Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have “greener” lawns, in both senses of the word? The good news is there are several simple practices that will benefit your lawn as well as the environment, especially in areas where rainfall is in short supply.
Here are a few ways to minimize water usage when caring for your lawn.
1. Watering
When you water has a huge impact. We recommend watering early in the morning since wind and sun during the day cause water loss. We do not recommend watering in the evening since it encourages mildew and fungus. Instead of frequent, shallow watering, it’s also best to water deeply but less frequently. How can you tell when it’s time to water? When you walk on your lawn and the blades don’t spring back up, your lawn is thirsty!
2. Mowing
When you mow your lawn in summer months, use the tallest recommended height for your type of grass. This will encourage deeper roots, which are more effective at reaching water. Taller grass also shades soil, which reduces water loss and helps ward off weeds.
3. Core Aeration
Mowers, foot and vehicle traffic all compact the soil, which prevents roots from expanding and interferes with nutrient and water absorption. Aeration pulls cores from the soil, creating voids or new air-filled spaces. Looser soil particles allow rain and irrigation to soak further into the ground and helpful microorganisms to enrich the soil.
4. Grass Seed
Use new varieties of grass seed that are more drought resistant and require less water.
5. Wetting Agents
To properly saturate the soil, precipitation must be light and steady. When soil dries, it becomes hard and less penetrable to rainfall, and much is lost as run off. Soil wetting agents improve water penetration and distribution, moisture retention, water use efficiency and drainage.
