Care tips for your lawn when you need to conserve water
With global warming at large, fresh water becomes scarcer each day, leaving us with no choice but to conserve and use water wisely.
But what if you own a lawn? How can you take care of its needs whilst doing your part on the preservation of this precious natural resource?
Don’t worry—you can be a responsible lawn owner! Keep reading to discover more about water conservation when it comes to turf care.
How much water does your lawn need?
Just like us humans, our lawns need water to survive.
To understand how you can best take care of your lawn, it’s important to be aware of the amount of water your turf really needs. Otherwise, you may be wasting a lot of it without you knowing.
Unfortunately, there is no standard quantity because your lawn’s need for water depends on various factors. Some of the things that you need to take into consideration are the soil quality, your turf type, the season, the climate and your grass’ health.
Although this is the case, your lawn generally needs at least 25 mm to 40 mm of water per week all year round, so you can use this as a guideline. However, the best determinant is to assess whether your soil still has moisture in it before watering. If it feels dry, then it’s time to water.
To assess your soil’s moisture, you can do the screwdriver test. It’s easy! Watch the video below to learn how to do this.
How to conserve water as a lawn owner
When it comes to choosing between keeping your turf healthy and conserving water supply, of course, the latter should be given priority. Good news is that with the right practices, you can do both! Here are some things to keep in mind.
Avoid overwatering
Let’s start with the most basic rule.
As mentioned earlier, you should know how much water your turf needs. Overwatering will not only be a waste—it will also make your lawn prone to various diseases and pests.
To make sure you’re watering your lawn just enough, it’s best to install an automatic sprinkler or a drip irrigation system. A rain gauge will also be helpful especially during rainy days.
Choose a drought tolerant turf variety
Some grass types require less water than others. If you find that your current lawn is no longer sustainable, it might be time to get turf supplies that won’t need as much water.
Drought tolerant grass cultivars such as TifTuf or Sir Grange turf can significantly lessen your water usage. They are well suited to sunny areas, so you won’t have to worry much even when water restrictions are imposed.
Water your lawn as early in the morning as possible
Did you know that by simply being mindful of your watering schedule, you can conserve water?
Since evaporation happens faster with heat, you need to choose a time when it is cool and overcast. Watering when the sun is high can dry out the water before it even reaches the roots.
Considering this, try to water your lawn as early as 6 am and no later than 10 am. Alternatively, you can do so after 4 pm as well if you haven’t got time in the morning. However, make sure the water on the surface dries out before evening. Leaves that are soaked in water overnight are highly prone to fungal diseases.
Water deeply rather than frequently
You might think that watering daily will keep your lawn healthier. Actually, how often you do so is not that important. Rather, ensuring that the water seeps through deep down the soil is what you should aim for.
How can deep watering help you conserve water, you might ask? This is because the deeper down into the soil, the cooler the temperature is. In this way, water won’t evaporate quickly, so you won’t have to water as frequently.
Apply a thick layer of mulch
Mulch, such as grass clippings and leaves, is applied to prevent weeds from growing, but did you know it can do much more than that? This organic matter acts as an insulator, keeping heat out and maintaining the moisture in the soil. Plus, it’s a great source of nitrogen!
Set the mowing height to the upper recommended limit
Grass leaves can shade the soil from excessive heat, so keeping your turf at the right height is essential if you’re looking to conserve water.
On your next mowing routine, set the height at the upper recommended limit. For most grass types, this is about 50 mm, but it will still depend on your turf variety.
Steer clear of chemical solutions
Do you have pest problems? Or is it time to apply fertiliser on your turf? Choosing the right lawn solution is vital not only to your grass’ health, but to water conservation as well.
When it comes to pesticides and fertilisers, it’s best to stick to organic and natural solutions. Using chemical-based products will require you to use more water as your lawn will need extra moisture to facilitate growth and recovery.
Check for leaks
If you don’t have an irrigation system and still do the watering manually, see to it that you inspect your hose or tap for leaks. This might seem unimportant, but when left unattended, this can waste a total of more than 20,000 litres of water in a year!
Set up a rain barrel
An effective way to conserve water (and lower your monthly bill as well) is by setting up a rain barrel. It works as a storage for rain water, so you’ll have plenty to spare on extremely hot days. Whether you choose to buy or make one yourself, it is an inexpensive and sustainable way to give your lawn the care it needs!
Some people say that maintaining a lawn is a complete waste of water, but with the right practices, you can prove them wrong. Plus, with the oxygen that lawns contribute, it is definitely a great start to ease global warming.
Do you have lawn care and water conservation tips you would like to share? Leave a reply below!
