Aeration | Brown Patch | General Lawn Advice | Lawn Disease
Leaf Spot | Managing Weeds | Perfect Mowing |  How to Water

Water the Right Way!

Make A Deep Impression: Water Right

Every living thing needs water to survive. Your lawn is no exception. As the weather heats up, your lawn processes more and more water. Unfortunately, at the same time that the lawn is using more water through the summer, there’s usually less natural rainfall available. Without a helping hand in the form of extra sprinkling, your lawn may go dormant or suffer serious thinning. Dragging that hose around or turning on the irrigation system is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy and green lawn.

What happens to the water you put on the lawn?

Grass blades are covered with tiny holes (or pores) called stomata. The plants absorb water mixed with nutrients and minerals through the roots and use all of these things in producing food. This process is called photosynthesis. Excess water and turf "waste material" (oxygen) are released through the pores on the grass blades. This is called transpiration, and without enough water, the whole cycle soon slows or even stops completely. Transpiration replaces oxygen in the atmosphere and releases water vapour into the air. It’s this process that allows a lawn as small as 50' by 50' to produce enough oxygen to support a family of four.

Soils make a big difference

Your soil type affects how often and how long you need to water. Sandy soils absorb water fast but lose it just as quickly. Loamy soils are ideal because they have a good absorbing rate and can also hold water well. Clay soils can be hard to water because they take the water in very slowly. On the other hand, clay holds water well and dries more slowly than other soil types. follow the 1" rule

The average lawn consumes about 1" of water per week (as measured in a rain gauge or coffee can). When there isn’t enough rain to meet the need, watering is the answer. Soil dries out from the surface downward. By watering deeply, you encourage deeper rooting of the lawn. Water each area long enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6" (that’s about 1" of water per area per week). If possible, apply most of this 1" of water at one time.

Follow the 1st  rule, and you’ll make a "deep impression" on your lawn.

Summary:

Turf "uses up" much more water in hot weather.

Turf needs water to clean the air, produce oxygen and produce food.

Adjust your watering to your soil type.

Soaking the lawn to a depth of 6" forces the lawn to produce deeper roots.