Watering Your Lawn 101

Watering 101:  A Crash Course in Keeping Your Lawn Healthy and Beautiful

1) Fundamental Rule of Lawn Care:  You CAN’T skip watering!

2) Grass absorbs water through its roots; Any excess is transpired (like perspiration in humans) out of the leaves (blades).

3) Your grass continually engages in photosynthesis, whereby the grass takes energy from the sun and converts it into food for the roots.  Without water, grass blades cannot remain full and upright, become limp, and are unable to collect rays from the sun — starting a vicious, downhill cycle.  Remember:  A typical grass plant is 70% water!

4) Grass roots grow well only in soil that is well aerated.  Aeration allows oxygen to reach the roots.

5) If you water too much, the soil may become saturated, depriving the roots of oxygen.

6) Grass roots tend to “follow the water.”  If you don’t water enough, the roots lay mostly at the top of   the soil, and become more prone to drying out quickly…

7) MANY factors determine how much water your lawn needs:

                There are three common soil types:

*Sandy soil:  Holds the least amount of moisture; Dries-out the fastest; Requires frequent watering, but less water to penetrate the soil.

*Clay soil (Common in Colorado!): Retains water; Absorbs water poorly; Requires more water than sandy soil to allow seepage to the grass roots; Has a tendency to result in run-off onto sidewalks, gutters, etc.

 *Loam soil:  Falls between heavy clay and sandy soils; Consists of different sized soil particles; Ideal for aeration and water penetration.

8) Remember:  Wind can dry-out a lawn – not just the sun.

9) Trees (Especially older ones) have extensive root systems which can draw a lot of moisture from the soil, competing with nearby grass.

10) If you fertilize your lawn, be sure to water more.

11) The frequency and amount of water that you may use depends on a variety of factors:  Soil type, type of grass, and weather conditions.  Here are some general pointers:

a) Use the old-fashioned “screwdriver test:” If you cannot stick a screwdriver into your sod with relative ease approximately 3 inches, your lawn requires more water.

b) One method of knowing that your grass is too dry:  When you walk across your lawn, you can see your matted “footprints” in the grass.

c) It is better to water in multiple, short periods than in one, long continuous burst.  Try watering, twice a day, for around 10 minutes each.  The soil can absorb the water more efficiently, and you reduce the risk of run-off – and higher water bills!

d) Try to water in the late evening / early morning.  Why? It reduces the amount of water lost to evaporation…

12) If your lawn isn’t looking good, be willing to adjust watering times.  Also, make adjustments to the sprinkler heads [Olson Outdoors can help you with this!].

13) Newer lawns need to be watered more than older lawns, as the former have roots that haven’t yet established themselves in the soil.

                Remember:  The NUMBER of watering periods is better than the QUANTITY of water used…

Olson Lawn Care is based in the north Denver Metro area. If you live in Broomfield, Westminster, Erie, Superior, Arvada, or Thornton, we can take care of all of your lawn and landscaping needs! Give us a call at 720.201.7561 or send us an email at olsonlawnservicesllc@gmail.com