IRRIGATE TO ELEVATE

YOUR WATERING HABITS ARE HELPING OR HURTING YOUR LAWN.

Improperly watering our lawn causes more damage than any other maintenance practice.

One of the most misunderstood maintenance practices regarding lawn care is how crucial proper watering is for cool-season grass. If you don’t get it right, you’ll spend way more energy, money, and time correcting it. So, getting this right and understanding why is essential for the success of your lawn care program and the health of your soil, turf, and trees! 

As mentioned earlier, we should focus on watering only when there is no precipitation. When nature sufficiently provides for our lawn's watering needs through rain or snow, supplemental watering may not be necessary. By being cautious about how much and how often we water, we can achieve better long-term results for our soil, turf, and trees.

Every lawn is unique, and our soil types may vary. Our irrigation systems can also differ. Some lawns may have less wind protection and shade, requiring more frequent watering to maintain a healthy appearance. In contrast, lawns with good wind protection and shade will likely need less watering. This section emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to watering; there are right and wrong methods for everyone.

In Central Kansas, it's important to recognize that our soil often contains a high percentage of clay. Clay soil generally has a higher pH, excellent water and nutrient-holding capacity, and limited organic matter. Understanding the organic matter content is crucial for assessing our irrigation needs. The soil becomes denser when organic matter is low, restricting water movement throughout the soil profile. If we overwater our clay soils, we can unintentionally "water-log" the soil and harm soil life and roots. Clay soil is already relatively compact, meaning there is less space for gas and air exchange of the root system. This makes it more difficult for the roots to absorb the necessary oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Like us, roots need to "inhale" oxygen and "exhale" carbon dioxide.

If you have clay soil, the challenges for root health are already more significant, and if the soil remains too wet, the limited air space for proper root function becomes even more problematic. Proper watering involves understanding how judicious watering can impact our soil, grass, and trees. By grasping this concept, we can significantly improve plant health.

Within the roots of grass and trees are tiny cells called aquaporins. These cells act as gatekeepers, allowing water to enter the roots from the soil.

Overwatering prevents the roots of our grass and trees from functioning properly.

However, if the soil is too saturated, the aquaporins close to protect the plant from absorbing excessive moisture. If the moisture in the plant continues to transpire through the stomata of the leaves, and the soil remains too saturated to allow water in, eventually, the plant will dehydrate. This can cause the plant to appear stressed, mimicking signs of drought stress, particularly in grass and trees.

When we observe conditions that resemble drought, like grass wilting or our leaves scorching in our trees, it's natural to think that our grass and trees need more water, prompting us to increase irrigation. So, now that you understand the role of aquaporins in our roots, you can understand how overwatering can harm the vascular systems and overall health of both grass and trees. Sometimes, overwatering can cause irreversible damage to the plant and have a long-term negative impact on soil biology. 

To prevent overwatering our lawns, checking soil moisture using a soil moisture probe before adding any supplemental water is essential. While this may be inconvenient, at the very least, avoid watering your lawn when adequate rainfall has occurred. This is especially important for cool-season grass in the spring. The spring is when the roots are going to be the most active. Therefore, proper watering is especially important in the spring. Your turf, trees, and soil will be thankful for your diligence! If you have not checked it out yet, check out our "Transform Your Lawn" and find out what proper mowing can do for your lawn!