Get Your Lawn On Track For Summer

No matter where you live, your lawn is an integral part of your exterior landscape. You do not have to be a lawn snob to long for a cleaner and greener lawn - every homeowner loves a beautiful landscape of grass.

How you water your lawn can make a big difference in how the grass looks, and knowing when and how to water is essential. Here are some simple watering tips to keep your home landscape clean, green and beautiful.

• Water early in the morning or in the evening during hot weather. Watering your lawn during the hottest part of the day could burn the grass, so schedule your watering carefully. It is best to water in the early morning hours, but watering late at night after the sun goes down will work as well.
• Use a watering can or a hose attachment with a fine spray. You want to water the lawn as gently as possible and avoid harsh sprays, so choose your equipment with care. A watering can works best, but you can also use a hose with a fine spray attachment for larger areas.
• Know when to put the watering can down. Unless you are in the midst of a drought, you may not need to water your lawn at all. A well-established lawn should need very little additional watering, except during the occasional dry spell.
• Water your newly seeded lawn to get it off to a great start. A newly seeded lawn will need far more water than a well-established one, so keep your watering can or hose handy. You will need to water your newly seeded lawn regularly, so check the moisture levels often.
• Conserve water. If you have a large yard, sprinklers can probably save you money and reduce your water usage. You can put the sprinklers on timers and set them to water in the early morning and late evening hours, keeping your lawn lush and green all season long. With smaller yards and gardens, a rain barrel can be both cheap and effective in keeping your yard in tip top shape.
• Check for bare spots and reseed and water accordingly. Even the best lawn will develop bare spots and brown areas over time, so take the time to check the lawn and fill in the gaps. Water those newly seeded spots liberally and monitor them to make sure the seeds are sprouting.

Your lawn should be a source of pride and beauty, not a constant worry. Once you know how, and when, to water your lawn, you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the warm summer weather.