Ideas for Getting More from Less

It is a basic fact that if lawns and gardens do not get enough water, they die. Feeding weeding, and pest control are only really effective when there is a sufficient amount of water.

Dr. Beard, a well-known turfgrass scientist from Texas A & M claims, “Water is not wasted by plants. Water is primarily wasted by man via improper irrigation.”

This happens when we water too long or too fast and see puddled water or runoff. Watering short sprinkles (unless you just overseeded) is wasteful, too. Short, shallow watering creates shallow roots which dry quickly and require even more frequent watering. It is sort of a vicious cycle.

It is best to water when the temperature is low and there are no strong winds (unfortunately, this usually occurs about dawn.) And it is important to water deeply to a depth of about 6”.

Your convenience matters to us, especially when we see folks dragging hoses around at all hours trying to get water to their lawns. There are a lot of tools available to help. From quick connects, water timers, traveling sprinklers, drip irrigation layouts, inground systems with moisture sensors to simple hose reels, there is something to help make watering easier for you.

Important Points to Keep in Mind:

  • Lawns need an average of 1” of water per week during the hot growing season, and chances are, you won’t get that much rain.
  • Grass variety makes a big difference in how much water is needed and how well drought is handled.
  • Avoid watering when evaporation rates will be high.
  • Check your thatch level. Heavy thatch prevents good water penetration and increases runoff.

Also, be sure to check out our watering page for more in-depth information on how to properly irrigate your lawn.

At Lawn America, we emphasize the importance of core aeration as part of a good overall lawn maintenance program. And combining aeration with overseeding in the fall is a great way to thicken up a thin lawn while giving your turf a great head start on next year’s growing season. If your cool-season grass (such as fescue or bluegrass) needs overseeding, contact Lawn America now to set up this important service. If you have a Bermdagrass lawn, and you are interested in overseeding with perennial ryegrass to have a green lawn all winter, contact LawnAmerica now and we’ll provide you with the information you need to make your decision.

Key Aeration Points to Keep in Mind:

1. If your lawn has been seeded, the soil should be kept moist with light, frequent sprinklings (at least twice a day).

2. New turf should be well-fed throughout the fall to promote as much growth as possible.

3. New grass should be mowed several times before top growth slows down for the winter, and you don’t want to let your lawn grow too long between mowings.

4. If a few weeds pop up, it’s nothing to be concerned about. This is normal, and the weeds will best be controlled in the spring.

How Should I Be Watering my Fescue When It Gets Really Hot?

The danger here is watering too often because it's so easy to set an automatic sprinkler system and let it go. When there is no rainfall and it's hot like now in August, water once or twice a week, letting it really soak in. Set the sprinkler system so it rotates through the various stations in your yard, watering each one 20 to 30 minutes, so there is no runoff.

Too much water applied too often on your lawn invites brown patch, a fungal disease, that's difficult to eliminate once it gets into your soil. Also, water early morning, like 3 to 4 a.m., using your timer, so the grass dries early in the day.

Watering in the evening leaves the foliage wet overnight, which is an open invitation to diseases.
Copyright LawnAmerica 2006