5 Tips for Watering Your Lawn
As the temperature heats up here in Adelaide, it’s crucial to get your lawn’s watering routine just right. Watering your lawn correctly is vital for its health, and doing it the right way can ensure your lawn thrives throughout the warmer months. Not enough water, and you’ll face issues like brown patches and drought stress; too much water, and you risk issues like root rot and fungal diseases. Striking the right balance is key.
So, to help you keep your lawn lush, hydrated, and drought-tolerant, we’ve put together these top 5 watering tips. And remember, keeping your lawn well-watered is more than just a simple task – it’s a strategy that will pay off in the long run.
Tip 1: Use Sprinklers and Soaker Hoses for Even Coverage
When it comes to watering your lawn, consistency is key. Using sprinklers and soaker hoses will provide a more even distribution of water compared to hand-watering with a hose. Hand-watering can lead to dry spots and over-watering in others, which isn’t ideal for healthy lawn growth. If you’re looking for something simple and effective, sprinklers are a great option for ensuring every blade of grass gets a proper drink.
Tip 2: Water Early in the Morning for Best Results
Watering your lawn in the early morning – before the sun gets too hot – is the best way to ensure it gets the moisture it needs without too much evaporation. Watering in the early morning gives your grass the chance to absorb the water deep into the soil where it’s most effective. Avoid watering in the late afternoon or evening as this can lead to fungal diseases.
Tip 3: Water Less Often, But for Longer Periods
Rather than watering your lawn every day for a short period of time (10 minutes), it’s much better to water deeply and less often (30min/2-3 times a week). This allows the water to penetrate the soil more deeply, encouraging stronger, deeper roots that are more drought-tolerant. Frequent shallow watering can lead to weak root systems, making your lawn more vulnerable to stress.
Tip 4: Know Your Lawn Type and Adjust Your Watering Accordingly
Different types of grass need different amounts of water. Whether you have a thirsty RTF Tall Fescue or a drought-tolerant Kikuyu, it’s important to understand what’s best for your particular grass type. Make sure you’re watering appropriately for your specific lawn.
Tip 5: Adjust Your Watering for Weather Changes
Keep an eye on the weather and adjust your watering schedule accordingly. If there’s a stretch of hot, dry days, your lawn will need a little extra hydration. On the other hand, if you’ve had a few days of rain, you might not need to water at all. Keep in mind that if the lawn only receives a light shower of rain it may not be enough to get water to the roots.
Hydrophobic Soil
If you’re experiencing hydrophobic soil (soil resistant to water infiltration) we would recommend using a soil wetting agent. They will help improve water penetration, moisture retention and water distribution within the soil, keeping water in the root zone where it is needed. It conserves water and can reduce the frequency of irrigation treatments.
Make Your Watering Routine Effortless with an Automated System
One of the easiest ways to maintain a consistent watering schedule is by setting up an automated watering system. With a simple tap timer, you can set your system to water your lawn regularly, without having turn taps on and off manually. Some of these timers even have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, meaning you can control your watering system from your smartphone, no matter where you are!
If you’re looking for a more tailored solution, you could also consider having a professional irrigation system installed. Not only does this take the hassle out of watering, but it ensures your lawn gets the right amount of water at the right time, which helps you save water and money in the long run.
We offer a range of irrigation systems to suit every lawn size and budget. We’ll design a system that works best for your space and needs, so you can spend less time worrying about watering and more time enjoying your garden.
We can also assess older systems and upgrade them to current generation technology which feature a range of connectivity options such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. These newer systems allow you to water when you are away from home and allow you to customise your watering schedules from your phone via app.
For more information on how we can help you optimise your lawn’s watering needs, feel free to contact us – (08) 8326 3255 / enquiries@akersoflawnsa.com.au
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You can also request a free quote here.