Lawn Care Management: Top 3 Watering Tips
The heat index in Nashville recently has been a bit unbearable. With 95-degree days feeling like 105, spending any amount of time outside isn’t a priority. While the blazing heat entices us to stay indoors with our A/C cranked up, it’s necessary to get out and give your lawn the proper care and nutrients it needs to survive.
Watering helps your lawn stay lush, green, and healthy all summer long. Here are three tips that’ll help your turf stay properly hydrated:
Be Mindful of the Time of Day
Early bird gets the worm—and the water! Morning is the best time of day to water your grass due to the cool air and low wind, specifically between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m.
In the afternoon, higher temperatures cause the water to evaporate too quickly. In the evening, the grass may stay wet overnight, which invites diseases, fungus, and pests to thrive in cool conditions.
Water Deeply & Less Frequently
It might go without saying, but shallow water promotes shallow root growth. The deeper the water penetrates the soil, the deeper your turf’s roots will grow. Deep roots give lawns healthy, green grass.
Let’s talk frequency. Lawns need between 1 – 2 inches of water a week. A general rule of thumb is water once every 3 to 4 days. Now, Middle Tennessee sees a fair amount of rainfall throughout the year, and the unpredictable weather might give us sunshine one minute and a downpour the next. Keep an eye on the weather forecasts to plan and adjust your watering schedule if necessary.
Use Shrubs & Trees to Manage Trouble Areas
The soil in your yard can change significantly within short distances. While some soils are overly wet and subject to flooding (fairly common in Middle Tennessee), others are shallow and dry.
Not all soils are created equal and there are ways to manage the areas prone to too much or too little water. One solution: planting shrubs or trees around your yard. For areas that see too much water, consider planting viburnum, river birch, sweetgum, and willow, as they can tolerate ample amounts of water. For particularly dry areas, consider planting juniper, crabapple, barberry, and gray dogwood, as they are all drought-tolerant plants.
Proper lawn care takes a lot of work, but the reward of great green grass is worth it! At Pure Green, we know what it takes to maintain a home’s outdoor green space. The first step is a consultation with one of our lawn care experts. Request a quote from Pure Green today!