Responsible watering tips for keeping your lawn green

(BPT) - Does maintaining a lush, healthy and green lawn to enjoy with friends and family seem daunting? It's often a task that is easier said than done for homeowners. But take heart, a simple watering routine can help grass thrive.

Natural grass has been cultivated to endure a wide variety of conditions and has the added benefit of being capable of self-repair. Remember, there's no need to create a complex system to maintain your lawn. In fact, it only takes a little planning and monitoring to not only keep your lawn in tip-top shape, but reduce your water use and save money.

Are you ready to get your lawn in perfect condition? Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers, has developed a set of six tips to help homeowners conquer watering fears and get the most out of their yards. Follow these simple watering tips:

1. Water only when necessary. Many homeowners over water their lawns, which does more harm than good. A simple trick to determine whether your lawn needs watering is to insert a screwdriver into the grass. If it enters the soil easily, your lawn has plenty of water already. If you have trouble getting the screwdriver into the ground, it is time to give it a drink.

2. Mow grass to a height of 2 to 2.5 inches. Keeping grass slightly taller in hot and dry conditions provides shade to the roots and soil surface, reducing the water lost due to evaporation.

3. Water throughout the season. Grass needs a consistent watering schedule, and starting and stopping a watering pattern can stunt your lawn's growth. This is especially true right after fertilizing. Once you start a routine, stick with it.

4. Allow the soil to dry. A thorough watering once or twice a week is preferable to lightly misting every day. Allowing the soil to dry before watering again encourages the roots to grow deeper into the soil and can help the lawn become drought-tolerant in the future.

5. Make sure you water your lawn, not the air. Adjust your sprinkler settings to produce larger drops closer to the ground rather than misting in the air. Air currents can easily catch light sprays and keep the water from reaching your grass.

6. Water during cooler hours. Early morning and early evening are the ideal times to water. Cooler air and less wind mean water is absorbed directly into the grass with less moisture lost to evaporation. Watering during the heat of the day can actually scald and burn your grass.

For more information on how to keep your lawn healthy year-round, visit www.weseedamerica.com. With a little planning, you'll be enjoying the aesthetic and environmental perks of a cool, lush green lawn in no time.