5 Signs That You’re Over-watering Your Lawn

As passionate lawn lovers, we naturally want to make sure our grass has plenty of what it needs. Regular food, good maintenance routines and most importantly, lots of water.  The fact is, you might be unintentionally overdoing it: it’s actually possible to over-water your lawn, which will do more harm than good.

As we transition from the cold season to the warmer months, watering the lawn becomes part of our regular garden upkeep program.  However, a healthy and established turf doesn’t need to be watered every day.  And truth be known, it shouldn’t even need it every second day.  Regardless of what you’ve ‘always done’ or what the guy next door does, it’s important that you establish good lawn watering routines, and be on the look-out for any signs that your grass is getting too much to drink.

So, what are the hallmarks of an over-watered lawn?  We’ve put together a list of a few tell-tale signs below:

1. Runoff

This is probably one of the more obvious things to watch for.  If you notice water running off into other parts of the garden or even out onto the street while you are watering, this is a sure sign that you’re overdoing it.  In short, the soil is so waterlogged that it can’t absorb any more. Continuing means you are simply wasting water. (And unnecessarily pushing up the dollar figure on your next bill!).

2. Wilted Grass

Now, here’s a paradox: wilted grass is often a sign of an over-watered lawn!  Strange as it may sound, the science behind this fact is really quite simple. Grass requires oxygen for normal, healthy growth, and its roots can’t remain healthy in waterlogged soil.  Too much water will essentially drown the roots, and the plant will wilt and die.

3. Lots of Weeds

A dramatic increase in the number of weeds in your turf could be a sign of over-watering.  There are certain weed species that thrive in soil that is too wet, so while your lawn is struggling to stay alive, they’ll happily take over!

4. Fungus and Mould

Soggy, over-watered soil is a paradise for fungus and rot.  If your lawn is showing signs of mould, rot or blight, it’s highly likely that you’re giving it too much moisture or watering it at the wrong end of the day.

5. Squishy Soil

If your turf still feels unusually soft and squishy several hours after you’ve watered it, it might be a good idea to back off the amount of water you are applying.

Generally speaking, your grass is more likely to die of over-watering than under-watering. Establishing good watering routines will facilitate a deeply rooted and healthy lawn. A healthy lawn is better able to cope with environmental stresses and fight off disease.

If you have any questions about how much and how often to water your lawn, it’s best to contact the professionals and get their advice.  The team at Rivers Edge Turf has many years of experience in helping Australians to create and maintain beautiful lawns, so call us today on (02) 4579 9009.