Knowing the right way to water your lawn is critical to having and keeping healthy grass. When lawns receive proper irrigation, grass remains lush and green, and you’re not wasting a precious resource!
A Healthy Lawn Isn’t Possible Without Proper Irrigation
Central Florida’s tropical climate can make it difficult to know the right amount of water to give your grass. However, the following guidelines will help you water your lawn the right way.
Identify Your Grass
Warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia are the best choices for a beautiful Central Florida lawn. While these grasses thrive in tropical climates, nature doesn’t always provide the exact amount of water each variety requires. This is where you come in. Once you identify the type of grass growing in your lawn, you’ll know how much water it needs to stay healthy.
Water Thoroughly
The key to keeping your grass healthy is watering the entire lawn deeply. The reason for this is because light waterings result in shallow root growth, which will cause the lawn to dry out quickly under the scorching sun.
A good rule of thumb is to apply about an inch of water per week during the growing season. To measure how much water your lawn is receiving, place shallow containers around your lawn. Tuna cans work well for this experiment. When you run your sprinklers, time how long it takes to fill them with 1 inch of water.
Create an Irrigation Schedule
In Central Florida, it’s typically recommended to water your lawn 2-3 times a week from spring to fall.
There’s a simple mathematical equation to make sure you’re not overwatering or underwatering. Simply divide the amount of time it takes to fill your rain gauge or tuna cans to 1 inch by 2 or 3 to know how long each irrigation session should last.
For example, if you know it takes one hour to accumulate 1 inch of water and you want to water 3 times per week, divide 60 (minutes) by 3. This formula reveals that you must set your irrigation timer to run for 20 minutes per session.
Heed caution during the dormant season as you’ll need to alter your irrigation schedule by reducing the amount of water and frequency.
It’s recommended that a maintenance check be performed on your irrigation system every so often to make sure it’s working properly. If you’re not sure your system is running like it should, call us or complete our request service form and we’ll be happy to take a look.
Early Morning Quench
During the months with the warmest temperatures, irrigate your lawn in the early morning to give grass the moisture it needs to sustain itself throughout the day.
Adjust for Rainfall
It wouldn’t be Central Florida without frequent summer storms! Therefore, keep an eye on the weather forecast and adjust your irrigation system accordingly. If there’s been adequate rainfall, watering your lawn with the usual frequency will be overkill and your lawn will suffer.
If monitoring rain gauges, tuna cans, and the weather forecast isn’t your thing, pair your irrigation system with state-of-the-art technology to enjoy a simple and more efficient way to water your lawn.
Fine Tune Your Irrigation Technique
Monitor Your Soil’s Moisture – Use a soil moisture meter to check the moisture levels in your lawn. When it indicates that the soil is dry 2-3 inches below the surface, give your lawn a drink.
Don’t Water During Windy Days – Gusty conditions cause water to evaporate more quickly and can result in uneven watering. If the forecast is predicting strong winds, put your irrigation system on pause.
Aerate Your Lawn – Periodically aerating your lawn can improve water penetration and promote healthy root growth.
Mulch Grass Clippings – Leave grass clippings on the lawn. They act as natural mulch and help your grass retain moisture.
Healthy Lawns Aren’t Thirsty or Drowning
When Central Florida lawns are properly irrigated, their root system is healthy, so grass is evenly green, thick, and bounces back after foot traffic. Furthermore, when grass receives an adequate amount of water from both you and Mother Nature, insects and fungi will stay away.
Once you have your irrigation system programmed according to the season and current weather, your house will look like it’s surrounded by vibrant emeralds, and your neighbors will be asking how you do it!
Remember, if you ever need assistance with sprinkler repair or irrigation in the Orlando area, make sure and give us a ring!