AYN Advice

How often should I water my lawn?

ADEQUATE WATERING OF A LAWN

Water is essential to the physiology of plant cells resulting in the greening of the turf. Water the grass when the amount of rain is not sufficient to meet the growing needs of the grass.

Watering Established Lawns

Grass needs 3 to 5 cm. of water per week during the prime growing season. Water deeply and less frequently to allow water to penetrate to up to a depth of 10 cm… Light, frequent watering leads to shallow rooting. Shallow roots dry up rapidly during periods of drought. Watering during the day is not recommended because cold water affects the grass that is already hot from the sun’s heat. Do not water late in the evening as the turf will remain wet all night. This will make it more vulnerable to disease infestation.

Watering Newly Seeded Lawns

A newly seeded lawn has a higher requirement for water and fertilizer (without excess) for the first three months. During periods of drought, it is not necessary to water a lawn to keep it green. In fact, a well aerated, deeply rooted, dense lawn, with a thin thatch layer which has been well fertilized (not excessively), can tolerate drought for a period of several weeks. In our climate, the lawn will greenup again following a good rain.

3 Rules to Reduce Water Consumption

1. Mow the lawn frequently to a height of 5 to 7 cm. (2 to 2.8 inches) during hot and dry periods. This will encourage deeper rooting which will be able to find more water. Also, a longer mowing height will result in less evaporation from the soil.

2. Do not pick up clippings if they are short and do not contain weed seeds. Never remove more than 1/3 of the existing height of the grass.

3. A shallow rooted grass is in constant need of water whereas a deeply rooted grass requires much less water. Therefore, rain will meet the grass’s growing needs during spring and summer in our climate.