Friday, August 20, 2010

Proper Irrigation Practices

This is the time of year for New England lawns to burn, so if you're lucky enough to have an irrigation system, you should keep your lawn watered. Here are a few tips to make sure you are watering your lawns properly:

You want to make sure that you water your lawn long enough to have an effect, but not so long that it gets soggy. Applying water faster than the soil can absorb it can lead to run off and wasted water. Keep in mind that light, frequent watering encourages shallow roots. On the flip side, excessive watering keeps the root system saturated with water and is harmful to the lawn. Roots need a balance of water and air to function and grow properly. We recommend watering 2-3x a week for at least an hour, rather than everyday for only 20 minutes or everyday for several hours.

What about time of day? The best time for lawn irrigation is in the early morning hours. Watering in late afternoon or late morning may be detrimental if it extends the time the lawn is naturally wet from dew. Avoid watering during the day to prevent immediate evaporation and even scalding the lawn on very hot days.

If your lawn has burned and you don't have a sprinkler system, don't worry. Fall is the best time to aerate and seed your lawn. Check back for our next blog about just that topic!