Everyone wants a lush green lawn. In the pursuit of a perfect yard, homeowners work to mow, fertilize, and water the grass, but there’s a limit to each of these. Watering your lawn too much can lead to multiple issues. Learn how much is too much and the proper way to water.

What is Overwatering

It’s possible to have too much of a good thing. In fact, watering your lawn too much can actually kill it—especially if it’s already considered healthy.

Overwatering leads to:

• Drowning grass roots. There needs to be a balance of water and oxygen in the soil. Too much water takes up all the space, suffocating the roots and leaving the plant in distress.
• Disease. Stressed plants are more susceptible to disease and insect infestations.
• Weeds. With less healthy grass to compete with, weeds have a better environment to grow.
• Wasted time and money. Overwatering isn’t necessary, so you’re letting precious water go to waste and taking the time to ruin your lawn.
• Polluted groundwater. If you fertilize and overwater a lawn, you’re just washing away the nitrate into drains.
• More fertilizer. Grass is not getting enough food since it’s all being washed away.

Proper Way of Watering Your Lawn

The amount of water your lawn needs depends on the type of grass you have and the area you live. It’s best to avoid watering during the hottest part of the day when any water will quickly evaporate. Early morning is usually better.

Some signs that your lawn needs water include:

• Dry soil. Water the lawn thoroughly until the soil is wet about five inches deep.
• Grass shape and color. Blades appear more narrow and bluish in color
• Tread. Dry grass doesn’t bounce back as quickly when walked on.

Ideally, your grass should be watered before these signs appear. However, there’s a larger price to pay for overwatering a lawn than underwatering. To learn more about your type of grass and how to properly water it, contact Cardinal Lawns today.

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