Maintaining a green and luscious lawn is a challenge—especially if you live in Central Florida, where the weather can be sweltering hot and unexpectedly wet. While we all want a beautiful yard, it can be tricky to determine the right amount of water to use on your lawn. Over-watering can lead to fungus, pest problems, and other issues while under-watering can lead to dry patches. Read on to discover some Central Florida lawn watering tips for a healthier, more vibrant lawn.
Know Your Lawn
First and foremost, it’s important to be familiar with your yard! Knowing your lawn’s specific needs can help you determine how much water to use and when. Some plants require more water than others, and soil type can also impact the frequency of watering. To determine if it’s time to water, you can use a simple trick – step on the grass. If the grass springs back up once you’ve stepped off, it doesn’t need water yet. If it stays flattened, it’s time to turn on the sprinklers.
Water Early
One of the best things you can do for your lawn is to water it early in the morning. Watering in the morning minimizes evaporation and gives your grass the opportunity to dry out before nighttime. If blades of grass are wet for too long, it can encourage fungus to grow – so you should avoid watering during the night. Also, you might have heard that watering during the heat of the day can help cool the grass down, but this isn’t true. Watering during the day can lead to a significant amount of water evaporating before it even reaches the soil.
Don’t Overdo It
Over-watering can lead to root rot, disease, and pest problems. This is why it’s important to water your lawn only when necessary and to avoid saturating it with water. A general rule of thumb is never to water more than 1 inch of water weekly. This can help keep your lawn healthy while also conserving water. Most lawns in Central Florida require about ½” to ¾” of water once or twice per week during warm weather.
Learn More: Why Does My Lawn Keep Getting Fungus?
Avoid Watering Leaves
When watering your lawn, it’s crucial to avoid watering the leaves. When the blades of grass are wet during the hottest parts of the day, the water droplets can act like tiny magnifying glasses and scorch the leaves. This damage can be superficial, but it can also be a point of entry for disease or pests. To avoid this, aim for the base of the grass near the soil.
Plant Drought-Tolerant Grass
If you’re planning on planting a new lawn or adding grass to your existing lawn, choose drought-tolerant varieties suited for the Central Florida climate. Some of the best drought-tolerant grasses include Bahia grass, Bermudagrass, Centipede grass, and Zoysia grass. Each of these grasses can handle dry conditions and require less water than other varieties.
Learn More: Which Lawn Should I Choose for My Yard? (Zoysia, Bahia, St. Augustine)
A Healthy Lawn Is Just a Phone Call Away
Watering your grass the right way is not as easy as it seems. It’s not as easy as it seems. If you overwater or underwater, it can lead to pesky pest or disease problems, and before you know it, your grass is looking yellow and sad. The lawn care experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Debary know what it takes to keep your lawn lush and healthy. Call us today at (407) 880-6655 to schedule your free lawn evaluation!
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