How Much You Should Be Watering Your Lawn in Spring and Summer

Keeping your lawn looking good and healthy requires a certain amount of care, with watering it, being at the top of the list. All lawns need a certain amount of water, and knowing if yours is getting enough just takes getting familiar with your lawn, and as  well as learning some tips on how and when to water it. Different types of grass have different requirements, so learning about your grass type is a good place to start. And take into account that the climate you live in will also play a role in your water routine. The rule of thumb, however, according to Freshome , is most lawns require 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches of water per week, unless your lawn professional tells you differently. Although this is a general rule for most lawns, there are some variations when it comes to warmer months and when grass should really green-up. How much should you be watering your lawn during the spring and summer? The answer is, that there are variables and let’s take a look what they are.

Climate

Climate plays a big role in lawn care. Of course, summer is called summer across the country, but different regions experience different degrees of the season, from the length of the season, to the degree of heat the region experiences on average during the season. Some states have relentless summers where the heat starts to rise earlier in the season and stays up, well into what should be fall. Other states have much milder summers with a variation to the heat, which can be a positive influence on lawns and the amount of water needed to keep a lawn lush, healthy and green.

Soil type

At ABC Home and Commercial, you can see that one of the variables for how much water should you use on your lawn in the spring and summer is the soil type. You should know what type of soil you have to help determine how much water you’ll need to use for a lush green lawn. If you don’t know your soil type, you can ask your lawn care professional, or speak to your local lawn and garden store about testing a sample for you. The bottom line for soil type is; clay type soils hold water better than sandy or porous soils, therefore, clay-based soils won’t require as much water as the latter. No matter what type of soil you have, lawns with more shading from trees or other means, are always going to have better moisture retention than lawns with little to no shading.

Grass type

The type of grass you have will also play a role in the amount of water it needs. There are a wide variety of types of grass and each can vary a little on the type of care they need. Some grow better in hotter, drier climates, while others are better in cooler, moister climates. Before running to the lawn and garden shop, do your research on the types of grass that grow best in your region, and talk to your lawn care professional before you rush to purchasing large amounts of grass seed that may not be the best for your property. Discuss your type of soil, your property layout, even your watering capabilities, to see which type of grass would work best for your lawn.

Simple tests

There are things you can judge for yourself as to whether you need to water more or less. Eyeball your lawn and check the coloring of the grass. Simply making note of the color can give you an indication, for instance, a dull green or grayish tone to your grass indicates your grass needs more water. Take the walk-test to determine your grass’ springiness. After you take a step on the grass, it should bounce back up and into shape fairly quickly, indicating it is moist and watered well. If your grass does not, but stays flattened and listless, it is not getting or retaining enough water.

Water times

Water evaporates in the heat; something most of us know, which is why watering in the morning is the best time to water your grass. Any time after 10 Am and the water you put on the grass will only go in vain, evaporating before it has a chance to soak in. Watering your lawn in sections with a sprinkler that spreads an even spray is recommended, and you should never let a sprinkler run so long it gives a run off, meaning you can see the water running off into the street or other area of the yard. This indicates it is no longer being absorbed due to over-saturation.

Rain gauge

To hit the 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water each week, Landscaping Irvine suggests getting a rain gauge to measure rainfall each week. Depending on the weather and rain storms, you may want to adjust your watering times for that week. To know how many inches are being spread over each of your watering zones during a watering period, one idea is to set cans throughout your yard in each watering zone. Run your sprinkler, or sprinkler system for fifteen minutes then measure the amount of water in the can. If you have 1/2 an inch of water in the can, multiply that times 4 to get how many inches is getting to your lawn per hour. You can use this information to adjust watering times in accordance to your local weather and rain each week.

The more you learn about your lawn and soil, the better the chances are of having a green, lush, lawn all spring and summer.