Watering your Lawn 101

Watering your lawn basics.

• Always use “head-to-head coverage” in your irrigation system.
• Keep the soil consistently moist but not wet. This eliminates runoff, and ensures your plants a steady supply of water.
• Do not water at night – water will sit on the lawn and may cause disease.
• Water in the early morning – evaporation is minimized and the lawn utilizes the most water.
• Do not water midday – evaporative loss is at its greatest.
• Create multiple programs for your irrigation system – this allows you to water most efficiently.
• Install a rain sensor – it will prevent the system from running during rain.
• Use drip irrigation in flower beds – it saves substantial amounts of water.
• Reduce run times for zones in the shade.
• Allow grass to grow before mowing – this reduces water usage.
• Practice “grass cycling”- this reduces evaporative water loss from the lawn, while reducing the need for fertilizer.
• Sharpen your mower blade – sharp blades are easier on the grass and save water.
• De-thatch your lawn – water will get to the roots faster and evaporate less.
• Aerate your lawn – it prevents soil compaction and allows water to soak in faster.
• Keep plants with different watering needs on different zones – trees vs. lawn, etc.
• Plant native species – native plants do better and need less special care than exotics.
• Mulch flowerbeds and trees – it reduces evaporation and controls weeds.
• Know your soil type – the three basic types: sand, loam, and clay require different watering schedules for optimal resultWhat about a facebook page or blog thingy.