For some areas of the United States, summer means hot weather and periods of rain. Sometimes a lot of rain.
If you live in an area that sees plenty of summer thunderstorms, don’t assume you can just turn your lawn sprinkler system off for the summer. Your lawn will still need water, more water than a rainstorm can provide.
Remember, if you are in an area that has been drenched with heavy downpours, you should turn your sprinkler system back on within four to five days of the rainfall. A lawn sprinkler system with a rain sensor can also eliminate a lot of the guesswork of figuring out when to shut off the sprinkler system. You can add a timer that will adjust watering based on rain conditions.
Many areas that see lots of rain in the summer are also areas that have a lot of sandy soil. This means rain from those summer storms disappears rapidly. Lawns do need a lot of water to stay healthy and lush.
The general rule of thumb is to provide your lawn with between one and one-and-a-half inches of water per week. That’s great, you say, but how do I check the water moisture levels of my lawn? Here’s one way: Probe your soil with a screwdriver and see if you can determine the depth of moisture in the lawn. You could also use a wooden paint stick. If you want to be more accurate, you can run down to the local hardware store and grab a moisture meter or gauge.
If you are using mulch, it should also be checked. If your mulch has compacted or formed a crust, it will block water from reaching the root of a tree or plant.
Controlling your water levels will help keep your lawn healthy during the rain and heat of summer.
