When should you water your lawn? That depends:
What variety of grass are you growing?
– Grass needs more water while it is actively growing
– The common types of grass have warm season or cool season growth patterns
– Most lawns have more than one type of grass
What type of soil do you have?
– Sandy soil lets water fall through quickly
– Clay lets water in very slowly and holds onto it
– Most lawns have a mix of the two
Quick test: Grab a handful and squeeze it into a ball. Sandy soils fall apart while clay soils hold the ball-form.
How compact is your soil?
– Tightly compacted soils don’t hold water well
– new construction
– lots of foot traffic (sports fields)
– Loose soils hold water very well
– natural prairie
Quick test: Dig in. Compact soils are hard to work.
How healthy is your soil?
Was there an area that didn’t grow well last year?
Have your soil tested before you apply any products
– You won’t applying something your lawn already has
– You won’t be guessing which product will actually work
One last quick water tip: plant trees and shrubs.
– Trees and shrubs provide shade
– Shady soil is cooler and stays wet longer
– Trees and shrubs soak in rain
– Put them near an area where you have standing water
