Lawn Watering
During the summer, grass performs best with enough water to keep it green and growing. Grass is capable of surviving weeks without watering. Grass can survive between for several weeks without water under ideal conditions including healthy turf, good soil, and little or no traffic. If you wait to water, you should not see any significant thinning or damage when the grass greens; however, this is affected by species, age, shade and your maintenance practices.
Lawn Care Tips
Always:
- Limit lawn watering to 1-2 times a week for no more than 30 minutes. Water thoroughly early in the morning to wet the soil to the depth of the deepest root, approximately 2 - 4 inches. Avoid watering during the heat of the day to prevent evaporation.
- Aerate regularly.
- Mow frequently at 3 inches or higher.
- Use composting as a great method to retain moisture in the soil, which helps conserve water.
- Use water collected in a rain barrel to irrigate plants and flowers.
During extended hot and dry periods:
- Stay off the grass, and limit traffic (kids, pets, mowing) to minimize crushing.
- Limit watering to once every 4 weeks with ¼- to ½-inch of water in order to keep grass hydrated. This will not cause the grass to turn green, but it will increase its long-term survival.
- Avoid the temptation to apply herbicides; these are ineffective on drought-stressed weeds and can damage drought-stressed grass.
- For additional information please visit Purdue University TURF TIPS
Irrigation System Tips
- Avoid using your irrigation system when rain has occurred or is expected to occur. Check your local forecast and watch the weather in your area.
- Rather than watering on a schedule, water only when your grass begins to show signs of stress.
- Add some technology to your irrigation system. Many simple devices on the market have been designed to help you conserve water and save money. You can purchase and install a rain sensor that turns off your system when it's raining. Additionally, you can install a moisture sensor that will determine whether your lawn even needs watering. Rain and moisture sensors can be purchased at home improvement stores that sell irrigation systems.
Source: Purdue University Department of Agronomy, Turf Program