Testing for water readiness
Performing daily irrigation on turf grass is often not necessary, especially during cooler weather. The secret to how to grow grass that is healthy is to test for water readiness prior to watering. Only watering when the turf is dry and actually requires it creates a stronger root system and longer-lived, healthier grass. Several methods work well for checking to see if your lawn requires watering. They are:
- Test the grass by walking on it. If the turf springs back quickly, it doesn’t require irrigation. If your footprint remains for several minutes, it’s time to water.
- Examine the color of the turf. Grass that has a blue-gray tinge requires water.
- Insert a finger, trowel or moisture meter into the soil, and check the top 6 inches. If it is dry, it’s time to water.
Know the best time to water lawn
Water during periods of the day when evaporation is less likely. This means irrigating in the early morning hours or at night. Respond to the changing seasons by resetting your sprinklers accordingly when the length of day changes.
Set up multiple watering cycles
Avoid waste by preventing water runoff. If you experience excess water flooding the street, shorten the watering cycle and create more of them. For instance, set up to water three times at one-hour intervals, which allows time for the water to sink in before watering again. Your goal is achieving deep soil penetration, which will lead to stronger, healthier grass.
Check your irrigation system
Watering systems require regular inspection to ensure that they are working properly. Few things will kill your grass faster than broken sprinkler heads during the hot days of summer. Check to see that the sprinklers offer head-to-head coverage and completely saturate the lawn. Also consider using low-flow sprinkler heads, which help prevent runoff. And if you don’t have a programmable sprinkler system, consider installing one to make your irrigation chores easier.
