Watering Guidelines

As we near the dry season, I’d like to take a moment to repeat my yearly advice. The number 1 bit of advice I give people repeatedly when they ask what they can do to help their lawn is WATER, especially during the dry season. I say that not just because I want the yard to be green and ready for mowing, but because it is the simplest way to keep your lawn healthy through the summer.

Many of you spend a lot of money every year on your yards, through fertilizing and repair and maintenance to make them look nice, yet neglect the watering. In the hot summer weather, your lawn sits all day in the sun and bakes. That dries the lawn out, and turns the grass a sickly brown color, instead of the healthy green it should be. Grass should not be allowed to turn brittle and dry up to the point of kindling. During the dry times, if you allow the grass to brown out and dry up, portions of the lawn will die out. That is costly not only because of repairs in the fall/spring, but it also allows for weeds to creep in and pop up in those dead areas. Healthy grass will compete for soil moisture with weeds. Dead grass will not. Many weeds aren’t affected by dry weather, and in fact thrive on it. When you allow your lawn to dry out and die, you are inviting those weeds to take up residence in your lawn.

Additionally, a dry, dying lawn loses its resistance to disease and pests. Your lawn’s number one enemy is a little critter called the grub. Grubs love dry weather, and they feast on the roots of a dry lawn. It is no coincidence that every time we get a dry summer, we also experience a surge in grub damage and a rise in the pest population. A dried out lawn that is sickly and dying can’t resist an attack by pests or disease or damage. Dry soil doesn’t properly spread grub treatments and/or pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. And dry topsoil is a fertile breeding ground for grubs and other pests. Simply watering the lawn a few times a week will greatly increase your lawn’s resistance to attack.

By watering your lawn 2 to 3 times a week, you are giving the lawn’s roots enough water to make it through the dry times. If the water is in the soil, the roots of the grass plant will find the water and survive the dry weather. Having that moisture in the soil, and in the roots will help counteract the effects of the daily baking from the sun. Watering takes little effort. Give your lawn a nice, long 45 minute soak, 2 or 3 times a week with a sprinkler. This is called deep watering, because the moisture will penetrate deep into the soil, where the lawn’s roots can find it during dry times. Water this way will go a long way to keeping your lawn healthier, making the fertilizing, herbicide and pesticide applications count, and lessen your need for yearly reseeding and repair. I prefer the early evening/dusk hours, but early morning is also a good time to water.

A word of caution to those of you with sprinkler systems, however. It is possible to water your lawn TOO much. In the past many of you have over watered your lawn, and the negative effects of over watering are just as great as allowing your lawn to dry out. The excess water will sit in the topsoil and rot the roots of the lawn, cause fungal infections, and create problems for mowing. You should be watering 2 to 3 times a week. Not every day. If your lawn is so wet that you have standing water, or if the yard sounds like a sponge when you walk on it, you’re watering too much. If you have questions about your sprinkler systems and watering, feel free to contact TJ’s or your sprinkler company.

I’d also like to point out, aerating your lawn will stimulate deeper, fuller root growth, which helps your grass find the water during dry times, and keeps the lawn healthy. A deeper root system also allows you to water less frequently, making things that much easier. A fuller, denser root system can combat disease, pests and weeds better. And aerating will loosen the compaction in the soil, bring organic matter and nutrients to the roots, and allow for better water absorption by the soil. I can definitely see the difference in those lawns that I’ve been aerating for the past few years on a regular basis, they do much better during the dry times. Fall aerations start in early September, call early to schedule your lawn for aeration.

Finally, a product I’ve been recommending to ALL my customers this year is Milorganite. Milorganite has been around for a while, and it’s all organic. It comes from the composted remains of the breweries in Milwaukee. And it is full of good stuff for your lawn. It is high in iron, with a touch of nitrogen. This is good for your lawn’s roots, and for turning your lawn a nice deep dark green color. It can be mixed with other fertilizers, or spread by itself. It is low in nitrogen, so it won’t burn your lawn. And you can apply it frequently through the season (monthly). Plus, it’s relatively cheap. You can find it at most nursery stores, the big hardware stores, etc. I can’t recommend it more. And since it’s all organic and just a fertilizer, TJ’s can apply it to your lawn if you can’t. The benefits are great for using this product, and I can’t recommend it enough.

If you have any questions about any of this information, feel free to call or email.

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