Irrigation and Your Lawn: A Quick Look at Conservation

Water conservation is always top of mind here in Nutri-Lawn’s Burlington inground sprinkler system installation department. This is because sprinkler systems are often (unfairly) given a bad name when it comes to water efficiency. The truth of the matter is that inground sprinkler systems are actually far better at water conservation than other forms of irrigation.

Whether you’re trying to establish a new lawn from seed or looking to keep your current turf looking lush and strong, water is an essential component of your lawn care process. Here’s what you need to know to ensure that your using your Burlington inground sprinkler system both efficiently and effectively.

Irrigating an Established Lawn
Established lawns generally require less water than new lawns in order to survive. At the very minimum, make sure that you set your Burlington inground sprinkler system to provide your property with three centimetres of water each week. If Mother Nature is providing this amount naturally, then there’s no need to worry; Nutri-Lawn’s inground irrigation systems can be equipped with weather-sensing technology in order to avoid unnecessary watering treatments.

If adequate water isn’t supplied from the sky, your grass could start to turn brown. And while it might look fatal, don’t let this discolouration fool you into thinking that your lawn is dead. It’s simply gone dormant in order to conserve resources within its roots. Continue to water your lawn regularly in order to ensure that it’s receiving enough nutrients. Once the heat has broken, your lawn will recover and resume its green appearance without any additional fertilizers or lawn maintenance treatments.

Efficiently Irrigate a New Lawn
Newly planted lawns have very particular watering needs. This is because new seeds need a fair bit of water in order to germinate in the first three to four weeks of life. With that being said, you shouldn’t just water your new grass seed willy-nilly. You want to water your lawn deeply, thoroughly, and frequently. In the beginning, keep the soil moist – five to seven centimetres of water should do it, at least until the grass begins to sprout. Once your lawn has started to become established, you can cut your irrigation schedule back to roughly three centimetres a week.

Three Tricky Areas For Efficient Irrigation
Watering areas such as slopes, under trees, and those in shade can require some special attention in order to ensure proper and efficient use of your Burlington inground sprinkler system. Here are some water-saving tips to keep in mind:

  • Watering Slopes
    Runoff often occurs on slopes before the water has had a chance to fully soak into the soil. In order to conserve water, turn your Burlington inground sprinkler system off when runoff begins. Wait 30 minutes or so before turning the system on again. Continue with this pattern until the area has received the appropriate amount of water.
  • Areas Near Trees
    Even though trees have deep anchor roots, they still absorb a great deal of moisture from the top 15 centimetres of soil – which also happens to be the same area your turf relies on for its moisture. As such, turf and tree will compete for the same watery resources. Overwater these areas in order to keep all forms of vegetation happy.
  • Areas in Shade
    Heavily shaded turf tends to hold moisture longer than turf in other areas of your yard simply because it doesn’t have to worry about evaporation from the sun. As such, try not to douse this area with too much water. Doing so could kill your grass.

Improve the efficiency of your watering practices by installing a Nutri-Lawn Burlington inground sprinkler system this autumn. Contact our irrigation office today to request a free consultation.