Keep your lawn alive with as little water as possible
Like ants at picnics, the warmest months of the summer are sure to be accompanied by requests from the city to reduce our water consumption to conserve the municipal supply. No one, however, wants to see their investment in their lawn wither in the heat-but homeowners do have a few options for reducing their water use without giving up on their grass.
- Mow more often. Taller stalks provide shade for grass roots, and prevent roots from drying out. (Of course, you may be putting more exhaust into the air, but that’s another matter.)
- Choose sprinklers carefully to optimize your coverage. Four smaller sprinklers may be more efficient than one large on if they can water more area with less overlap. Gardens may be better served by drip irrigation.
- Water early and often. Watering in the morning reduces evaporation and avoids plant damage. Also, watering for shorter periods, with breaks in between, allows water to soak in with less runoff.
- Mulch is a garden’s friend. Mulch holds water in and prevents evaporation.
- Don’t overwater. Healthy lawns generally need one inch of water per week during the summer. Make sure water isn't puddling in your lawn or running off into the street-and by all means avoid watering the driveway or sidewalk as much as possible.
- Invest in an in-ground system, and maintain it. In-ground systems offer timing systems to prevent overwatering, but require periodic checks for leaking pipes or broken heads.
- Don’t stress the grass. If you decide to let your lawn go dormant during the hot weather, let it go. Watering grass on an occasional basis once it has turned brown only causes stress on the roots.
