Tips for Watering and Lawn Care

There are many options for lawn irrigation in New Jersey, and most people want their yards to look green and happy. However, for many homeowners, a green lawn remains an elusive dream as they face trouble spots that just won't seem to green up. Here are four tips to get the best results out of irrigation and make your lawn work easy:

1.  Water in the morning, not the evening – Many people believe that it's best to water the lawn in the evening around sunset. The reasoning is simple: at night the temperatures are lower and the water won't evaporate off the ground before the grass roots can absorb it. However, in practice this can cause problems. The lawn will remain damp all night making it the perfect habitat for mold and fungal disease can kill an entire lawn or cause isolated brown spots. Instead, water your lawn in the morning (a timed sprinkler system makes this easy). It will still be cool enough for water to sink into the soil, but any excess dries quickly, protecting your grass.

2.  Pay attention to the lay of the land – Sometimes, trouble areas in a lawn fit into one of two categories: the uphill end of a sloped lawn or the downhill end. Water runs downhill, even the small amount of water put out by lawn sprinklers. That can lead to soggy, waterlogged terrain in low spots or dry, parched terrain in high spots. If you notice a lack of green grass in one part of the yard, check to see if it's sloped and adjust watering accordingly.

3.  Shady areas may need more water – Most of us think of shady areas as the dampest, and that's often true. But with less sunlight, shaded grass also faces the toughest conditions. Consider increasing watering in shady areas to help grass grow greener and longer there.

4.  Not all problems can be fixed by water alone – Some brown grass may be caused by fungus, disease, or pests. If irrigation and fertilizer don't help, you may need to call in a professional to diagnose the problem. Generally, the sooner you act the easier the problem is to fix.

A green, healthy lawn will always take hard work and attentive care, but achieving it doesn't have to be a chore that consumes your whole weekend. With a good irrigation system and the right amount of water, most lawns will stay green with a minimum of extra care.