Watering & Care Instructions

Helpful Instructions To Maintain Your Lawn

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Helpful Lawn Care Instructions

1. New Seed:

Watering new grass seed requires careÌ The goal is to keep it consistently damp without creating puddlesÌ Follow these steps:

Set sprinkler zones individually, noting the minutes required £or soil to turn dark brown
and water to lightly remain on the surface (without puddles).
Program each zone accordingly, typically 4-© minutes for pop-up sprinklers and 8-15
minutes for rotor or impact sprinklers.
Water multiple times a day to maintain the chocolate brown soil color, adjusting based on
season, temperature, wind, and exposure.
Grass usually sprouts between 7-14 days; avoid walking on it until it thickens to 2-3
inches.
Once grass reaches 3 inches, reduce watering to normal levels.
Mow when grass is 2-3 inches high
Overseed thin areas if needed
Apply high grade £ertilizer around day 30 and weed control at day 75

2. Trees and shrubs:

New trees and shrubs need attention for the first 2 seasons Soil should remain damp (not muddy) near the base. Follow these steps:

Monitor moisture levels at the base by squeezing soil It should hold shape without water
dripping.
Start drip irrigation £or 20-30 minutes in the morning
Check soil moisture in late a£ternoon; i£ below the top ¼ inch is damp, add an afternoon
cycle.
Adjust watering based on season, temperature, and wind.
Regularly monitor water needs to adapt to changing weather.

3. Sod

Sod establishment is quicker than seedÌ Here s what to do:

Initially, water multiple times daily for 2 weeks, keeping the sod moist but not muddy.
Review the new seed section for initial setup details.
After 2 weeks, perform a root check by gently pulling up a piece of sod; if it resists, it s rooted.
Transition to a regular lawn watering schedule.

4. Proper Lawn watering:

Improper lawn watering can cause issues Follow these tips for a healthy lawn.

Maintain consistent and appropriate watering to maximize the effectiveness of lawn care services.
Adjust watering based on season, temperature, wind, soil type, and sun exposure.
Ensure soil remains moist, not muddy.

Helpful Watering Instructions

Overwatering problems:

Overwatering your lawn can lead to various issues, especially for shallow-rooted plantsÌ These problems can seriously harm your lawn’s health Here are some common consequences of overwatering¨

· Shallow Root Depth´
Thatch
Fungal Disease
Molds
· Increased Insects Activity
Moss Growth
Root Rot

Under watering problems:

Insufficient lawn watering can result in significant problems, although they may seem less complex than overwateringÌ When grass lacks adequate water, it enters a dormancy phase akin to winter Unlike winter, prolonged water scarcity can lead to grass death If you notice browning in the summer heat, it s not necessarily fatal, but swift action is required to prevent permanent damage. Adequate watering typically enables £ull recovery in 1.5 to 2 weeks. Common issues associated with underwatering include.

Properly Watering Your Lawn:

Proper lawn watering is vital for maintaining a healthy and attractive lawn while preventing disease, pests, and weeds It also maximizes the value of our services. Lawn care involves four
key elements: fertilization, weed and pest control, correct mowing, and proper watering. Neglecting any of these can harm your lawn s overall health.

Effective watering £ollows a scientific approach called Evapotranspiration, relevant to both agriculture and lawn careÌ It refers to water moving from land to the atmosphere via soil evaporation and plant transpirationÌ While every plant needs a specific amount of water, external factors like temperature and wind affect how much they receive. For instance, hot months require more watering due to increased evaporation, necessitating monthly adjustments to your sprinkler schedule.

Soil type is crucial; various soils (loam, clay, sand) retain water differently, requiring adapted watering approaches.

Consider your grass type, with Bluegrass being common in our region, having a rooting depth of 2 to 6 inches. Most grasses cannot store water effectively, so Bluegrass relies on moisture within the top 2 to 6 inches of soil. Deep watering may not be suitable £or Bluegrass, emphasizing the importance of tailoring watering to your grass type.

How to set up a watering schedule:

Setting up a precise sprinkler schedule can be challenging due to varying property conditions To tailor your watering plan, follow these steps.

Establish a generic schedule for your sprinkler system and run it for one week. Avoid frequent changes during this time.

Type Of Sprinkler	Spring	Summer	Fall
Pop up	15 minutes 2-3 times per week	20-25 minutes up to 6 times per week	15 minutes 2-3 times per week
rotor/impact	30 minutes 2-3 times per week	45-50 minutes up to 6 times per week	30 minutes 2-3 times per week

After a week, assess your lawnÌ If it s mostly green without being muddy, you re on the right track If the lawn remains dry, add another watering day For isolated issues, adjust specific sprinkler zones rather than the entire system
Make small run-time changes (e.g., add 5 minutes) to zones as needed Wait a week before evaluating the impact Avoid £requent adjustments.
Fine-tune your system based on any remaining issues By now, you should be close to an optimal schedule
As the season changes, adjust watering frequency. Increase in warmer months and decrease as it cools Take notes for easier adjustments next season.
Learn your lawn needs: shaded areas require less water, and weather conditions affect wateringÌ Organic Solutions! IncÌ can provide sprinkler tech assistance if needed

Special tips

Don t water on the same day as mowing for better results
Watering multiple days in a row during hot summer periods can be beneficial
Avoid watering on the same day as weed treatments and wait 24 hours after application
Ensure timely watering for fertilizer and pre-emergent
Sandy soils may require unique watering schedules; consult with us.

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