The value of an irrigation system cannot be underestimated for maintaining a healthy lawn that requires less maintenance. However, “setting and forgetting” the system with the same schedule year-round can lead to overwatering or underwatering.Water needs change with the seasons and growth cycles of your lawn, and it’s important to make seasonal adjustments to make sure you are giving your lawn what it needs to thrive.
Not every lawn has the same irrigation needs. Plant growth cycles, weather patterns, and how the soil holds onto moisture should be considered when setting up your irrigation system. When a landscape professional installs your lawn irrigation system, they will understand the precise needs of your property, climate, and soil content and adjust your system accordingly. However, your irrigation needs can change over time. A newly planted lawn will need more water than a well-established lawn with a deep root system, and as your lawn evolves, you should make the necessary adjustments. If it has been a stormy season and the soil is holding onto a lot of water, continuing to run your irrigation system, as usual, can put you at risk of overwatering.
Most property owners understand that plants need water to grow and thrive. If you underwater your lawn, growth can be stunted, and grass can die. However, many homeowners do not understand the risk of overwatering. Many homeowners believe the biggest issue with running their irrigation system too often during a rainy fall or spring is wasted water, but, while it impacts your wallet and the environment, it won’t harm the lawn or plants. However, you invite root disease if your lawn and plantings are overwatered. Root rot results from overwatering and can damage your lawn as badly as underwatering. Regarding irrigation, more is not necessarily better. You need to get the moisture levels right – or at least as close to right as possible.
As the growing season ends and your lawn enters a dormant stage, it will need far less water. When the temperatures drop, water will not evaporate as quickly as during the hot summer months, meaning that your soil is holding onto water longer. As the growth slows during the dormant season, the roots require less water overall. While most homeowners know they should winterize their system to avoid damage and frozen pipes during the coldest months, the fall transition period can be confusing, as your lawn will still need some irrigation to stay healthy. Monitoring the weather patterns, the temperature, and the current health of your lawn is essential during the fall so you know how much to cut back. Having a landscape professional who understands the climate can help you determine the best way to adjust your system before winterization, which should happen before the first hard frost.
Most property owners understand that their landscapes need the most watering from their irrigation system in the summer. Not only is the lawn still growing rapidly, but the harsh sun, high temperatures, and decreased rainfall can all reduce the amount of water in your soil that your lawn needs to stay healthy. Many homeowners who try to manage their system find that they have difficulty calibrating how much water is required to keep a lawn healthy over the summer and often underestimate how often they should run the system. In a sweltering and dry summer, your lawn is at risk of burning out, and once the damage is done, it can be challenging to remediate quickly.
Spring often presents the same issues as fall. Your lawn is coming out of dormancy and, therefore, needs more water to grow. Still, with moderate temperatures above and beneath the soil, evaporation is not happening as quickly as during the hot summer months, meaning the soil will hold onto more water. In addition, just like in fall, spring weather can be unpredictable. More rain means you will need to run your system less.
A landscaping team with irrigation professionals ensures your system is always optimized for seasonal changes. Not only will they know the best settings to verify that you are getting the right amount of watering, but they can also handle all the necessary maintenance your system needs to work correctly. A team of irrigation professionals can do routine checkups to make sure you have no leaks, clogs, or broken components, adjust your schedule based on the season and weather conditions, flush your system in the spring to clear out accumulated debris, and winterize your system to protect it during freezing temperatures. When you have a team that understands irrigation needs and landscaping, they can look for signs of over and under-watering and handle any watering adjustments before they cause damage to your lawn and plantings. These adjustments will keep your lawn and plantings healthy and help you conserve water and use irrigation more intelligently.
If you care about the health of your property and smart water usage, having an irrigation professional there to manage your system is one of the best investments you can make. Making seasonal adjustments will keep your lawn healthy and thriving and your irrigation system working well. A healthy lawn greatly enhances your curb appeal and your enjoyment of your landscape, so invest in a smart one.
Keep your irrigation system running smoothly throughout the year with Twin Oaks Landscape. Our professionals will adjust it to match your lawn’s seasonal needs and help conserve water. Contact Twin Oaks Landscape to learn more about our irrigation services.