Watering your lawn in Summer

A common misconception when it comes to lawn maintenance in warmer months is that your grass needs watering daily, this has been disproven and it is actually more beneficial to water your lawn less frequently in summer.

Optimum watering rate

Many gardening experts agree that watering your lawn daily in summer is too excessive, and you should instead aim to water it every 7-14 days depending on the weather conditions. The temperate climate of the UK allows for regular rainfall, therefore watering frequency should be weekly. It is actually better to leave it to rainwater to keep your lawn healthy, as tap water doesn’t have the nitrogen levels that rain water offers. Overwatering your lawn with tap water can do more harm than good, as it can facilitate for weed growth and increase the chances of diseases affecting your lawn. However during periods of drought when there has been a sustained lack of rainfall, it is important that moisture levels are kept topped up within the soil structure.

Timing is key

Watering your lawn during summer may seem an attractive task when the sun is beaming down and it is hot, but that could be detrimental to your grass. We recommend watering your grass at cooler periods of the day such as the evening or on cloudier days, as a large portion of the water will evaporate if distributed when the heat is at its peak. It is also important to remember that grass in shaded areas of your garden will need less water as they will retain moisture better than areas exposed to higher levels of sunlight.

Avoid damaging your grass

Many people see discolouring in their grass and assume that means their lawn needs watering, but many times this is not the case. If you own pets, their urine can discolour and damage grass, we have written an advice page about this which you can check out here. If you mow your lawn with a petrol lawnmower, we recommend refuelling it on the path or driveaway, as petrol spillages will also damage your grass and cause it to lose its colour. Many gardeners also aerate their soil regularly using a garden fork, which helps break up densely compacted soil and allow for water to make its way to the roots of the grass.

The role of fertiliser

It is important to ensure you are applying the correct rate of fertiliser to your lawn, as getting this wrong can have a negative impact on the health of your grass. Under fertilising means your grass will not be getting the nutrients it requires to remain healthy and grow effectively, and will eventually wilt and die. On the other hand, over fertilising will cause permanent damage to the roots and in some cases will also cause the pH level of the soil to change, meaning it is no longer an effective growing medium for your grass.

If you have any further questions regarding watering your lawn in the summer or any general gardening queries, be sure to get in touch with our team at  sales@gardenersupplies.co.uk and we will be happy to help.