One of the most frequent calls we get during the summer is about patches of lawn that are starting to turn color, or just frying up. Clients often say that something has ‘burned’ the lawn, and want us to come out to investigate.
Nine out of ten times, we find that the soil is so dry that we actually have dust coming out of our core samplers when we try to pull out a plug of soil. The Irrigation system is not adequately watering the damaged areas. A head could be broken, a spray head clogged, improper water coverage, or it is just a poorly installed system.
Because water is such a key element to the success of a fertilization program, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you set up your system for a mid year review by your irrigation professional. This will help you catch problems to keep your Lawn in great shape.
The truest test of a well installed and adjusted irrigation system is whether the lawn stays green during periods of drought-any system can keep a lawn green during the spring and fall, when there is typically a lot of moisture in the soil.
A lawn under stress is more prone to insect, disease and weeds. Avoid water stress on your lawn by following a few watering guidelines:
Most lawns need at least 1” inch of water per week to avoid water stress. You can measure this by placing an empty tuna fish can under the area being watered. Once the can is filled, that area is properly watered, and you can move the sprinkler, or set the irrigation system accordingly. Another test is by inserting a screwdriver into the soil, and if it penetrates easily, it usually means the soil has adequate moisture.
Watering established lawns is different from watering new lawns:
New lawns require frequent light watering, as the roots are very shallow and may dry out if not kept moist. Established lawns require less frequent watering, but watering should be of longer duration which will help the water to get down to 6-8 inches-ideally where the roots are.
It is very important to remember that areas of the lawn
may require more or less water than others:
- Along driveways, curbs and pavement will dry out much quicker due to heat collected
from the sun and radiated into the surrounding soil - more water is necessary
- Shade areas require less water, while full sun, windy areas may require more
- Hill sides have special considerations due to run off potential.
- Soil structure is important-sandy soil may need more frequent watering, while
heavy clay soil may require less.
Your lawn care professional at Greener Lawns will be happy to make recommendations to maximize the health and
appearance of your lawn. It is important to make sure that you have a good relationship with your irrigation service provider so that all your applications are being used to the full assimilated potential of your lawn.
When to water:
Water early in the day, as the least amount of evaporation takes place, and the water penetrates to the root level. Late afternoon is also good. Do NOT water your lawn just before dark, as this will lead to fungal issues. Water early enough in the late afternoon so that the grass blades and upper thatch are dry so as not to propagate fungal diseases.
Contact Greener Lawns to Request a Quote or call 978-470-3111
