Your 5-step guide to lawn irrigation

1. When to water?

Your lawn is a morning person. Its favourite time for a big drink of water is before 10am. This is because cooler morning temperatures help to reduce evaporation, so your lawn gets more time to absorb the water. Also, the ground stays cooler after a good drink, which helps to protect the grass from the intensity of the afternoon sun. Morning watering also helps to safeguard against disease. Grass blades ideally need to stay dry during the night because a wet lawn creates the optimum conditions for fungus to grow.

2. How much water?

When it comes to evaluating how much water your grass needs, let your lawn do the talking. Your local climate, grass variety and soil type all play a part in determining the optimal volume of water. Sandy soils require 25mm of water, whereas clay soils only require 13mm. The easiest way to check the amount of water you’re dispensing is to place a container on the lawn with lines drawn to demarcate an 25mm/13mm. When the container is filled to the required level for your soil type, you can stop watering. To check that all areas of your lawn are receiving an equal distribution of water, place containers in different zones.

3. How often?

Well shaded gardens require less frequent watering than lawns in direct sunlight. In hotter climates, it is best to water exposed grass on sandy soil three times a week and clay soil grass once a week. The quickest way to assess if your grass is thirsty, is to check if it bounces back after being stepped on. If the grass stays flat when it has been walked over, it means the blades are dehydrated. Another sign that your lawn is thirsty is when the colour dulls – and looks more brown/yellow than green.

4. Ground rules

Chopsticks are not just useful for eating; they can also be used to check the moisture level of your soil. Most healthy grass root systems have a depth of 15cm. To check that your lawn is receiving enough moisture to penetrate the first 15cm of soil, you can apply the chopstick method. Simply press a chopstick into the ground and if it can’t easily reach that depth, it means the soil is too dry and you need to water for longer periods to ensure enough moisture is reaching the grass roots.

5. Maintenance

Whether you use an in-ground irrigation system or a pulsating, revolving sprinkler attached to a garden hose, remember to carry out regular maintenance checks. To keep it operating at peak performance, look out for leaks, check that sprinkler heads aren’t blocked and monitor the water distribution. If your system uses filters, be sure to clean them every season to maximise their longevity. Your grass will thank you for it!