Too much of a good thing can be bad when it comes to watering your lawn. While it may seem that more water would lead to a lusher lawn, overwatering does more harm than good. We need to be especially mindful of this during winter storms season. After a heavy rain, keep the sprinklers off for up to two weeks and allow the soil to dry out.
Here are 3 ways to tell if you are overwatering your lawn:
- Pesky Brown Patches: If you water your lawn too much or too often, your grass and soil become saturated. When the water doesn’t drain deeper into the soil within a day, the grass may die and turn brown. Large patches of brown can indicate that you are overwatering. Try cutting back to once a week watering, for a slightly longer time frame. Water deep, but not frequently, allowing the roots to grow deep and create a healthier lawn.
- Beware Bugs: Insects such as mosquitos, pill bugs, and snails are attracted to stagnant water, so when you overwater your backyard may become their favorite breeding ground. Instead of using harmful pesticides, cut back on watering. If your insect problem persists, try a natural insecticide like soap spray or neem oil.
- Impeding Weeds: Many weeds wil thrive in a wet environment and proliferate when the grass is unhealthy. Yellow flowers popping up on your lawn? That’s probably yellow clover (also known as black medic) that, while pretty, is a nuisance weed that can overtake a lawn. A healthy lawn, with deep grass roots, can prevent these weeds from flourishing.
