How much water should you be using to water your lawn? If the response were simple, we’d all have lush, green lawns all year round without any problems. But the reality is that there isn’t a single recommended amount as it depends on so many factors which we’ll explore below:
Grass Species
First and foremost, consider the species of grass that makes up your lawn. Some species require far more attention than others, which can survive quite well for extended periods without being watered.
Couch and Buffalo, two popular grass types in Australia, are known to be quite resilient and can self-repair if damaged. Zoysia, on the other hand, is fairly drought tolerant in warmer, drier climates such as in the north of Australia. If you’re growing Zoysia in Melbourne, pay attention to its needs and don’t assume that it will behave the same way as it would in Darwin, for example.
How Much Water Do I Need?
It really depends, but below are some things to consider for watering your lawn:
- Time of day: try to water your lawn in the morning before sunrise (if possible) rather than in the evening. Watering during the morning allows you to take advantage of that morning dew and coming sunshine to allow proper absorption and evaporation. Watering in the evening keeps the water in the ground all night and can accelerate the development of bacteria and funguses.
- Frequency: instead of watering every day, try to switch to watering deeply a few times a week. This allows plenty of time for the grass and soil to absorb the water and to evaporate it out under the sun.
- New lawn vs old lawn: a freshly laid lawn can be watered a few times every day with a light sprinkle to promote healthy germination and moisture to accelerate root development in the early stages.
- Keep an eye on the weather: in Melbourne, if you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes. With rainfall a common occurrence, knowing when it’s likely to rain can save you plenty of time and reduce your water bill. Let nature do its work.
- Use a rain gauge: these simple garden tools measure water on your lawn, so you’ll be thankful you’ve picked one up. By using a rain gauge, you can make gradual adjustments over time until you’ve hit the sweet spot for your particular lawn.
Keeping Your Lawn Lush and Green
If you’re unsure of how much water your lawn needs, bear the above tips in mind and give it the care it deserves. A lawncare professional can provide you with more than helpful lawncare services and soil treatments (fertilisers, weed plucking, etc.); ask your local lawncare company for a professional opinion regarding your watering habits.
Since the answer is always a big ‘it depends,’ you’ll be glad to have a lawncare professional take into account your location, climatic conditions, grass species, and fertiliser requirements to give you an accurate idea of how much water is required to keep your lawn a healthy green.
Gardening Angels
Get the best care for your lawn with Gardening Angels. We provide a full range of comprehensive lawncare solutions to keep your lawn green and beautiful year round.