all about watering (lawns)
There are three different types of soil: Clay, Sand and Loam. Each has different water-absorbing properties. Most yards contain a combination of at least two of the three types of soil.

Clay soil is dense and clings together, so water absorption is slow. While it takes longer for the clay to soak-up water, it also takes longer for it to release it. Its density leads to poor aeration and may require aerating once or twice a year to increase the air in the soil.

Sandy soils are much less dense and do not retain moisture like the clay soils. Water passes through the sand quickly so your lawn will need much more frequent watering, but it takes less water than clay soils to reach the deep roots of your lawn (usually 6-8 inches).

Loam is a combination of clay and sandy soils.

With droughts and heat waves often comes water restrictions. Below are some guidelines to follow during the warm months:

1. Water your lawn early in the morning. 5 AM is the BEST time due to the lack of evaporation that takes place, low winds, high humidity and morning dew that adds to the moisture. Watering at night may promote lawn diseases.

2. Newly-planted lawns should be watered once a day so the seed can germinate and a solid root system can form. Depending on the type of grass planted and the season, the daily watering should last anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks.

3. If your lawn has just been fertilized, water a few extra times per week to help the fertilizer get into the ground and help prevent 'burning' the tips of the grass.

4. Your lawn needs moisture (water), nutrients, and air to grow. By watering too much, you can continuously saturate your soil to the point where the grass roots lack air and cannot grow deep enough roots. By not watering enough, you can dry-out the grass, soil, and root system, and your lawn may either go dormant or ultimately die during hot summer months! Your yard should receive at least 1 inch of water per week. To gauge if you need to water, take a narrow screw driver and push it into the ground in several places. If you are able to penetrate 6 to 8 inches, then your soil is properly saturated. If not, then your watering is not reaching the desired depth and you may need to water for longer periods of time.

5. If you are using a sprinkler to water to reach the desired root depth (6 to 8 inches ) it can take sandy soils 1 hour per inch of water, clay soils 4-5 hours per inch of water, and loam soils up to 2 hours per one inch of water.

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