Water Wednesday: 3 ways to a lush lawn with less water

Grasscycling cuts water use by about a
third over the course of a summer

That's right. Water less and get a greener lawn. Save time and fertilizer costs too.

These tips are adapted from a section on my Squidoo grasscycling page, where you can learn all about the time- and cost-saving benefits of grasscycling.

1. Grasscycle to save water. When grasscycling, you mow a little less frequently most of the summer. Let your lawn grow a tad taller, to between three and four inches, set your mower high, so it leaves between two and three inch blades standing, and most importantly, let those clippings lie! Don't worry. If you mow before watering, when the grass is dry, those clippings will fall between the blades and shelter the tender roots from the sun. They'll also serve as water retaining mulch, holding moisture in the ground, where the roots can slurp up all they need.
   
   You'll water about a third less over the course of the summer. You'll also mow and fertilize less too. Grasscycling is a money-saving, time-saving win!
   
   
2. Promote healthy roots through deep watering once a week, twice a week in extreme heat. Strong, deep roots don't require as much water. Plus, they deliver more lush, green-enhancing nutrients to the grass leaves above the soil. Easiest way to get deep, water-saving roots is to water deeply and less frequently. Here's why: Light, frequent watering encourages shallow roots and may lead to increased disease and stress injury to the grass plants. Deep, infrequent watering encourages roots to grow deeper, where the soil stays moist longer.
   
   
3. Water early in the day, between six and ten, before the sun is high, or at dusk, when the sun is low, to avoid losing up to sixty percent of your water to evaporation. Use a low sprinkler head that saturates the ground, rather than a high shower. On a hot day, most of the water from a lofty sprinkle evaporates before it can sink into the soil. Check that your sprinkler waters only the lawn. Concrete driveways and walks don't need water!

Of course, if you're tired of maintaining that lawn, you might consider replacing it with a native garden that requires little maintenance and attracts beneficial insects and birds, or grow some veggies and fruits. That's the Ordinary thing to do.

Whatever you grow in your garden this summer, may it be pleasing to the senses and bring you joy.

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We make peace in a million small ways every day.

All text and images, unless otherwise noted, copyright L. Kathryn Grace. All rights reserved.