevents the water from getting down into the roots, instead, the extra water will just sit on the surface and eventually evaporate.

So how do you know if you’re watering enough? If your grass starts to look dull and discolored, this is a sign that your lawn needs to be watered. Another way to tell, is if your grass blades are curled, that’s your lawns way of telling you that it is water stressed and needs to be watered more. 

Lastly, if you step on your lawn and the grass seems to stay down and not spring back up, it needs to be watered. You can also use this same technique to tell if your lawn has been watered enough. For example, if you step on the lawn and the grass blades spring back up, it’s showing that it is sufficiently watered.

Best Times To Water

Applying just a few inches of water 1-2 times a week is the best for your lawn to receive the nutrients and benefits.

Not only should you not water daily, but there are also specific times of the day that are better than others. Early morning, as the sun is rising, is one of the best times to water your lawn because the grass will soak up most of the water before the soil has time to bake under the sun. If you were to water during the day, most of that would evaporate long before it reaches the roots.

If mornings aren’t a good time for you, you can also water in the evening, but try and keep it before 6p.m. so it has some time to soak in before nighttime. If you do need to water at night, keep in mind that your grass stays wet longer, which can increase the likelihood of lawn disease.

Watering Techniques

There are multiple ways you can water your lawn, each having their own set of benefits.

If you have a smaller sized yard, you can use a hose to water it. This method lets you be in control of which areas are being watered and for how long.

Another popular method is having a sprinkler or irrigation system. This watering system is helpful because it does the watering for you. Contrary to popular belief, this system can save you water if it is set up correctly. With its automated system, it not only saves you time, but it also saves you from the mistake of overwatering your lawn. 

This small chore is one of the many ways that you can play your part in getting the lawn results you want, especially when paying for a service. Whether that be a hands-on approach or using a system that makes it easier for your lifestyle, if your yard is receiving the correct nutrients, you’ll find that getting your lawn to look it’s best can be simple when cared for correctly.