How Can I Know I’ve Overwatered My Lawn?

Watering your lawn with excessive water will have the opposite effect of what you want. The grass is suffocated, and its development is impeded. Water fills the spaces in the soil that should contain oxygen, preventing the roots from breathing.

 

Without oxygen, roots cannot expand, and the plant as a whole will suffer. Because of this, more individuals are beginning to use automated irrigation systems.

 

You can return your lawn to good condition if you know the warning signs of overwatering and take action to address the problem; the following is information you need to know.

What Effects Does Overwatering Have?

In addition to suffocating the grass, over-watering prevents the roots from expanding. Soil comprises fragments enclosed in tiny air and water pockets beneath the turf’s surface. The roots of your grass will be nourished by the air and water in these spaces, allowing the grass to flourish.

 

Overwatering, on the other hand, causes water to accumulate in your lawn’s air spaces, depletes the soil’s oxygen content, and causes your grass to die. In addition, water becomes too easy to get by in the soil, discouraging turf grass roots from expanding to reach it.

Signs Of Overwatering

There will always be indicators, regardless of whether the problem is a deficiency in potassium, inadequate water, or excessive water. Therefore, you need to be aware of what aspects to search for. Here is a list of simple symptoms to keep an eye out for:

Runoff

Visible streams of water moving away from your lawn and toward the sidewalk or street indicate that the soil is not absorbing the water. This is a sign that the soil in your lawn is already quite saturated, suggesting that it may have received excessive water previously. In addition, your grass may lose nutrients by having runoff water wash them away.

 

While an excessively wet lawn is not the best place to produce healthy grass, it could be the best environment for weeds. However, if you see many weeds creeping in and beginning to take control of the area, you may be applying too much water to the soil.

Spongy Lawn

A foot test is an additional easy method that you may use to determine whether or not your grass is receiving excessive water. Tread on the grass at a few different locations throughout the yard. You could reduce the pressure slightly if the lawn seems spongey or just soft.

Increasing Fungi

You may have overwatered to encourage fungal development, and you may see discoloration on your lawn, especially colored growth on the grass blades. The appearance of mushrooms throughout your lawn is another obvious sign; nevertheless, it is important to remember that mushrooms may harm children and animals.

Remedy For Excessive Watering

Once you realize you’re overwatering, turning off the pipes immediately will assist. Next, find an irrigation system capable of being set according to the requirements of your soil. After that, you won’t need to worry about manually watering the plants anymore.

 

As you decrease the amount of water available, you will need to find a solution to the particular difficulty you are experiencing. For example, to get rid of the fungus, you should use a fungicide; to get rid of extra thatch, you should dethatch; and to get rid of insects, you should use insecticides.

 

In the same way that aerating the soil will restore the oxygen levels necessary for healthy plant development, applying fertilizer to your lawn will provide it with the nutrients it needs to resume its robust growth.

Are you overwatering your lawn?

Suppose your lawn still has brown or yellow spots and other problems after you minimize watering. In that case, consider contacting Lola’s Landscape. Yards that have been overwatered can also benefit from aeration and dethatching procedures.

Should I Get an Irrigation System?

A well-watered lawn comes with a lot of benefits. It’s easy to picture an unhealthy lawn: crunchy, brown dead grass, patches of dirt visible, and ugly weeds visible throughout. A healthy, hydrated lawn, on the other hand, is much more pleasant. When you keep your lawn well-watered with an irrigation system, you get a springy, thick carpet of grass. This does everything from improving your home’s curb appeal to helping the environment. If you’re considering getting an irrigation system, consider these five benefits:

Increases Home Value

A well-hydrated lawn is a healthy lawn. A healthy lawn is a healthy boost to your property values. Curb appeal is a big part of the average value of a home, and a lush lawn makes any house more appealing. On top of that, an irrigation system increases your home equity. It’s an extra feature many homes don’t have, giving your house a value boost over others in the neighborhood. 

Saves Time for Homeowners

Watering your lawn by hand can take a significant chunk of time out of your day. The bigger your lawn, the more time it takes to water. By using an irrigation system instead, you get that time back. Especially during hot, dry summer months, an irrigation system can save you hours a week. That time can then be better spent enjoying your summer and your healthy lawn, instead of watering it. 

Uses Water Efficiently 

A lawn irrigation system today has a lot of technology involved. This technology is designed to make your irrigation system as efficient as possible. Your landscape professional will ensure that your custom irrigation system has sensors and timers built-in, so your lawn will always get the correct amount of water at the optimal time of day. Don’t worry about wasting water or potentially under-watering – your irrigation system will take care of that for you. 

Keeps Lawns Healthy

A poorly-watered lawn can easily fall prey to a number of pests. Weeds love to spring up in lawns that have thinned due to underwatering. On the other hand, mushrooms and mold are frequent problems in over-watered lawns. Keeping your lawn evenly and effectively watered prevents fungus or weeds from finding a place to call home. This helps your lawn stay healthy and beautiful, without extra work on your end. 

Helps the Environment

Compared to an unhealthy lawn, a well-maintained yard can actually help the environment. Grass absorbs many greenhouse gases in the process of growth. By improving the health of your lawn and eradicating dead patches and dirt, you’re helping to slow global warming just a bit. 

Installing an irrigation system may feel like a big decision, but don’t hesitate. Now is the time to book your irrigation system installation so that your lawn is fresh & green for the spring and summer. The sooner the system is installed, the sooner you’ll see results. If you are local to Franklin, MA, schedule your installation today with Lola’s Landscape so you can enjoy the benefits of a healthy lawn all summer long.