Lawn Watering Benefits and Considerations
There are several benefits derived from lawn irrigation, as well as some considerations about this practice. When lawns and landscape are properly watered, appearance is maintained and pride of ownership enhanced. In addition, proper irrigation often decreases weed invasion and allows lawn grasses to better tolerate insect and disease pressure. On the other hand, improper irrigation practices—either too much or too little water—can lead to poor lawn grass health and increased weed, insect, and disease problems.
Excessive watering can cause rapid turf growth resulting in more mowing and clippings. It can also lead to a shallow turf root system and weed and pest invasions. Underwatered turf becomes open and sparse, developing a poor appearance and allowing weed invasion. Additionally, for some individuals, the financial and environmental costs of season-long irrigation can be substantial in areas where high-quality water is in short supply. The choice to irrigate home lawns should be made after weighing the specific facts in your locale.
In the southeast region the best practice of watering your lawn is on an as-needed basis. In this method, your lawn is watered throughout the growing season when natural precipitation is inadequate to support active growth and maintain green color. The presence of an adequate quantity of water during summer is the environmental factor that determines whether a lawn is green and growing or brown and dormant. Thus, supplemental irrigation is essential during many summers to maintain green, actively growing lawns.
Cool season lawn grasses—bluegrasses, ryegrasses, fescues, and bentgrasses—require approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week during the growing season to maintain green and active growth. Even when they are watered, however, the growth of cool season lawn grasses slows during summer’s hot, dry weather because environmental conditions are not within the optimum range for turfgrass growth.
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Excessive watering can cause rapid turf growth resulting in more mowing and clippings. It can also lead to a shallow turf root system and weed and pest invasions. Underwatered turf becomes open and sparse, developing a poor appearance and allowing weed invasion. Additionally, for some individuals, the financial and environmental costs of season-long irrigation can be substantial in areas where high-quality water is in short supply. The choice to irrigate home lawns should be made after weighing the specific facts in your locale.
In the southeast region the best practice of watering your lawn is on an as-needed basis. In this method, your lawn is watered throughout the growing season when natural precipitation is inadequate to support active growth and maintain green color. The presence of an adequate quantity of water during summer is the environmental factor that determines whether a lawn is green and growing or brown and dormant. Thus, supplemental irrigation is essential during many summers to maintain green, actively growing lawns.
Cool season lawn grasses—bluegrasses, ryegrasses, fescues, and bentgrasses—require approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week during the growing season to maintain green and active growth. Even when they are watered, however, the growth of cool season lawn grasses slows during summer’s hot, dry weather because environmental conditions are not within the optimum range for turfgrass growth.
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