Watering the Lawn - GreenView (2024)

FAQs

When to apply GreenView fertilizer? ›

Leading scientists recommend applying nitrogen fertilizers in the spring and fall for cool season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass, Fescue and Ryegrass, and throughout the summer for warm season grasses like St. Augustine and Bermuda, since this is when the grass plant is actively growing.

Without water, the grass eventually goes dormant, turning brown and staying that way until revived with adequate moisture. In general, grass can go up to six weeks without water, depending on the condition of the lawn, soil and other environmental factors.

It is ideal to water lawns about one inch of water per week. To determine how long you need to water to get one inch, place a plastic container in your yard and set a timer. On average, it will take 30 minutes to get a half inch of water. So, 20 minutes, three times per week will give a lawn about an inch of water.

Water your lawn between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m., whenever possible. Early morning watering reduces loss to wind and evaporation, and allows water to soak in before sunlight heats the soil. Use watering systems that stay close to the ground. Arcing sprinklers waste more water than systems with low trajectories.

Fertilizer and Water

A day or two before applying fertilizer, water your lawn thoroughly. After grass dries, apply fertilizer. Then lightly water again. This second watering is vitally important, because it washes fertilizer off grass blades and into soil.

Late afternoon or early evening (when there's still light, of course) is the best time of day to apply lawn fertilizer. Applying it in the heat of a scorching afternoon can cause the sun's rays to burn your grass—and when your goal is "lush and green," burned grass blades simply won't cut it.

1) Watering for Too Long

This should be no more than three times per week. Set a timer for 20 minutes and stick to your schedule, even if you think the lawn needs more water.

If the plants pull out from the ground easily, they're probably dead. If the roots hold fast when pulled, the plants are dormant. You will also see the difference when you start to water or when rain returns as moisture will revive brown grass. However, it will not bring dead grass plants back to life.

It's a common misconception that watering dead grass will bring it back to life. The truth is, when you water dead grass, it can actually make the situation worse. It can cause the roots in the ground to rot and decompose faster than they would if left alone.

Watering your lawn early in the morning is tremendously better than watering it at night, for completely opposite reasons. While watering during the day causes water to evaporate too quickly, watering in the evening allows water to cling to the grass for too long.

How long should I run my sprinklers? ›

Sprinklers should be set to run for about 30 to 35 minutes at a time twice a week. Your goal is at least 1″ of water a week for your lawn.

The average system uses approximately 15-16 gallons per minute, per station. Here is an easy formula to help you calculate the approximate amount of water you are using each month.

Overwatering your lawn is actually worse than under-watering because it will cause more damage. An under-watered lawn will struggle and die, while an overwatered lawn will not only kill off your lawn, but can also ruin the soils underneath.

Hand watering is the most effective way to see that your grass is really getting the water it needs. Sprinkler methods lose a lot of water to evaporation as water is sprayed through the air and can cause runoff if you don't move a portable sprinkler regularly.

Watering after mowing can aid in the grass blades' recovery, promoting faster and healthier regrowth but as mentioned above, be careful not to overwater. Watering in the early morning minimizes water loss through evaporation, allowing moisture to penetrate the soil and reach the roots.

Timing: Apply fall lawn fertilizer once between August and November, right before winter hits, 6 to 8 weeks after the summer feeding. Apply the Scotts® Turf Builder® Annual Program Fall product now if you've been following that regimen.

What is the difference between GreenView's 2-step fertilizer program and Scott's 4-step fertilizer program? The slow release Nitrogen technology inherent in the GreenView Fairway Formula Fertilizers allow you to put down fewer applications of fertilizer than Scott's 4 step system.

If you've just had a heavy rain or are expecting that type of stormy weather, we recommend waiting until the lawn has had a chance to dry out a little before applying the fertilizer. You also don't want to fertilize the lawn during drought conditions, since they grass will not be ready for it to work.

In general, best fertiliser results are achieved by feeding three times a year – early spring, early summer (before it gets too hot) and mid to late autumn. If you are going to only fertilise once a year, do it in late spring to early summer.