About 78 percent of Americans have homes with landscaping or lawns. Yet 69 percent admitted their landscaping needs improvement.
Even if you believe you’re taking care of your lawn the right way, chances are, you aren’t. From fertilizing to watering, taking care of the lawn isn’t always as simple as you might think.
If you’re asking yourself, “How often should I water my lawn?” you’re asking a good question. It’s not as obvious as it seems.
Year-Round Care
Lawns and a beautiful landscape increase the value of your home. That’s why learning how to take proper care of your lawn and landscape now makes sense. That way, when it comes time to sell, your house will have great curb appeal.
Lawn care is essential year round. Even if your grass is brown in the winter, it needs water. In fact, many Milwaukee-area lawns typically need at least 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.
How Often Should I Water My Lawn?
It seems easy enough: Turn on the sprinklers every day or every other day. That’s it, right? No, unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Don’t we wish!
First, you need to know the soil type under your lawn. This determines how often you should water, as well as how much. If you don’t know, consult a lawn care professional or buy a soil test kit at your local garden store.
Some tips:
- If your soil is sandy, it requires water about every third day.
- Clay soil does okay with one watering per week, while other soils need water every few days.
- All types of lawn and soil do best with a long, slow soak every few days instead of a little water every day.
There’s also an easy test you can use to see if your lawn is well watered. For the screwdriver test, stick a screwdriver about 6 inches down into the soil. If it’s easy to push, your lawn is getting enough water. If it’s hard to push down, it’s not getting enough water.
Too Much Water
If you notice lots of water running down into the gutter, it’s possible you’re overwatering. Check the sprinkler heads to make sure they’re sprinkling the lawn, not the gutter. If they’re watering the lawn, chances are, you’re overwatering.
Sometimes your lawn exhibits symptoms similar to underwatering when it’s overwatered. Feel the lawn to see if it’s damp before you turn the sprinklers on. If it’s already wet, wait a day or two, then see how it looks.
Too Little Water
It’s possible to give your lawn too little water. So, how do you know if that’s what you’re doing? Here’s how: Some blades of grass wilt without enough water. If your grass is a vibrant green color that turns dull and bluish-gray, that’s a sign of underwatering.
Also, if you walk across the grass and see clear footprints, that’s also a sign the grass needs more water.
Great Lawn Care
Now you know how to answer the question, “How often should I water my lawn?” But remember there’s more to proper lawn care than just watering. Unfortunately, you can never assume you know how to take care of your lawn just because it seems easy. Your lawn is a living plant. It takes knowledge as well as hard work to care for it well.
If you don’t have time to take care of your lawn, ask a professional to help you. It’s well worth it, and we can help! Contact us today for an estimate or appointment.
