During this time of the year, Cincinnati lawns can dry out and will need the right quantity of moisture to stay in good shape and avoid dormancy. Watering adequately is an art, which takes time to perfect. You can help your lawn thrive by following these easy and efficient watering tips.
1. Utilize an Ideal Watering Time
Early morning is an ideal watering time. In contrast, watering during the day is inefficient as a number of times the strong sunshine will easily evaporate a considerable amount of moisture before it gets absorbed into the soil. Similarly, it’s a good rule of thumb to not water your lawn during the evening. This is due to the reason that the water will stay on grass blades and will not have enough time to fully absorb overnight. This can lead to a number of lawn diseases which can harm the lawn.
2. Water According to Weight
When you water potted or hanging plants, it is vital that you lift every planter or pot beforehand. Baskets and pots that seem heavy may already be well-saturated and as a result, may not require additional watering. However, if they feel light, it may be indicative of dry soil that requires more moisture.
With the passage of time, you will become familiar with the weight of the planters when they are filled with thoroughly dampened soil. In turn, this will assist you to determine the right time to water your plants again.
3. Start with Soil
For plants and flowers that are not kept in pots or baskets, lawn care experts suggest that you pay special attention to your ground conditions. Just a cursory glance at the lawn’s topsoil is not sufficient; this is because most plants usually have deep or long roots that extend below the lawn surface.
It is better to buy a soil-moisture sensor (easily available at lawn service companies), or just use your garden spade to figure out the condition of ground near each plant. Well-watered and healthy soil tends to be thoroughly moist or damp for a couple of inches below the surface. In case it is crumbly and dry, you must water the plants as quickly as you can.
4. Slow and Steady
It does not matter if you are tending a garden bed or a potted plant, watering them too speedily will not be effective. For a potted plant, try to concentrate on gradually adding moisture around its roots as it will give the water sufficient time to sink in and absorbed into the soil before more water is poured. This might take a few minutes, depending on the volume and size of your pots.
However, for larger garden beds and lawns, it may take up to a few hours for the water to fully penetrate into the soil. For a majority of folks, spending hours watering their lawn or garden is not a practical option; therefore, it is ideal to invest in an automatic sprinkler system or slow-drip irrigation systems.
5. Don’t Overdo It
For most plants, oversaturation is equally harmful as the lack of water. Excess moisture in your garden soil can hinder the circulation of air that is important to keep the roots healthy and strong. In addition, overwatering is also likely to cause damage from root rot and plant diseases. To prevent it from happening, you should check weather and soil conditions on a regular basis.
Follow these watering tips to help your lawn look lush and stunning during any time of the year in Cincinnati!
Have questions about lawn care maintenance? Visit our Cincinnati lawn care page for more information.
