When you love your home, you want it to look great inside and out. When you live in Iowa, maintaining that great look outdoors can be challenging. Even during dry summer months, many home owners want green lawns to enjoy with family and friends. Water is the most basic way to nourish your lawn, so let’s take a look at a 5 easy-to-implement lawn watering tips.
Tip #1: Water your lawn in the morning.
With cooler temperatures and less wind in the early morning hours, you are able to maximize the water being dispersed on your lawn. The grass and soil can also absorb water better between 4:00am and 10:00am, which provides longer-lasting nourishment that can be stored as warmer weather begins to set in throughout the day.
In contrast, watering your lawn in the evening or at night can actually cause unwanted fungus issues. Many experts say that if you can’t water your lawn during the early morning hours, it might actually be best to not water the lawn at all!
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Tip #2: Budget for an irrigation system.
When people are looking for new homes in West Des Moines, it can be tempting to avoid the $2,000-$5,000 an irrigation system adds to your bottom line.
The convenience of an irrigation system may not be for every new home construction in Des Moines, but we’ve found irrigation systems can be a lifesaver in many cases. Implementing an irrigation system before sod is installed, makes the overall process and initial watering period substantially more efficient.
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If you’re still conflicted, give us a shout and we’ would be happy to brainstorm with you, but in short, imagine yourself manually lugging wet hoses and sprinklers around your yard, versus sipping on a cold beverage while the lawn efficiently waters itself. We think that makes the decision quite easy.
Tip #3: Optimize your water usage.
If you take the time to understand your lawn’s soil, you can ensure the correct amount of water is being applied.
When you water your lawn, the water should soak 6-10 inches into the soil. This is the average length of a healthy root system, so allowing the water to penetrate the entire root zone will maximize each watering.
To determine the length of your lawn’s root system, simple dig a small/deep hole, measure the roots, and then replace the soil. As you water the lawn, revisit the hole and look to see how the soil is absorbing water. This will determine how the entire yard should be properly soaked. For harder ground, consider watering for 30 minutes, wait 10 minutes, and water it for another 30 minutes. This will ensure deep penetration and avoid runoff. Along efficient lawn watering, you’ll better understand how to treat the soil with other lawn care products.
Want more? As an experienced Des Moines home builder, Drake Homes has included more great tips in the original article!