Springfield Illinois: Knowing When to Water Your Water

As any good landscaper knows, water is essential to lawn care. You know that you need to continue hydrating your lawn to keep it healthy, but have you given much thought to how much water your grass needs? Is it getting enough? What about seasons? Do you need to water your lawn in the winter, or just on hot, summer days?  Here are some helpful tips to help you discover how often to water your lawn.

First Question: Is Your Lawn Dry?

The first thing you need to know about lawn care is how to tell if your lawn is too dry – and that can be difficult given the different types of soils found in Springfield, Illinois. Fortunately, there’s a relatively easy way to test. Grab a screwdriver, pick a spot, and try to push the screwdriver into the ground. If your soil is moist, you shouldn’t have too much difficulty. If it’s like trying to pierce a stone, you’ll know you aren’t watering your lawn enough.

The Lawn Care Guideline

When you water your lawn, you should assume that it needs at least 1″ to 1 ½” of water per week – and yes, this does include the winter months. As any good landscaper knows, a healthy, green lawn in the summer is a year-round job. True, you won’t have to do as much work in the winter, but you should consider buying a rain gauge so you know how much moisture your lawn is getting. It might seem strange, but if you go through a dry patch without any precipitation, be sure to bring out the sprinkler for a mid-week watering to prevent winter damage.

Deep Watering for Deep Roots

Here’s where lawn care gets tricky – watering your grass more frequently is not necessarily better for it. When you water your grass daily, your grass develops a shallow root system, as the roots go to where the water is. This means your grass will dry quicker and your turf will be weaker. Instead, focus on watering your lawn deeply two to three times per week, rather than every day.

Beat the Heat

When summer comes, expect your lawn to require more water. It’s best to water your lawn in the morning, before the sun has a chance to burn off any of the extra water. Remember – you need to give your lawn the right amount of water to keep it green and healthy, but not so much that you flood the street. If you need any more lawn care tips or struggling on keeping your lawn beautiful and lush throughout the year, contact your local, professional landscaping company, Custom Taylor’d Lawn & Landscaping in Springfield, Illinois.