Time to start Watering!

Yesterday, I went out to mow my lawn after work and was a little surprised at how dry my soil has already become. I live at high elevation, toward the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge, where we tend to stay a bit cooler and wetter, longer into spring than you "low landers". The point being; if my soil is getting dry already, yours is more than likely as bad, or worse.

We often don't think about watering our grass until it starts to get a bit brown. The problem is, once the soil gets dry, it can be very difficult to get water deeper into the soil, where the grass roots need it most. If you wait until the lawn starts getting drought stressed to start watering, you may not be able to get it to really green up again without the consistent rain and cooler temperatures of late fall.

Here are some basic rules for proper watering:

Start Now

It is better to start watering too soon, trahter than too late

Be Consistent

Even if we get some rain over the summer, it likely won't be enough to skip a watering day

Avoid Watering in the Evening

Damp turf overnight makes it much more susceptible to disease development. Early mornings, 5am to 7am are ideal starting times for watering.

Avoid Watering in the Afternoon

This is the hottest part of the day and can actually cause tip burn on the grass if it's really hot, 85+ degrees. It is also the time when water will evaporate most readily, lessening its effectiveness.

Check your Soil Once a Week

Dig down into the soil with a knife or screwdriver about one inch. If the soil is damp, you're doing good, if not, you need to water more.

Right now, I would advise watering every other day, 20-30 minutes per section, but be diligent. Check that soil every week to see if you're getting enough water down and adjust accordingly.

When we start having consistently warmer days, keep an even closer eye on your lawn. If you're watering well and start seeing brown spots, or any irregular, discolored patches in your lawn, call us. This could be a disease issue that needs to be addressed.