Published: July 01, 2009 11:43 am      

Tips for watering your lawn

Summer is coming, and hot, dry days are soon to follow. To have a healthy, organic lawn, follow these tips on water usage during the months ahead.

A major barrier to adequate moisture in the summer is the soil condition. Many Zionsville homeowners are plagued by hard, dense clay. Though various chemicals are used year after year to try and stimulate growth, they are neglecting the actual problem — the clay — which doesn’t easily accept the water. Thankfully, there are organic solutions that can transform that clay into soil. Those solutions take time, however, to make the necessary change in the soil type. Years of damage cannot be fixed overnight. While waiting for the soil to become richer, here are a few other watering tips.

Do not water immediately when the hot days begin. Letting the lawns start to go into a mild drought increases the rooting as they go deeper to search for moisture. It is time to start watering when footprints remain on the lawn after walking on it.

Plan to water less often for a longer period of time. This allows the water to absorb deeply into the soil, encouraging deeper root growth. As the top layer of soil dries out, the weed seedlings die, while the grass still enjoys the moisture that is farther down in the soil. A good rule of thumb that can vary by soil type is to water at least one inch at a time. A simple way to find out how much water your lawn received during rainfall or while sprinkling is to place coffee cans around the yard to collect and measure the amount.

Watering often causes the grass roots to stay shallow where the water is, turning it into thatch. The perfect time to water is just as the blades start to curl, but before they turn brown. Watering too little, too often also creates a perfect environment to grow weeds, as the seedlings look for easy moisture sources near the surface.

Avoid watering after dark. A common moisture problem is the growth of fungus which can be caused by watering in the evening allowing pathogenic fungus disease to spread. Try to not have any water on the blades after the sun has set. If fungus has already begun to spread, the best organic solution is to fight the pathogenic fungus with beneficial fungus that eats the disease. Once treated, it is best to apply a thin layer of microbes over the yard to help replenish the ones that were killed by the disease.

Finally, to save valuable resources, pay attention when sprinkling. Avoid watering sidewalks, pay attention to absorption so water isn’t wasted by run offs, and watch the weather to not water just before a rain.

Enjoy all the beauty of summer, when flowers are dazzling and trees are vibrant and strong. Following these watering guidelines will help keep your organic lawn looking fresh and green well into the fall.

Lee Emerick is co-owner of Greener Piece, an organic solution to lawn care. He may be reached by calling 681-3547.