Keeping Grass Green

Most turf grasses grown as ornamental lawns in the US are descended from tough grasses that grew on prairies or savannahs in other parts of the world. In their natural habitats they are accustomed to periods of generous moisture followed inevitably by periods of drought. Accordingly they adapt by growing during the rainy season and then by browning and going dormant to survive the dry seasons. This is what they do in residential landscapes too.

However, homeowners want lawns to stay green throughout the growing season, usually the dry season. Therefore, to keep turf grass green and to maintain young grass seedlings in a new lawn, watering the lawn when rainfall is sparse is essential. So important is regular watering to maintain green lawns, that permanently installed pop-up sprinkler systems are common in residential landscapes in the hot southern regions of the US.

Watering Correctly

In this time of increasingly limited supplies of fresh water and heightened concern about the responsible use of our natural resources, the issue of watering lawns has become critically important.

Research indicates that those homeowners who water their lawns in an effort to maintain a lush green turf during the summer months tend to water ineffectively, typically wasting water by watering too often or, paradoxically, watering insufficiently each time. They also waste water by failing to build good, moisture-retaining soil for their grass plants, so they can develop deep roots. Grass with deep roots is more self-reliant in drought because it can access soil moisture deep in the soil and go long periods without needing supplemental watering.