Fixing An Overwatered Lawn – What To Do About Overwatered Grass
Enough but not too much, that’s a good rule for many things, including watering your lawn. You know the poor results of too little irrigation, but overwatered grass is unhappy grass too. Overwatering the lawn drowns the grass plants and can cause yellow or bare spots. If you were overly generous with water, start fixing an overwatered lawn as soon as possible. Read on for information on overwatered grass, including tips on how to repair an overwatered lawn.
Can Grass Be Overwatered?
Many gardeners don’t realize that water can be both good and bad for their lawns. Can grass be overwatered? Yes, it can, and the consequences for that smooth carpet of green are not pleasant. Overwatered grass is not just the result of too-eager homeowners. Water on the lawn can come from humidity and showers, as well as sprinkler hoses. And hot, wet summers are not an occasional happenstance in some locales.
Signs of Overwatering the Lawn
A little investigation can tell you if you are overwatering the lawn. If your grass squishes a few hours after watering, that’s a sign. Dying patches of grass can also signal overwatering issues. Other symptoms include an abundance of weeds like crabgrass and nutsedge, thatch, and fungal growth like mushrooms. Runoff after irrigation is another sign, as well as yellowing grass.
Fixing an Overwatered Lawn
Once you realize that you have overwatered the lawn, you need to take action. How to repair an overwatered lawn? The first steps are evaluating the overwatering issue. How much water does the grass on your lawn require? How much does it get from rain? How much is your sprinkling system providing? These types of questions are essential for cutting back irrigation and fixing an overwatered lawn. You’re better off watering thoroughly but only occasionally than sticking to a rigid schedule. Finally, consider lawn treatment services if your lawn has brown or yellow patches and other issues that don’t go away when you reduce watering. Fixing an overwatered lawn can include aerating and de-thatching your yard. Aerating encourages healthier grass and takes care of compacted soil. All you have to do is to run a power core aerator over the lawn to pull up plugs of dirt. This opens up areas in the under-soil to stimulate new root growth. It also slits open the soil’s surface and allows nutrients and water to pass through to soil underlayers.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our DIY eBook "Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects For Fall And Winter".
Teo Spengler has been gardening for 30 years. She is a docent at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Her passion is trees, 250 of which she has planted on her land in France.
-
8 Best Fruit Trees To Plant As Bare Roots In Fall – For The Fastest, Sweetest Harvest
Get a head start on home harvests by planting bare-root fruit trees this fall. Find the best varieties and learn tips for planting and caring for new trees.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
5 Urban Garden Ideas For Any Home – Add Natural Flair To The Tiniest Living Spaces
Just because you live in a city, town or built-up area doesn’t mean you have to do without! Try these urban garden ideas to make a green haven even in limited space
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Sustainable Turf Species For A Greener Lawn
Click here for some of the most sustainable types of turf grass you can grow for an eco-friendly lawn.
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
How To Grow A Sustainable Lawn
Adjust your thinking about a perfect green lawn and consider more sustainable methods. Click here to learn how.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Will Frost Kill Grass Seed And How To Help New Turf Survive
Learn how to help your newly sown grass survive frost and freezing weather.
By Amy Grant
-
Lawn Problems That Aren’t Really Problems
Your lawn may not require as much work as you think. Learn which common problems aren’t really problems.
By Teo Spengler
-
Why A Manual Push Mower Is Good For You And The Environment
Reel mowers are making a comeback, but why? Click here to learn about reel mower pros and cons.
By Amy Grant
-
Fertilize Grass In Fall For A Lush Lawn In Spring
For everything you need to know about fertilizing your lawn in the fall, click here.
By Susan Albert
-
Tips For Mowing Stripes In Lawn
Wouldn’t it be great to have stripes in your lawn like a sports field? Learn how here.
By Susan Albert
-
Late Summer Lawn Care Checklist
Plan to do some late summer care and maintenance of your lawn so it will be healthy and beautiful in the spring. Here are some tips.
By Laura Miller