When Should I Water The Lawn ?

The weather in the UK can at times go from one extreme to the next, and that heat wave can be just around the corner following that non stop rain.

You will be able to tell if the area is not getting enough water or vice versa if it’s getting too much. If you're getting waterlogging or a boggy ground then too much water is being applied, the opposite when not watered enough can result in dry patch and yellowing.

Drought Conditions

Drought conditions normally occur when temperatures hit 16 degrees plus with consistently no rain fall. It is surprising how long lawns can go without water, normally a few weeks but eventually the grass will start to go into survival mode (dormancy) and this is what causes dry patch.

When a drought is prominent the water table is very low which is where the water moves too when is disappears from the surface. In ideal conditions the water table retains the water in the root zone keeping your lawn hydrated. The issue is when there is a drought, the water you apply will never reach the water table.

There are products that you can use such as our Abzorb Triple Action Wetting Agent. If you start using this product once a month from April it can be a lifesaver if we get a drought in the Summer as it retains the moisture at the water table much more efficiently and requires 80% less watering.

New Lawns

Sowing new seeds while drought conditions are upon us is not the best approach and this needs to be considered if your planning to do so. The seeds will really struggle if not watered in drought due to the root system being much more delicate and shallower as opposed to established grass. You will need to water at least twice a day and deeply too, around 1 inch for normal soil types, bit less for clay. If you are struggling to keep the area damp, try applying the water once the sun goes down so it can’t be evaporated.

Established Lawns

Lawns that are 6 moths plus are classed as fully established, the resilience levels are much stronger and has the ability to bounce back even after a long drought stage. You can test the lawn by stepping on the grass and seeing if it bounces back, if it does not then the test has failed, and you should look at resolving the issue. You should start by watering the area deeply but not often (around 10 days apart), when we say deeply, we mean a good old soaking to the point where little puddles start to form. When you do water, the area try to apply in cooler temperatures, a good tip is once the sun goes down in the evening. Again, our Abzorb wetting agent will really help in these scenarios.