Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Finding ways to conserve water
• Method 2 of 3: Adjust your lawn to conserve water
• Method 3 of 3: Determine the ideal amount of water for your lawn
• Tips
• Warnings

For many homeowners, a lush green lawn is a symbol of pride and a pleasant place to relax or play. But maintaining a green lawn requires a lot of water, and depending on where you live, there could be water restrictions or just low water levels for much of the year. Regardless of where you live, it is important to learn ways to conserve as much water as possible. Learning to water your lawn efficiently will help save money and conserve this precious natural resource.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Finding ways to conserve water

1. Adjust your mowing habits. Mowing a lawn is essential, but mowing too often or cutting the grass too low can dry out an otherwise healthy lawn. Mowing your lawn in the same pattern over and over can cause the grass to suffer from the repeated wheel tracks that go in the same direction week after week.
   • Change the direction each time you mow the grass. It will put less stress on the lawn and can also prevent turf formation on your lawn.
   • Set the wheels on your lawn mower to the correct height. There is some variation in the recommended height depending on the type of grass in your garden. Tall Fescue grass, for example, should be kept no shorter than 6-8cm while Bermuda grass should be kept 2-4cm.
2. Use a smart clock. If you have an automatic irrigation system, you can consider purchasing a smart clock or a smart irrigation controller. These devices control how much water your sprinkler system uses and usually have some sort of rain sensor, which automatically turns off your sprinklers when it starts to rain.
   • In some regions, the government is offering a discount or a tax incentive for water users installing smart irrigation systems. Contact your local water board to find out if you are eligible for such a grant.
3. Use less fertilizer. Regular fertilization of your garden can dry out a lawn. Using or fertilizing too much and too often fertilizer increases the need to water your lawn often and often.
   • In late spring and early fall, use a fertilizer that's three parts nitrogen, one part phosphorus, and two parts potassium. This is ideal for maintaining a healthy lawn without overwatering the grass.
   • Choose slow release fertilizers or a mixture of fertilizers that deliver the nutrients quickly and slowly to your lawn. "Quick release" fertilizer releases all nitrogen quickly, requiring more frequent application over a period of time.
   • Follow the instructions and recommendations on your fertilizer packaging label, or read online about how and when to properly apply fertilizer to your lawn.
4. Consider watering less. Watering your lawn serves a number of purposes. In addition to keeping the grass in optimum health, it also reduces airborne pollutants and helps regulate soil temperature. But if there are areas of your yard that you don't get to much or that don't serve aesthetic purpose (parts of the backyard or grass on the side of the house, for example), consider limiting the frequency and amount of water for those areas. You can still water regularly to keep the garden from wilting in that area, but perhaps not as much water as the rest of the garden.
   • In addition to limiting watering to certain areas of the lawn, you can also keep certain plants or flower beds less moist by sprinkling a layer of organic mulch over the soil. This will help conserve water and can reduce the need for you to water these areas of your yard.
   EXPERT TIP

   "Don't overwater your grass. Grass can get too much water, drowning the roots and killing the grass."

   
   

   Reuse water. If you are watering your grass and not a vegetable garden, you may consider reusing water. Rainwater is safe to reuse as it is the same water that would otherwise provide natural watering for your garden, although in some regions there are restrictions on how rainwater is collected and harvested. Gray water (if supplied), the non-toxic water used for showering, washing dishes, and the washing machine, is not safe to drink, but is generally safe to use for watering your lawn.

   • When collecting gray water, you should use environmentally friendly soap and detergents. Use products that are considered environmentally conscious, which means they are free from salt, boron, and chlorine bleach.
   • Use rainwater. It's safe to use on any part of your lawn (including vegetable gardens) and helps cut down on municipal water usage. Some states in the US have their own laws about the collection and use of rainwater. If you live in the US and want to know any requirements or restrictions on rainwater collection and use in your state, check the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association website, click the Resources tab, and read the Laws section , Rules & Codes.
   • An easy way to collect rainwater is to simply place buckets or barrels under the downspout drain. If you decide that collecting rainwater is something you would like to do more actively, there are more advanced collection methods, such as a rain barrel.
5. Check for leaky sprinklers. Broken or leaking sprinklers waste a significant amount of water and can overwater areas of your lawn. To cut back on your water bill and save water in times of drought, it is important to check your sprinkler system and water taps, and repair or replace leaking or broken materials.

Method 2 of 3: Adjust your lawn to conserve water

1. Regularly weed the weeds. Weeds not only take up space in your garden, but also consume water and nutrients in the soil. When removing weeds, be sure to dig deep enough to remove the entire root system, as weeding the sprouts at the surface will not kill the weeds effectively.
   • If you must, use chemical pesticides on your weeds, but locally rather than broadly all over the yard. Spraying the entire yard can harm many of the organisms that live in the soil and potentially contaminate groundwater.
2. Choose the right grass. While grass may appear to the untrained eye to be just grass, in fact, there are many different types of grass. Each variety has its own benefits, depending on the climate and the region you live in.
   • Perennial Ryegrass (Perennial ryegrass) is fairly drought resistant, easy to plant, and can compete with garden weeds.
   • Tall Fescue is drought resistant and has the deepest root system of all peat grasses, from 90 cm to 180 cm. Tall Fescue doesn't necessarily use less water, but it does use it in the same way as a plant with deep roots. The grass always stays green during drought, which is useful if you live in a climate where it is often dry.
   • Fine Fescue grass requires little fertilizer and is drought resistant. The grass can actually go into a dormant state during dry spells when water is absent, and will quickly return to a healthy shade of green once the water returns.
   • Ostrich grass (Bentgrass) grows well during cool weather, and like the Fescue, it can go into a dormant state during drought. Bentgrass also does not need a lot of fertilizer.
   • Kentucky Bluegrass grows best in cool, moist, semi-arid and temperate climates. This grass variety is quite drought resistant.
3. Consider alternatives to grass. Whether you have a large garden that is difficult to manage or just want a little more diversity in your garden landscape, there are plenty of alternatives to grass. Some drought-stricken regions are even trying to encourage homeowners not to plant any grass, so if you live in such an area, it may make sense to check online to see if the government in your area offers these incentives.
   • Ground covers make a nice substitute for grass in some gardens. Ground covers, such as drought-resistant plants, are ideal for those areas of a garden that are rarely used. Planting ground covers in sloping areas of your yard that often experience a lot of water loss can also help conserve water and promote a greener yard.
   • Perennials, shrubs and trees are excellent alternatives to grass. Many of these plants are drought resistant varieties that can resist erosion and water loss.
   • Hard surfaces, such as decking or paving (including stepping stones), can help cut down on how much water you need for your yard. This also creates a recreational space, as a porch or patio is a great place to sit outside for picnics, meals, or simply relax.

Method 3 of 3: Determine the ideal amount of water for your lawn

1. Determine the soil type. The type of soil in your lawn, as well as the climate and time of year, will dictate how often your lawn needs water. If you live in an area where it often rains a lot in certain parts of the year, you will not need to water often. However, certain gardens cannot take full advantage of rainfall, depending on the composition and layout of the garden.
   • Certain soils absorb water better than others. If the soil contains a lot of clay, for example, this will prevent water from being absorbed by the soil.
   • Clay holds on average around 3 cm of water per 30 cm of soil, while fine sand and loamy soil retain the least water (resp.1.8 and 2 cm of water per 30 cm of soil).
   • Silty loam, clay, loam and silty clay loam have the highest water retention of all soil types, averaging 6 cm of water per 30 cm of soil.
   • The layout of the garden is also a factor. A sloping lawn will not absorb excess water quickly. Moisture that is not immediately absorbed is likely to drain immediately to lower ground.
2. Decide when to water. Certain times of the day are better than others for watering a lawn. The timing also depends on your climate. It should come as no surprise that where you live may be the biggest factor to consider when and how often you can water your lawn.
   • If you live in a humid climate, you should water your lawn between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM for optimal results.
   • In a hot, dry climate, it is better to water lawns in the early morning, before sunrise. This will help reduce the amount of water that would otherwise be lost during the day due to evaporation and the wind.
   • In cooler temperatures, it is best to water your lawn before 10:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. This limits evaporation.
3. Determine how often you need to water. While some people may feel that their lawn needs water on a daily basis, this is often not the case. Many factors influence how often your lawn needs water. In drought-prone Southern California, for example, a lawn may need water for 20 minutes a week to 200 minutes a week, depending on the region, time of year, and sprinkler output per hour.
   • Use a minimal amount of water for your lawn. Overwatering can add to your monthly water bill, waste vital resources, and ultimately damage your lawn from water saturation.
   • The best measure of how much water your lawn needs is to check the lawn itself. If footprints or lawn mower marks remain in the grass of your yard for more than 30 minutes, that's a good sign that the grass is drying out.
   • Check the color of your lawn. Dry sod often takes on a blue-gray shade, rather than a lush green color.
   • You can also measure the soil moisture to determine if your lawn needs water. Push a 6-inch screwdriver or stake into the ground. If the screwdriver easily pierces the bottom without much effort, then the bottom probably contains enough water and you don't need to water.
4. Measure the output of your sprinkler. An important factor in determining how often your lawn needs water is how much water your sprinkler system provides. You can measure the output of your sprinklers by placing empty and clean tuna cans or cat food cans in your lawn. If you don't have empty cans, you can also use coffee mugs. Next, run the sprinklers for 20 minutes and then use a ruler to measure the water depth in your yard.
   • After 20 minutes, add up all the water depths in your garden and divide this total by the total number of mugs or cans to get an average for the entire garden. Then multiply this number (the total number of yard measurements in 20 minutes) by three, for the average of your total sprinkler output per hour (60 minutes).
   • Compare your garden sprinkler output to the recommended monthly watering time in your area. You can find a table for your region online.
5. Calculate the exact amount of water that is optimal for your lawn. Each lawn has its own ideal amount of water required for the grass to grow and thrive. This depends on factors such as the type of grass, soil composition, climate, and so on. You need to replenish the water leaving your lawn to keep it healthy, which is best determined by evapotranspiration (ET).
   • The process for calculating the ET can be complex for some. For a full explanation of how to determine ET, visit the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) web page for an explanation of the calculation.
   • To make the process of this calculation easier for laymen, the FAO offers free ET calculators on their site.
   • If trying to find out your lawn's ET is giving you a headache, you can ask a gardener at a nursery or greenhouse.

Tips

• Grass that has had too much water can have the same symptoms as grass that has dehydrated is. You can tell the difference because soil is moist or not. If this is the case, you should water less. If the soil is dry, you need to water more.
• Most sod types can survive short periods of drought, as long as that dry period is followed by a period of recovery.
• Your local water boards or government water authorities can provide additional information on how to water your lawn more effectively and other techniques to conserve water while keeping your lawn looking its best.

Warnings

• Find out if there are any restrictions on watering in your area. Many regions respond to water shortages by enacting laws that limit how often per week residents can water their lawns, or for how long, and / or at what time. If you live in such an area, this article can still help you, but make sure you stick to the restrictions.
• Make sure to take into account local ordinances regarding the installation of a rain barrel. Some countries or regions do not allow this, or there may be restrictions on how much water can be collected and by what methods. This is often due to the water taxes, which apply to all freshwater in rivers and streams, including rainwater runoff in a river, to a hierarchy of water rights holders.
• If you choose to use a pesticide or herbicide to get a lush lawn, be very careful and sensible in your use, as over-application negatively impacts the environment.