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How to Water the Lawn Efficiently

How to Water the Lawn Efficiently

Grass contains a high percentage of water, so it’s no surprise that your lawn may require additional water than it receives from rainfall. And in periods of drought the lawn most definitely needs additional water. By adhering to a few simple strategies, you can maximize your watering efficiency and ideally conserve water too. Follow these five tips on how to keep your lawn green with less water:

•    Choose grass wisely. You may opt for a grass variety that will do well with the amount of sunlight or shade it will receive in your yard but that also requires less watering, can withstand periods without rain, or is the best grass to absorb water in your region.
•    Mow to maximize moisture. Try not to cut the grass to less than two inches in height to avoid your grass drying out. When the grass blades are too short, they are more likely to dry out and become damaged because they cannot shade the soil and roots from the sun. 
•    Grouping plants together by water requirements. Planting vegetation with similar water needs close together enables you to be more selective in watering only those areas that need to be watered. You’ll want to group turf areas together to increase watering efficiency, plus reduce both runoff and evaporation.
•    Water lawns and landscaping beds wisely. Planning your watering schedule wisely is another way to ensure sensible water use. Water your lawn only when it’s needed and avoid watering during the hottest part of the day. People often ask if you can water grass in the sun. Watering the lawn early in the morning or in the evening is best because it helps ensure the water doesn’t simply evaporate by midday before it has a chance to reach the lawn’s roots. You might also consider investing in a smart sprinkler controller for an in-ground sprinkler system to automatically monitor the weather, set up schedules, and make it easier to turn your sprinkler on and off.
•    Check your soil’s composition. Your soil’s composition also affects how much water your garden or lawn will require. To keep soil moist in the summer, try cultivating soil regularly and adding organic matter, like compost, to help the soil retain water longer. Dethatching and aerating lawns when needed can help soil use water more efficiently and improve water retention in soil.
•    Be thoughtful about when and how you fertilize your lawn. Some fertilizers do need to be watered in for best results and may be best applied before rain showers to help green up your lawn. Fertilizers also may encourage plant growth, requiring increased watering.
•    Apply mulch to beds. You’ll also want to mulch over soil beds to reduce moisture loss, since mulch holds water, and to help insulate the soil and plant roots from heat and sunlight. Mulching helps to minimize evaporation, curb weed growth, moderate soil temperature, and prevent soil erosion. It can also add visual appeal.