Keep your lawn green

We installed sod in our backyard in April and with some water it really came in thick. Now with this hotter weather, I'm starting to see some dry patches. I did some research on how to prevent these and wanted to share it with you.
1) The first thing is to water longer for fewer times rather than for shorter periods many times. There are two reasons for this. First, if you water it longer the water will penetrate further into the soil and keep it moist longer. Second, if you water for a short time only the surface gets wet which promotes the roots to grow in this area. As the soil dries, the roots are more exposed to dryness and the heat. Longer watering periods will promote deeper root growth, which allows the roots to stay moist longer.

A typical time to water is about 15 to 20 minutes. But this can vary depending on whether you have an automatic system or are handwatering. Try out some different times and you'll see pretty quickly if you have the right time or not.

*I was very happy with the guy that put in my sprinkler system. Let me know if you'd like his number.

2) Another important rule is to water during the early morning. Watering in the morning allows the water to penetrate the soil more and minimizes water lost to evaporation. A start time of 3 or 4 am is considered the optimum time. Don't be temped to water in the evening as letting the moisture sit overnight can cause fungus to develop that will harm your lawn.

3) Mow grass on a taller mower setting. This puts less stress on the grass and also helps to keep moisture in your lawn.

4) If you're in the city there are established watering days. For even numbered addresses you can water Thursdays and Sundays. For odd numbered addresses you can water Wednesdays and Saturdays.

I hope this helps and your lawn stays green all summer!

Bill Conover
America Realty and Lending
billconover@america-lending.com