The dog days of summer may be prime time for backyard barbecues and lazy days in the shade, but lawns can take a real beating if they aren’t fed their fair share of water. The extra trouble in Melbourne and Australia, in general, is that droughts and dry weather are not limited to the warmest months but can actually happen all year round. Here are five tips for dealing with dry lawns that can help you bring them back to good health.
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Don’t Water Too Often
It may seem intuitive to water your lawn excessively to bring it back to life after a dry spell, but patience is key. Most people tend to water their lawn every day as a reaction to dry weather, but it’s almost always better to water your lawn abundantly a few times per week in order to penetrate to the roots and to promote healthy regrowth where your lawn needs it most.
The best way to water your lawn effectively using the correct quantity and at the correct time of day is to use an automated smart sprinkler. Sleep in an hour or two more and let the smart sprinkler do its job exactly as programmed.
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Time of Day Matters for Watering
Choose to water your lawn either early in the morning or late in the evening. Watering during the day is less effective and will waste more water since much of it will be absorbed by the rays of the sun throughout the afternoon. Early morning watering is ideal since the cool morning weather will allow the water to reach deep down into the roots of the lawn.
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Fertilise Your Lawn
Liquid-based lawn fertilisers can be a great boost to the health and longevity of your lawn since its liquid base allows the fertiliser to permeate to the roots and soil, which strengthens the lawn’s quality and ability to retain moisture when watering. Fertilisers can also be hazardous to your lawn, so ensure that you are using the correct product for your lawn type and are using the correct quantity for maximum effectiveness. When in doubt, contact a qualified lawn and groundscare expert.
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Install a Rain Gauge
It’s easy in this day and age to see how much rain is falling in Melbourne (or anywhere else for that matter) from the comfort of our mobile phones, but it doesn’t always correlate to exactly how much rain your lawn is getting throughout the summer. A rain gauge is a simple instrument that can give you real-time diagnostics by filling up a container whenever it rains to let you know how much water you’ll need to give it to turn it from yellow to green again.
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Take Preventative Measures
Prevention really is the best medicine. If your lawn has sustained damage due to dry weather, don’t neglect to maintain the tips above and good habits for preventing damage in the future. Even if dry weather isn’t all that common where you live, good preventative care will keep your lawn looking lush year-round and healthy enough to deal with occasional dry weather should it occur.
Gardening Angels
Whether your lawn is at risk of turning yellow and dry or it’s already sustained damage due to a dry spell, get in touch with the lawn experts at Gardening Angels to bring it back to life. Our team of lawn and groundscare specialists are accustomed to dealing with all types of lawns common in Melbourne and have the expertise to bring it to a lush, vibrant green.