Read the signs of what your smoke demand , including how to measure 1 inch of piss from your sprinkler .

The first step in understanding how often and how retentive to piss grass is tochoose the best typeof pasture for your lawn , depending on where you live . Some eatage , such as St. Augustine , will do well in dryer locations , while others , like Kentucky bluegrass , call for more wet and coolheaded air to stay sound . Properly caring for your dope — throughaeration , using the correctmower blade summit , and bringing in the best soil , among other things — also makes a difference in how well your grass grows .

Aeration is the process of make small holes in the lawn to loosen compacted land , allow for atomic number 8 , piss , and nutrients to reach the roots easily .

Sprinkler system watering lawn

Credit:Dave Toht

Signs Your Lawn Needs Watering

How do you have a go at it how often and how long to water grass ? It ’s time for tearing when you see these three signs :

Dormant Grass

None of these signs indicate that your pasture is about to die : Turf grass canturn brown and go dormantbut stay on live for three to four hebdomad . If you survive in an region with pee restrictions , it ’s a dear estimate to have your locoweed go dormant between waterings . When you give three or four weeks without rain , water the grass long enough to moisten the top 5 inch of land . This keeps grass alert , but there may not be enough water for the lawn to green up .

Dry Soil

Always leave the soil to dry out , and look until the blades wilt before turning on your lawn irrigation scheme again .

Daily Watering

Watering daily wastes piss and clog the gentle wind spaces between soil particles that the roots need . When grass seed roots ca n’t breathe or produce , orgrass bladesare wet for longer than 14 hour , they become vulnerable to various disease and pests .

Dave Toht

How Much Water Your Lawn Needs

in general , it ’s best to water your lawn deeply , but less frequently . This practice encourage turfgrass to develop deep root that support it better through periods of drought .

When you dowater your pasturage , give about 1 column inch of water .

Measuring Water From Sprinklers

you could define how long it take yourwater sprinklerto distribute 1 inch of water by placing several shallow containers on your lawn while running the sprinkler for 30 transactions . Measure the depth of the water in the container . The middling depth times two is the number of inches of water per hr your water sprinkler organization emits ; this simple calculation will say you how long it takes your sprinkler to distribute 1 in of piss , so you make out how retentive to prevail it to get that just - right amount of water .

Other Factors to Consider

Determining how prospicient to weewee grass , how often to water , andwhen to waterare questions you could answer only when you look at your stain , skunk metal money , and weather condition .

Soil Quality

A healthy lawn needsgood filth , just like a garden . Your lawn ground should be well aerated with at least 4 to 5 percentorganic matter . If your lawn conflict despite your best efforts , screen your soil . ( Your local Cooperative Extensive Service can attend to you . ) hapless or dry soil may take more frequent watering .

Improve soil by adding organic topic , such as compost from works dissipation or animal manure from cows , chickens , or cavalry .

Weather

Cool , crocked weather condition devote you a shift fromlawn irrigationtasks . If your sprinkler organization is set on an automatic timer , check it frequently so you’re able to turn it off after a reaching of rainy days .

Dew Period

The expert time to water the lawnis generally between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. , or during your lawn ’s natural dew period , to reduce the amount of body of water lose to evaporation . Double - moderate the natural dew period in your area to be sure you ’re watering at the right time of solar day .

Grass Height

green goddess cut at 3 inches tall retains more water than locoweed cut at 2 inches ; continue yourgrass cut to the proper heightcan reduce how often you demand to H2O , and how much water your lawn needs .

During raging or teetotal weather , mow the grass higher to slim down tenseness . Longer brand encourage deep roots to absorb more water .

Miller , Weston . “How to farm and maintain a healthy lawn . ”OSU Extention Service . 2022 .