Why excessive lawn watering is a no-no
For most lawn owners, maintaining a lush green lawn all year round is a major achievement. Of course, watering your turf sufficiently is one of the few factors that impacts its overall health. But what exactly happens if you overdo it?
Before we discuss the negative effects of overwatering your lawn, let’s find out why turf needs water in the first place.
Why do you need to water your lawn?
Wondering why grass leaves wilt when they don’t receive enough water? Generally, plants are made up of around 90% water. So, when turf is properly hydrated, it creates enough pressure to keep the leaves sturdy and springy.
Water is also important to facilitate photosynthesis. It’s the process where plants create food to keep them nourished.
A crucial part of photosynthesis is transpiration, where water evaporates and is exchanged for carbon dioxide. Without enough water, the plant will not receive the carbon dioxide it needs, preventing it from producing sufficient energy to remain strong.
With this in mind, there’s no doubt how important regular watering is to your lawn’s health. However, this can also damage your turf when overdone.
The effects of overwatering your lawn
Water may be an essential element of lawn care, but that doesn’t mean that you should overdo it! If your lawn has been overwatered, even the most resilient turf varieties such as Sir Grange and Sir Walter won’t stand a chance.
Here are the reasons why excessive watering is a big no-no:
Thatch build-up
Aside from the unattractive sight that a thick thatch leaves, it is also an indicator that your lawn is unhealthy.
Source: The Spruce
The thatch is a layer of decomposed plant materials, such as crowns and roots, that build up on the soil’s surface. When your lawn is overwatered, it leaves no room for oxygen. This will then suffocate the roots. If this continues, the plant will eventually die.
Shallow root system
Though not visible, roots are the most important part of plants. They are responsible for the entire plants’ nourishment after all. The deeper the roots go into the soil, the healthier and more vibrant your grass will be.
Overwatering your lawn can give your turf a shallow root system. This will leave it highly vulnerable to pests and diseases due to the thickening of the thatch.
Pest issues
A thick thatch is a wonderful habitat for various bugs – and most of these insects can cause damage to your lawn. Pests such as army grubs, ants and gophers attack weakened lawns and feed on grass roots, causing the plants to die.
Fungal growth
A lawn soaked with water is an ideal breeding ground for various disease-causing fungi.
If you’re diligent in watering your lawn regularly but still see irregular brown patches or reddish-orange leaves, then the discolouration may not be caused by lack of water. On the contrary, it may be due to fungal development brought about by overwatering.
Faster weed growth
Some weeds thrive well in wet conditions – and these are usually the types that are more destructive.
Wet-weather weeds such as smooth crabgrass and yellow nutsedge are some of the varieties that are most difficult to control. An overwatered lawn creates an ideal environment for these pesky weeds to thrive.
Yellowish grass colour
Colour is one of the simplest indicators that you’re not giving your lawn the right care. For instance, if your turf has a yellowish to light green shade, then it may not be receiving enough nutrients.
When you notice this discolouration, try looking into your watering routine. Oftentimes, the excess water washes away the nutrients out of your soil, ridding your lawn of the natural vitamins it needs.
How to water your lawn the right way
As a rule of thumb, your lawn needs about 25 to 40 millimetres of water each week, whether from rainfall or irrigation. If you’re going to water your lawn, it won’t really matter if you use a sprinkler or do it manually, so long as the water is distributed evenly across your lawn.
With regards to watering frequency, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. You would have to take the weather, the turf variety and the type of soil into consideration.
If you’re experiencing a rainy week, then you don’t have to water at all! Likewise, you would need to do so more often in summer as the water evaporates faster.
Another thing that you should be aware of is your grass type. Some turf varieties need less water than others. For instance, Buffalo, Zoysia and Bermuda grass usually only need about 10 millimetres of water each week, which is less than the average requirement.
If you’re unsure, you can ask turf suppliers for advice. They know the right care routine that will match the needs of your turf variety.
The type of soil is also something that you should look into. If you’ve got a sandy soil, then you would have to water your lawn more often as compared to having a finer type. Loam soil is your best bet for lawns since it holds moisture but also drains well when you water your turf.
Essential lawn watering tips
For beginners, lawn watering can be quite confusing. Follow these general tips to get it right!
Deep watering is better than frequent watering.
Water only when the soil feels dry.
Do the footprint test. If the grass doesn’t spring back after you’ve stepped on it, it’s time to water your lawn.
It’s ideal to water your lawn in the early morning and evening.
Check the weather forecast before watering.
Generally speaking, excessive watering is worse than underwatering. Before deciding to water your lawn, make sure you take everything into consideration. See to it that you do so according to its needs.
Do you have insights or experiences that you would like to share regarding lawn watering? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
