How to Water a Lawn

Proper watering is key to keeping a lawn healthy and beautiful. It's best to water infrequently and deeply rather than often and lightly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Automated Sprinkler Timers
• Garden Hoses
• Hose-end Sprinklers
• Lawn Sprinklers
• Soaker Hoses
• Screwdriver Sets

1. Purchase hose-end sprinklers or install a below-ground automated system.

2. Test your sprinkler output and consistency of coverage: Place flat-bottom cups or cans within the sprinkler pattern and measure the water over a given time. Make adjustments as necessary so the entire lawn is watered evenly.

3. Water early in the morning, or when the winds are calm and enough daylight is left to dry the leaves before nightfall.

4. Apply enough water to wet the rootzone to 6 to 8 inches deep with each irrigation, and let the soil dry partially between irrigations. To avoid producing runoff, run the sprinklers in cycles, turning sprinklers on for 10 minutes, turning them off to let the water soak in, then repeating.

5. Adjust the watering schedule depending on weather, seasons and rainfall. Grasses generally require more water during their active growing season than when they're dormant, though all grasses need an average of 1-2 inches of water per week in summer; cool season grasses can take more than this in winter.

6. Set automated timers so you don't forget to turn the water off.

7. Maintain sprinkler systems so they operate efficiently. Watch them run, and make adjustments and fix clogs or leaks as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Your lawn will tell you when it needs water - two signs are when the grass changes from bright green to dull gray-green and when footprints remain when you walk across the lawn.
• To check how deep water is penetrating, probe the soil with a stiff wire or screwdriver. It will move easily through moist soil and be harder to push when it reaches dry soil.
• Planting the right type of lawn for your area (see "eHow to Choose a Lawn Grass") can help you conserve water.
• Frequent, shallow watering results in shallow roots and a weak lawn.
• Applying too much water is wasteful and can cause lawn diseases and promote weed growth.

[jjearle]

on 6/30/2009 How one can tell when plants need water or are being watered too often. Some plants have leafes turning yellow. Some are green.

[tjc47]

on 5/31/2007 Check out www.stllawncare.com for lawn care and services in St. Louis

on 11/22/2005 To conserve water, consider planting just a patch of lawn, with beds of less-thirsty plants bordering it. Even a small lawn is refreshing to look at and lie on.

on 11/22/2005 Try to avoid watering the lawn in the middle of the day, especially on a hot, sunny day. This may cause your grass to burn as a result of the magnification of the sunlight through the tiny prisms cause by the water droplets.