How To Schedule Lawn Watering When You're Out Of Town

Alivia Whitaker | July 30, 2018 @ 12:00 AM

You're off on summer vacation but you don't want to come home to a dead lawn - here's how to schedule lawn watering when you're out of town!  It's easy to keep your lawn doing well if you simply plan ahead.  Arm yourself with the information below to keep your lawn looking great.

How To Schedule Lawn Watering: Ways To Water Your Lawn

When heading out of town, an ideal situation is to have a smart watering system you can program ahead of time or even control from your smartphone.  But if not, you can water your lawn in a plethora of other ways.  Remember in the "how to schedule your lawn watering" arena - if you're watering manually you may need to hire a landscaper or ask  neighbor or friend to step in when you're gone.

Scott.com outlines ways to water your lawn.  They said

"There are tons of ways to water your lawn, from sprinklers to smart watering solutions. Each has their own sets of benefits, so choose the solution that works best for you and your lawn. Below are a few methods to consider.

Pulsating sprinklers (water guzzlers):These shoot water horizontally at a high velocity so the water isn’t affected by wind.

Hose-end sprinklers:Great for small- to medium-size lawns. There are many different types, so you can choose the one that fits your lawn best.

In-ground sprinklers:These can deliver water in the most efficient pattern. Choose sprinklers that are low to the ground and use a horizontal spray pattern for best results.

Smart watering systems:There are many different types of smart watering systems, and most systems integrate with in-ground sprinkler systems. Many have controllers that allow you to schedule watering using your smartphone and also use real-time weather data to automate watering so you don't have to think about it. The Gro™ Controller 7, for example, uses real-time weather data to ensure sprinklers only turn on when they need to, and can be controlled via smartphone or tablet. You can also install water sensors, like the Gro™ Water Sensor, that monitor soil moisture and alert you (or actually turn on your sprinklers) when water is needed."

How To Schedule Lawn Watering: How Often To Water?

Consequently, watering all the time isn't always the right answer.  There is a definite balance in how often you water.  Too much can be just as damaging as not enough.  Popular Mechanics weighed in on this issue, saying

"Maurer recommends watering clay soils once a week and sandy soils about every three days. "People think they need to water the lawn like they water their landscape plants. They want to water for 15 minutes every day," he points out. "You don't want to over-water. Most people think more water is better. But it's not."

Too much watering can lead to fungus and a shallow root system; fewer waterings encourage the roots to grow deeper. "You want to train the roots to go down deep into the soil," he says. "I'm telling my customers if you're going to water, water every three to seven days once we hit summer. Water deeply and water infrequently."

How To Schedule Lawn Watering: Are You Watering Enough?

It can be tricky to know if you're watering your lawn enough.  If you have dead spots, it could be for reasons other than watering.  Know if you're grass is getting enough water by arming yourself with information.

Gilmour had great insight on this subject:

"There are some simple tricks to determine if your lawn is receiving enough water.

First, does it look healthy? If it looks healthy, then it probably is — which means stick to what you’re doing. Another way to determine if your lawn needs to be watered is to submerge a screwdriver into the grass. If it easily sinks 6 to 7 inches, then your lawn is receiving an adequate amount of water each week. If not, it’s time to increase your watering routine.

Be ready for changing weather and be aware of when your lawn needs more feeding and fertilizing. Give your lawn an organic fertilizer and compost in fall and spring, and cut back on watering when dry days turn to rainy ones.

If you see mushrooms growing in your grass, the lawn is most likely overwatered. The best next step is to decrease the amount of watering until they are gone."

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