Few things stress the owner of a lawn more than wondering if the lawn’s being under or overwatered. Underwatering may be obvious if the grass is yellow, but grass that’s overwatered may also be yellow. In addition, the amount of water your grass needs depends on where you live and what type of grass it is. Bent grass may need more watering than buffalo grass, for example. How can you know whether or not your grass is being overwatered, and how can you avoid this?
Signs That Your Grass Is Overwatered
Though underwatered and overwatered grass often look alike, there are ways you can tell if your grass is overwatered. A lawn that’s overwatered feels spongy beneath the feet whereas an underwatered lawn feels hard. The grass blades of an overwatered lawn are yellow because its roots are weak and not bringing enough nutrients up into the plant. Another way you can tell if your lawn is overwatered is that there’s a lot of thatch, which is a snarl of roots, blades, and other debris. You’ll also notice more pests in an overwatered lawn and even rings of mushrooms.
Avoid Overwatering by Not Watering as Much
How do you know when you’re watering too little? One solution is to work with nature. To determine how much rain your lawn is getting, you can use a rain gauge. These are inexpensive tubes that you plunge into your lawn, and they show how much rain fell. Some folks just stick an ice pick or a screwdriver in their soil. If it’s hard for the instrument to penetrate, the soil needs more watering.
Water Only Once or Twice a Week
Instead of watering every day or so, lawn experts believe that it’s best to water only once or twice a week, especially if you’re getting a good amount of rain. The trick is to make sure that during waterings the lawn is watered deeply. For a big lawn, the sprinkler might need to be on for between three-quarters of an hour to an hour.
Water Early But Not in the Evenings
Experts also recommend watering just as the sun is rising. When you water in the heat of the day, the sun easily evaporates a lot of the moisture. You should also avoid watering in the evening because the water won’t evaporate quickly. Water that clings to the blades of grass overnight invites fungi and other pathogens.
Call Our Experts to Learn More About Lawn Care
Making sure your lawn isn’t overwatered isn’t that difficult. The trick is to cut back on watering sessions but make sure that the water is allowed to sink deeply into the soil when the time comes. For more information on how to have a lush, healthy lawn, get in touch with our professionals at SRP Landscaping of Zachary, LA for proper lawn care.
