Summer Watering
Summer watering is a very important topic during the summer months. Dry months can be very damaging to a yard. We get a lot of questions about how often to water, how much water is enough, and the best time of day to water. We have listed the most common questions below with our response to keep your yard green and healthy during the hottest months of the year.
How often and what time of day should I water the yard?
Grass
Water grass 2-3 times per week depending on how long you are watering each time. Grass should get between 1-1 ½ inches of water per week in the summer. Newly seeded yards must be watered more often. Morning, afternoon, and evening waterings are needed to keep the soil moist. If you do not have an irrigation system, a sprinkler works well if you can move it around to cover the entire area. After the first month, you can water 2-3 times per week for roughly thirty minutes.
Trees
During a drought, all trees need water. However, young trees under 2 years must be watered often. A slow drip of water is best for roughly 30 minutes. The drip should be near the root and allow the soil to get very damp to allow moisture to the root of the tree. Mornings and evenings are the best time to water trees so that evaporation doesn’t happen as quickly as in the afternoon. It is best to keep the soil damp and not allow it to completely dry during the crucial early years. During the first couple weeks after planting a tree, the tree should be watered once per day. After that, the tree can be watered once per week during the growing season.
Plants
In summer, most plants need daily watering. Research the type of plant as this will vary. The amount will also depend on the type of soil that you have. Clay soil will hold moisture longer than some other soils. You should focus on watering the soil and not the foliage because too much water on the foliage can create fungal issues. Mornings and late afternoons are best for watering plants. Read this blog for more details on plant watering.
How to know if you are watering enough?
You can purchase a soil moisture meter to determine the moisture in the soil. These meters can be purchased at garden centers. You measure the moisture level at various depths of the soil. You can check moisture without this device by inserting a wood stick into the ground and seeing the depth of moist soil.
Can you overwater your yard?
The answer is YES. Grass that is overwatered and does not get enough oxygen can be damaged. Too much water creates fungal issues such as mushroom growth and weed growth. Your lawn may also begin turning yellow when overwatered. If your lawn feels squishy a few hours after watering, you know you have overwatered. To fix an overwatered yard you may want to consider aeration and de-thatching.
The soil around trees should be moist but not soaked. Signs of overwatered trees include fragile leaves and new growth turning green or yellow. To fix this problem stop watering and allow the soil to dry a bit and then water less. Call an expert if you are unable to resolve the problem.
Contact Hope Grows if you need help with your yard to fix any issues from too little or too much water. Sometimes an expert opinion is best to determine the problem and find the best solution.