When the sun is beating down in the heat of summer, it’s tempting to want to offer relief to our lawns in the form of overwatering. But overwatering can lead to disease just like underwatering can result in a damaged lawn from drought. And consistent overwatering or under-watering can promote shallow roots, which is a recipe for disaster when a lawn is under stress in the hottest months of summer.
With the health of your lawn and landscaping at risk, no one wants to be confused about how to water a lawn in summer. That’s why our landscaping experts in Kingsport have compiled the following tips to familiarize you with the dos and don’ts of summer lawn care.
How much water does my lawn need in the summer?
The general rule of thumb for most lawns and gardens in Tennessee is 1 inch of water a week, including the rainfall that is often frequent in summer months. During periods of drought, lawns need supplemental water, up to three times a week, usually for 25-30 minutes each time. Areas in direct sunlight may need additional water.
How do I know when I’ve reached 1 inch of water?
Use rain gauges, or put a few cans in the lawn to capture water while the sprinklers are running. Set a time to determine how long it takes the sprinkler or irrigation system to fill the cans up to 1 inch deep with water. Next time you’re watering, just keep the sprinklers going for that amount of time.
When should I water my lawn?
Watering the lawn in the early morning is best. This decreases the amount of time dew sits on grass blades, which can promote disease. But deeply watering the lawn once or twice a week in the early morning also ensures enough water seeps into the soil to hydrate the lawn before the hot sun evaporates the water.
Lawn irrigation in the tri-cities area
Homeowners have the best of intentions when watering their lawns in the summer. But there’s as much danger to your lawn in overwatering as in underwatering. Take the guesswork out of it all by giving our professionals at Promier Landscapes a call at (423) 872-2988, or fill out the form on the website to reach us online today. We’ve been serving the Tri-cities area for the past 20 years and would love to help with all your lawn care needs.