by If you live anywhere near the gulf coast in Alabama, you know the significant time and effort involved in maintaining your lawn. Although it often provides mild winters, the weather doesn’t always offer a healthy amount of precipitation. Your yard of grass, plants, and flowers then become subjected to drought, which can turn things ugly very quickly. That’s why having a consistent watering routine can save you from the awful damage dehydration can cause in the life of your lawn. A healthy supply of water for grass can give all sorts of benefits, but ultimately it’s one of the main sources for sustaining life. Here are a few suggestions for avoiding the inevitable shame that comes with having a brown, withered lawn:
Install a sprinkler system around your lawn. While it may require a hefty upfront cost, you can save yourself the hassle of dragging out a long hose along the perimeter of your home every week. What you spend in cash initially, you will surely gain back in hours of time and hard work that it takes to properly water each area of your lawn. If time is money, then the gift of a sprinkler system for your home is priceless. Plus, you have the ability to program your sprinklers to go off at certain days and times. This means you won’t have to worry about keeping your Bermuda, Centipede, Zoysia, or St. Augustine grass hydrated if you go out of town or suddenly find yourself too busy for such small details.
Water your own grass when it’s recommended. If you don’t want an automatic watering system for your grass, at least manage it by establishing a routine you follow manually. You live in Alabama, after all. It’s a hot climate settled on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Though you may get lucky with bouts of heavy rainfall at times, there are recommendations to give a specific amount of water to your grass every week, depending on the time of year. For instance, between March and October it’s suggested that your grass receive one inch of precipitation per week. On the cooler months, between November and February, grass only needs three quarters of one inch of water per week.
Pay attention to the time of day. When you water your grass can be equally important as to how much water it receives per day. If you want the grass to fully absorb the water, it’s best to set a schedule around early mornings or late evenings. Once the temperature rises during the day, the sun can absorb a majority of water that is layered upon the grass. Instead of waiting until it’s convenient for you to take out a hose, try to form a timeframe that works better for your soil. Giving your grass water during the times of lower temperatures allows for less wasted water, less harsh windfall or evaporation that eliminates soil absorption, and better preparation for your grass to get through the next day.
