As many of you know, lawn care isn't easy. However, we have the surprising secret to a great looking lawn. Best yet, this secret is something that you don't even need to hire a lawn care company for! This amazing secret is... drum roll please...

Watering Your Lawn! (I know duh, right?)

Was this like the last episode of LOST, or one of those other TV finales that built the suspense up only to have it seem so stupid? I know, shame on me for grabbing your attention in that "TV News" kind of way. However in my defense, we speak to many customers every year about their lawn not looking good, and it's due completely to a lack of watering. So take this attention grabbing headline with a grain of salt and let me lay some lawn care watering knowledge on you.

Even the Best Lawn Care Package Needs Water

The common misconception is that you pay for a lawn care package, and your grass is destined for success! However, your lawn is a living, breathing thing that needs not only nutrients that a lawn fertilizer will provide, but enough water to nourish it. As a person, you could take as many vitamins as you'd like, however if you didn't drink enough water, dehydration would still set in! Watering your lawn is imperative to achieving that green, beautiful lawn.

In the pictures below, we show a lawn that we just took over this year. We'd like to take all the credit for it, however after one application, that's just not possible. What DID happen was that our licensed technician, Dave Lebron, suggested a watering schedule for the customer. After two weeks of watering using this new schedule, the results were pretty amazing.

Recommended Water Amounts and Times

So you get that you have to water your lawn. However, how much water does a lawn actually need? Well, it really depends on the amount of moisture and temperature outside. Similar to your body, your lawn will need more water during those hot and dry months of July and August. Proper hydration is the key to keeping your lawn not only green during these months, but also disease free. Typically, you'll want to use the two watering recommendations below:

• Normal Weather Conditions - During these times, rain will help water your lawn, leaving you responsible for around 1" of water a week. This means for the average homeowner with an irrigation system delivering 1 hour of water to each area/zone PER WEEK.
  
  
• Drought/Dry Conditions - During times of drought, rain water will be hard to come by. Additionally, you'll have to worry about water evaporation robbing your lawn of additional water. During these hot conditions, give your lawn 3" of water a week. This means watering at least 3 hours in each area/zone PER WEEK.

Products That Will Help Reduce Watering Times and $$$

So we've discussed how important it is to water your lawn, and also how much you should water it. Watering your lawn is beneficial, but can become super expensive, specifically during periods of drought. So let's take a look at two ways you can reduce your watering times, and save some money!

1. Watering During the Morning Hours - Watering during the morning (6am or so) can help reduce the amount of water needed by 10-15%. That's the amount of evaporation you can expect if you water your lawn past 10am.
   
   
2. Weed Pro's WaterLe$$ Product - This great product helps reduce the amount of water your lawn needs by attracting free water molecules out of the air like tiny magnets, converting them into microscopic droplets, delivering moisture to your lawn’s root system for three months. If you'd like to learn more about this product, or to even receive a free quote CLICK HERE.

Want More Info about Watering?
Here's Something That Will Quench Your Thirst For Knowledge (Bad Pun, I Know...)

Weed Pro has put together an awesome guide to watering your lawn and plants, plus a cool calculator that will help you figure out how much it costs you to water the lawn. These guides are yours, absolutely free, just by clicking on the link below. Just remember, keep watering people!

  Shaun Kanary has been a part of the Green Industry for the past 15 years. As the Director of Marketing for Weed Pro Lawn Care, a Cleveland and Columbus Lawn Care Service Provider, Shaun is a regular contributor to the Weed Pro Blog, and other industry magazine and blogs. 

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