The Grass Can Always Be Greener: Basic Lawn Irrigation and Lawn Care Advice

A lot of first-time lawn owners make the mistake of thinking that all grass is the same and that the only way to keep them green is to water them from time to time and just mow them whenever. And then, when their grass eventually turns brown, they look to their neighbors and think “geez I wonder what Jim is doing that I’m not.”

Well, the reason the grass is greener on the other side is because the other side is practicing proper lawn irrigation and lawn care. And before you say “I don’t have time to do in-depth research and study of my particular grass and soil types!'” Don’t worry: it’s not that complicated.

A basic lawn irrigation system from a respected lawn care provider and just some general lawn care know-how is all you need to be the “other side” with enviable grass.

The Grass Can Always Be Greener: Basic Lawn Irrigation
Of course, different types of grass and different types of soil will require different irrigation schedules. It’s always a great idea to know your specific lawn details before you can apply any good and effective lawn care.

But all lawn care starts with good irrigation. One of the biggest mistakes people make with their lawns is watering them too much. According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture -most lawns in the country only require watering once every four to eight days. Again, this is dependent on the type of grass and soil you have, but in general, that’s all the irrigation that most common lawns need.

Lawn care experts say it’s less about how often you irrigate and more about how much irrigation you provide: according to research by the National Resources Conservation Service, lawns benefit greatly from less frequent irrigation but with more water during those irrigation schedules. This results in healthier turf with plants that have deeper, more secure roots.

Speaking of irrigation schedules, it’s always best to schedule your lawn sprinkling in early mornings, preferably near dawn. This gives the grass more time to absorb the water and more time for their roots to absorb the water as well. This also helps the grass avoid fungal issues, as any excess water will evaporate during the day. Well-irrigated roots will give grass plumper blades which help them survive throughout the day. As much as possible, try to avoid watering your lawn in the middle of the day, as the heat of the sun will prevent the grass from absorbing all the water it needs.
That being said, avoid watering at night, as the excess water will not evaporate, thus increasing the chances of your grass developing a fungal disease.

Again, the quantity and frequency will depend entirely on your specific grass type and soil type, but the Natural Resources Conservation Service recommends using enough water to get the first 4 to 6 inches of soil moist. This means you’ll need about an inch of water if your soil is primarily made of clay and ½ inch of water for sandier soil.

The Grass Can Always Be Greener: Basic Lawn Care

Once you have a lawn irrigation system and schedule set up, basic lawn care becomes much easier. That being said, there are some basic lawn care practices that you should be implementing for your lawn to get the best treatment possible.

Know How Much to Mow: every particular grass species will have their own proper mowing height. Try to keep your grass at that particular height as this encourages deeper roots and promotes a drought-resistant lawn. Remember that the longer your grass is, the slower the evaporation of excess water, while short grass blades lose water much quicker.
Keep the Grass Clippings Where They Fall: This may sound counter-intuitive, but lawn care experts suggest that people do not remove grass clippings after mowing the grass. These grass clippings actually serve two very important purposes:

Grass clippings can act as mulch, providing your grass with a natural fertilizer and returning valuable nutrients and minerals back into the grass roots.

Grass clippings will serve as a sort-of heat shield against fast evaporation, helping trap moisture near the roots so it doesn’t evaporate fast.

Aerate From Time to Time:

Over time, lawns will start to collect bits and pieces of natural debris, which is why it’s important to ‘aerate’ the soil. To do this, take out cores of soil throughout your lawn once every year and, if necessary, dethatch the grass as well.

Dethatching just means removing excess thatch from the grass. As the natural debris builds up, it creates a layer of organic material in your lawn called a thatch. A small layer of thatch can be quite beneficial for your lawn as it provides your grass with a year-long moisture barrier to help it regulate water evaporation. However, too thick of a thatch and you’ll choke the life out of your lawn. Experts recommend limiting thatch removal to early spring or fall.

Basic lawn irrigation and lawn care are all homeowners need to create a patch of grass that will become the envy of the neighborhood.