Finally, the long, hot days of summer are beginning to cool and the leaves are starting to turn. For many of us, this past summer was extraordinarily hot and dry. Many people experienced high water bills as they made the attempt to keep their lawns quenched and free from drying out too badly. Even though the days are now becoming a bit cooler, the best advice is to not completely stop the watering process…just yet.
As many people who live within the southern part of the United States already know, just because the calendar says “Autumn”, the thermometer may still be saying “Summer”. Lawn experts generally agree that property owners should continue to water their lawns well into late fall. In fact, in areas that receive very little precipitation, say an inch or less during a week’s time span, then you may need to continue watering throughout the winter months, as well.
Most lawns, especially warm weather grasses, require moisture on a year-round basis. In the cooler months, even though your lawn will not require quite as much water as it does in the extreme heat conditions, it will remain “thirsty” and require some water all the time. The best practice is to monitor your grass on a regular basis and water as needed throughout the fall and winter seasons.
Your next question might involve how much water to give your lawn in the “off” season and when the best time of day is to water the lawn. The standard rule of thumb is to water your lawn once or twice a week for about 20 minutes at a time. Furthermore, mornings are the best time to water, before the sun is high in the sky. However, be mindful about watering the lawn in below freezing temperatures because you don’t want to take any chances of harming your grass or grass roots.
Even though watering your lawn on a year-round basis is important, there are also some precautions that you should know. Due to the fact that grass blades are not growing rapidly during the fall and winter months, as they are in the spring and summer, it is important to not overwater the lawn during the cooler months. When grass blades and roots become overly saturated during a more dormant state of growth, they simply cannot absorb the same amount of water that they can when it is warmer outside. If too much water is given to the grass, it can actually become stale and cause more damage. Disease or mold may also form, and that would not be a healthy environment for your grass.
Taking care of a lawn may be a little tricky at times; however, with a little bit of patience and some proper preparation, you can have a lawn that is thriving and beautiful for all to enjoy all throughout the year. Contact us for free estimates on all of our lawn treatment services.