Keeping your lawn and landscape hydrated may sound easy, but how much water does it need every day? And with the summer heat already beating down on your home and landscape, how often should you water it? Knowing how to water your lawn and landscape is important in proper outdoor living space management, but to do this efficiently, you need to understand some of the basics first.
You might be considering having an automated sprinkler system so that you won’t have to worry about your plants drying up or watering them too much. Depending on the type of design, you can have them water your landscape from above or below while still saving water in the process. But to ensure you have a proper system installed, you’ll need to work with a trusted professional who can guide you in each step of the process.
Watering your outdoor living space during the summer months doesn’t have to be tedious and costly when you know when to do it and how often it needs to be done. To help you out, our landscaping experts at Backyard Reflections share their insight:
Knowing When to Water Your Lawn
The warm weather can easily dry up your lawn and landscape if you don’t water it properly. One good way to tell if it needs more or less water is to observe the color of your grass. For instance, if the grass looks a bit grayish or dull green, then it needs more water. You can also walk over the grass to check if it’s been watered enough. If your footprints don’t disappear fast enough, that’s because the grass isn’t moist enough to spring back up.
Knowing the best time to water your lawn and landscape may depend on the local weather conditions and the type of plants you have. But a good rule of thumb is to do it before the hottest part of the day, which is usually sometime before late morning or noon. This is recommended by most landscape design experts to give enough time for the soil to soak up the water. Doing it later in the day won’t give it enough time to let the water soak in before the early evening temperatures arrive.
However, if you’re not keen on watering your lawn and landscape early in the morning, you can do it late in the evening. Water won’t evaporate as quickly during the evening, so your soil can soak it all up much better. This also allows your lawn and other plants to supply themselves efficiently with water and stay hydrated during the next day.
How Often Should You Water Your Lawn?
You wouldn’t want to water your plants and landscape too much, as this can result in waterlogging. This suppresses the breathing air of the roots under your soil and drowns it without taking in oxygen. At the same time, watering them too scarcely will dry them up easily under the sun. You also wouldn’t want it to become a tedious chore, so we recommend watering your lawn and landscape at least twice a week.
When you water your landscape, you should do it with just enough water to keep your plants hydrated. To be specific, your soil needs to be soaked around six to eight inches below the surface for proper irrigation. This allows the roots of your lawn to soak up the water properly while encouraging better growth that will be beneficial during the dry seasons.
Keep in mind that the watering should be thorough with the idea of doing it less often but with sufficient water each session. It will take a moment for the water to seep into the soil, after all, so doing it in parts ensures there’s not much excess water flowing away unused. Also consider drying the plants slightly right before watering them, as this makes the roots grow out more and absorb more water.
What About Your Shaded Lawns?
Of course, grass in the shady areas of your landscape doesn’t normally need as much water as the rest of the lawn. Even during hot and dry weather, the parts of your lawn that are under shaded areas will still look green and healthy. But as for the grass growing under your trees, they may require more watering than usual. This is because the tree is already soaking up some of the water that’s meant for the lawn.
The Type of Sprinklers You Should Use
Sometimes, it’s better to have an automated sprinkler system than to do it manually. When properly installed, it can effectively preserve the beauty and function of your landscape design. This is also more convenient for bigger landscapes as you won’t need to tire yourself out whenever you water your lawn and landscape.
There are several types of sprinklers to choose from, and they’re all designed to give various results in your landscape. Some of the most common ones include:
- Oscillating Sprinklers – These are some of the best sprinkler systems for small or medium-sized landscapes. The sprinklers water in a rectangular pattern to ensure they cover a wide area of the lawn.
- Rotary Sprinklers – This is another commonly used sprinkler system, as they’re usually found on athletic fields and golf courses. This is perfect for smaller lawns and landscapes, as well as hills and slopes.
- Drip Emitters – This is recommended if you have flower beds, container plants, and other flower/vegetable gardens in your landscape. Tiny holes slowly drip water directly into the soil which allows the roots to get just enough water they need without becoming waterlogged.
- In-Ground Sprinklers – This is a bit pricier than rotary or oscillating sprinklers, but it’s also one of the most convenient. You won’t need to think about your lawn and landscape as you can schedule when you want them to be watered!
If you’re looking for a local specialist in landscape design, Backyard Reflections is your best choice for the job! Call us today at (320) 274-6336 if you’re from Annandale or (218) 454-1065 if you’re at Nisswa. You can also fill out our convenient online form!
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