Many people assume that in order to keep a lawn lush and green, just keep watering it until you arrive at the goal. These people, however, are mistaken.
They are usually giving the lawn more water than it needs. By doing this they make it more susceptible to fungus and other lawn diseases. It can wash away expensive fertilizer before it has a chance to do it’s job. It can cause the lawn to grow too quickly. And, very simply, it’s a waste of water and money.
Most lawn experts agree that as a rule of thumb, a lawn requires about one inch of water every week. AN old timer told me once that the way he monitors how much water his lawn receives is to place a tin can on the lawn, and measure how much water is in the can after watering ot receiving rain. For a more high technology approach, a moisture level meter can be purchased for about $10.
Many people who have in ground sprinklers program the system to water automatically. You should not use this hands off approach. I have neighbors whose sprinklers are going off while its raining. Don’t use the automatic feature on the sprinklers. When watering is needed, turn the system on, then turn it off when finished.
But if your lawn is new, it requires significantly more water than an established lawn.
After a rain storm, wait until the top one or two inches of soil are dry before watering. Deep, infrequent watering will result in a deeper root system for your lawn.
Water at the proper time. Watering in the morning will provide the lawn with the hydration it needs to get through a hot day. And usually there is less wind in the morning, which will mean less evaporation should occur. The best time to water is in the morning, between 4:00 AM and 8:00 AM