A wet spring has many a green lawns sprouting up throughout Colorado. All that moisture is good for grass and means water bills will be lower. But Colorado has dry springs more often than wet ones. These tips are designed to help you determine the best watering methods for your lawn in 2015 and beyond.
- Let Mother Nature water your lawn
If it’s raining, keep your sprinkler system turned off and your hose coiled. There’s no need to water from city supplies or your well if water is falling from the sky. This rule applies whether there are long stretches of rainy and cloudy days or if there are consistent afternoon thunderstorms.
- Don’t over water
If a little water is good for grass, is a lot great? No. Most Colorado lawns are designed for dry summer weather. When they get too much water, fungus and bacteria can build up on the stocks and disease can ruin a beautiful green yard.
- Water at the right times
In most parts of the country, people are advised to water in the early morning. That gives water a chance to soak into the ground before the hot sun evaporates it. That works in Colorado as well. But, folks in other parts of the country steer away from watering at night to prevent mildew and fungus from building up. In Colorado, our high and dry climate prevents that from happening in most cases. So, watering at night allows water to soak into the earth throughout the cool evening. In the Rockies, you can water at night or in the morning. It’s up to you.
- Water frequently enough, but not too often
Your lawn doesn’t need water everyday. In fact, most Colorado yards are planted with grasses that need little water. So, watering every other day or even every third day is usually plenty.
You can often tell if your lawn is ready for a drink when it begins to take on a grey color or if footprints linger longer than usual.
- Pour it on thick
A simple spritz of water isn’t enough for most lawns. While your yard doesn’t need to be watered daily, it does need a healthy serving of the wet stuff when it gets it. If you have an automated sprinkler system, running sprinklers for 15 to 20 minutes usually covers the grass with enough water. If you’re using a garden hose, you want to drop an inch or two of water on the ground before you give up.
Watering your lawn the best way possible helps to keep it green and healthy. It also helps to keep your water bill low. If water or other utility bills are hard for you, contact the Energy Resource Center. We conduct free home energy audits and make free home energy efficiency upgrades for income-qualified families in the Denver Metro Area, the Pikes Peak Region and the San Luis Valley.
