Natural Nourishment
Too little water and we die; too much and we drown.
The same is true of grass in our lawns. Water makes up 70 to 80 per cent of the weight of our lawn grasses and the clippings alone are nearly 90 per cent water. While most people are concerned about not watering their lawns enough, the fact is, more lawns are damaged or destroyed by over-watering.
New sod recommendation
Use water wisely and practise water conservation. To establish itself, newly-installed sod has very important watering needs. Water immediately after installation to ensure turf establishment. Proper watering will also have an impact on how well the lawn continues to flourish for years to come. Give your new lawn at least two to three centimetres (one inch) of water within half-hour of installation.Water daily,keeping turf moist until it is firmly rooted (about two weeks).Then less frequent and deeper watering should begin.
The amount of water required for an established lawn will be determined by its overall health, beauty and ability to withstand use and drought. One inch a week is the standard water requirement for most lawns; however, this will vary between different turf species and even among cultivars within a species. There will also be varying water requirements for seasonal changes and still more differences brought about because of different soil types.A good tip is to simply look at your lawn to determine if it needs water.
Grass in need of water will have a grey-blue cast, rather than a blue-green or green colour. Footprints will still be visible after a half-hour or more on a lawn in need of water, while on a well-watered lawn, footprints will completely disappear within minutes.
You can also use a soil probe, such as a screwdriver or large spike, to determine if your lawn is dry. If the probe can be pushed into the soil easily,it’s probably still moist, but if it takes a lot of pressure to push in, it’s time to water.
Remember too, just because your lawn turns brown during extremely dry periods it doesn’t mean it’s dying. Grass will go dormant during such periods, but it still requires at least one inch of water per week.Your lawn doesn’t have to be green to be healthy.
Source: Turf Resource Center.
