Why does it seem like you water your lawn but you don’t get the results you expect? The answer is proper watering methods.First, let us start with clearing up a widespread misconception that roots move toward water.Plants and plant roots have no way to move to a new location.New roots grow in soil with the proper balance of moisture and air for growth.If the balance is near the surface, roots grow near the surface; if the moisture and air relationship is better deeper down, they grow in that part of the soil. This is the key: water your lawn down deep, twelve to 18 inches and then leave it for several days or a week depending on the air temperature.Let the surface layer dry out to a depth of two inches or more. This will discourage shallow root growth and roots will grow where there is more moisture.By deep watering your grass will stay greener during hot dry weather and be healthier.
The type of sprinkler used depends on how long you need to water. The larger the area covered the longer you need to leave a sprinkler in one area.One way to determine this is to place a container in different areas of the lawn and time the sprinkler say for 15 minutes and this will show the amount of water and the coverage of the sprinkler. Each type of sprinkler has a different pattern and volume of water discharged. Research shows blue grass only needs one and a half inches of moisture per week. Try not to water during the day if the temperature is above say 80 degrees. This is because a lot of water will be evaporating before it goes into the ground and the evaporation could equal 50% or more. The best time to water is when it is cooler and less windy, say first thing in the morning.
