Watering Tips

home with manicured lawn

“As a Watersense Irrigation partner and through my continued training, I am committed to helping consumers find water-efficient solutions for maintaining healthy lawns and gardens.” —Josh Doucette, CIC, CLIA

Here are some things YOU can do to keep your water bill low, reduce run-off, and eliminate waste.

 

How often should I water my lawn?

  • Less is more! Water only enough to saturate the root zones to promote deep root growth which will help create a stronger, healthier lawn. Watering too much and too often may result in shallow roots, weed growth, disease, and fungus. Know your soil type for correct absorption.

When is the right time to water?

  • The best time water your lawn is in the early morning, typically between 2 and 9 AM when temperatures are the coolest, winds are calm, and there is no direct sunlight. This will help avoid water evaporation and fungus.

Should I adjust my controller settings?

  • Yes! As the weather changes, so should your irrigation system. Familiarize yourself with your controller and adjust the watering schedule regularly to conform with seasonal weather conditions. Typically an inch of water per week is sufficient.

How can I ensure my system is running efficiently?

  • Inspect your irrigation system regularly. Be sure to keep water off sidewalks and driveways. Look for leaks, damaged or clogged heads and other problems. If you suspect damage, contact our helpful staff and one of our qualified technicians will perform a sprinkler system performance evaluation.

Are brown spots caused from under-watering?

  • Brown spots in your lawn do not necessarily mean your soil is dry. Testing the soil is an easy way to determine if the problem is from lack of water. If the soil is dry, check all sprinkler heads for proper operation. If water is not the issue, you may want to consider pet urine, fertilizer burn or a fungus as the culprit.

What else can I do to maintain a healthy lawn?

  • Proper watering can help keep your lawn healthy and beautiful, but that’s not all.
  • Test your soil. This way you will know exactly what it needs.
  • Over time, soil compaction can become a problem and is responsible for many lawn care challenges.  Aerate and de-thatch as needed, this will ensure your lawn has plenty of room to grow and thrive; it improves oxygen circulation and allows important nutrients to penetrate the roots. It also reduces thatch and gives microorganisms a better habitat.  You also may wish to seed the area after you’ve de-thatched.
  • Fertilize if you want, but we believe in minimizing reliance on fertilizer and pesticides.
  • Make sure your mower settings are high, this will promote strong roots and it helps shade out weeds. Keep your mower blade sharp to prevent disease.

 

Ready to learn more?