Watering Your Lawn in May

The month of May, especially in Georgia, can be unpredictable and full of rain. However, this is also the start of spring and an important time to begin ensuring your lawn is getting the proper amount of water it needs to grow.

When your lawn is actively growing, it is important that it receive 1 inch of water per week. You can measure rainfall with a rain gauge and then supplement any shortages via hand watering or with an irrigation system.

If you have an irrigation system, it is important that you know how long each zone must run to produce an inch of water. Place an empty tuna can in each zone. Turn the irrigation on and observe how long it takes for each can to fill. Record the time for each zone. This will provide adequate moisture while conserving water.

Make sure your lawn gets at least 1” of water per week to stay healthy.

The most effective way to water your lawn is deeply and infrequently. It is better to run your irrigation system just once or twice per week when needed to provide deep watering versus daily shallow waterings. Deep waterings help roots grow deeper to better withstand drought.

If you do need to water your lawn because you aren’t seeing a lot of rain, try to water in the morning between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. This allows the sun to dry the turf. If you water later in the day, water may evaporate before being absorbed into the ground. Watering any earlier than 5 a.m. may provide excessive moisture and promote fungal diseases.

In the spring, your goal should be to encourage root growth to prepare your grass for that summer heat. Healthy soils, fertilizing, and proper watering will help you achieve this. Remember, many lawn applications such as pre-emergence weed control require that the product is watered in order to be effective. Always read and follow label directions. Every lawn is unique.

If you have more questions about watering your lawn, reach out to us! We’d be happy to help.