If you have an irrigation system in your yard, you may struggle with watering frequency and duration. There are dangers of both too much water and too little water, but the good news is there are often signs that you’re doing one or the other. Your landscaping company can spot these signs and help you adjust your sprinkler system to properly water your grass and landscaping.
Overwatering Can Harm Your Grass & Plants
Perhaps the biggest issue overwatering causes is a shallow root system. This is especially prevalent in grass. When your grass gets too much water, the roots aren’t encouraged to grow into the soil and can even rot. When this happens and we have water restrictions, the shallow root system can’t find the nutrients and water it needs to survive so your grass dies. Other issues include fungi growth, weeds and an increase of pests.
With our sand-based soil, excess water around your landscaping may drain below the roots which will keep your shrubs and flowers from getting the water they need. Often property owners interpret this failure to thrive as a lack of water, so they run the irrigation system longer. Unfortunately, this further exacerbates the issue.
Underwatering Causes Problems Too
Of course, there are times that the Tampa Bay area water companies institute watering restrictions. Most of the time we’re still allowed to water but only on a more limited basis. Some signs that you may be unintentionally underwatering your landscaping include:
- Slow or lack of growth
- Wilting leaves
- Discolored leaves
One way to know if your grass isn’t getting enough water is to walk across it. If you see your footprints in the grass, chances are the blades of grass don’t have enough moisture in them so they can’t spring back.
How to Know the Right Amount to Water
All irrigation systems and the sprinkler heads within are different. Even water pressure within the same neighborhood can vary leading to needs for different watering duration. Ideally you want about 1” – 1.5” of water on your yard per week. A good practice is to divide your watering into two different days.
During the summer months, with frequent thunderstorms, you may not need to water at all. If your irrigation system doesn’t have a gauge that shuts the system off when watering isn’t necessary, talk to your landscaping or irrigation company about installing one. During cooler months, you may not need as much water to sustain a healthy yard.
Prime-Scape Services offers landscaping and irrigation services. We can evaluate your irrigation system and set each zone so all parts of your yard and plant types are getting the water they needs. Should you need different sprinkler heads or additional zones, we can help with that too. Call us today at (727) 447-2186 or fill out our contact form and we’ll reach out to you to schedule your consultation.
