How to Keep Your Lawn Lush and Green, Even in the Summer Heat
Summer can be tough on lawns, with the hot sun and long, dry days. But with proper care, you can keep your lawn looking its best all season long. Here are some tips:
When to Water Your Lawn
The best time to water your lawn is when it shows signs of stress. This could include a slightly wilted appearance, a bluish-green tint instead of the usual emerald green, or footprints or lawnmower tracks that remain on the grass 30 minutes after walking or mowing.
You can also test soil moisture by inserting a screwdriver, trowel, or similar object into the grass. If the ground is so hard that the screwdriver doesn’t slide in easily, the soil is too dry.
How to Water Your Lawn
The amount of water you need to apply to your lawn will depend on several factors, including the type of grass, climate, soil type, and use. A good rule of thumb is to apply about 1/2 inch (1 cm) of water if your soil is sandy, and approximately an inch (2.5 cm) if your soil is fine-textured, clay-based, or heavy.
To ensure that the water penetrates the soil deeply, water your lawn for longer periods of time less frequently. This will encourage the roots to grow deep, making your lawn more drought-tolerant.
Avoid watering your lawn every day, as this can lead to shallow, weak roots and unhealthy grass. Instead, wait as long as possible before watering, and don’t bother watering if the weather report predicts rain.
Additional Lawn Watering Tips
- Water early in the morning to minimize evaporation.
- Use a sprinkler timer to ensure that your lawn gets the right amount of water, even if you’re not home.
- Irrigate only the stressed areas of your lawn, as grass doesn’t always dry evenly. Areas with sandy soil or near driveways and sidewalks tend to dry out faster.
- If water begins to run off before you’ve irrigated the recommended amount, allow the water to soak in and then finish watering. (Heavy soil should be watered at a slower rate to help prevent runoff.)
- Deep watering encourages strong, drought-tolerant roots.
- Never water your lawn every day. This encourages shallow, weak roots and unhealthy grass.
- Wait as long as possible before watering, and don’t bother watering if the weather report predicts rain.
- Water early in the morning to minimize evaporation.
- Use a sprinkler timer to ensure that your lawn gets the right amount of water, even if you’re not home.
- Irrigate only the stressed areas of your lawn, as grass doesn’t always dry evenly. Areas with sandy soil or near driveways and sidewalks tend to dry out faster.
By following these tips, you can keep your lawn lush and green all summer long, even during the hottest and driest days.
