Overwatered grass is a common problem for many homeowners. While adding more water may seem like a simple fix, this can do more harm than good. Overwatering your grass can lead to many problems, including disease, fungi, and root rot.
If you are unsure why your lawn is overwatered, then keep reading as we dive deeper into each of these causes and present you with the best solutions.
What Causes Overwatered Grass?
The causes of overwatered grass are improper and excess irrigation, lack of proper drainage, receiving excess rainwater. In addition, it may be from overusing the sprinkler and having poor coverage of the sprinkler system, as the grass is getting too much water and looking dull.
– Improper and Excess Irrigation
Improper irrigation is one of the leading causes of overwatered grass. It occurs when people water their lawns too frequently or for too long.
That can cause the grass to become suffocated and lead to several problems, such as yellowing, fungus growth, and shallow roots.
It is definitely possible to overwater grass during the summer, especially when you feel like the grass isn’t being healthy enought. This is because the hot weather can cause the water to evaporate before it has a chance to reach the roots.
– Lack of Proper Drainage
Lack of drainage is another leading cause of overwatered grass. If your lawn does not have proper drainage, the water will stay on top of the soil and cause the roots to rot.
It can lead to several problems, including yellowing, fungus growth, and shallow roots. In addition to this, it would even lead to a massive issue, if the water isn’t drained properly like for example the appearance of fungus gnats, or different types of fungi or even pests due to the water accumulation.
– Too Much Rainfall
While you may be unable to control the amount of rainfall, it is important to be aware that too much rain can cause your grass to become overwatered. It is especially true if your lawn does not have proper drainage.
In this case, because you do not have control over this aspect, remember if your grass is yellow, it could be a sign of overwatering, and if the blades are folding in half lengthwise, it is probably overwatering. Check the soil to see if it is moist several inches below the surface, overall you are probably overwatering.
– Using a Sprinkler with Poor Coverage
Another factor that can lead to overwatering is using a sprinkler with poor coverage. If your sprinkler doesn’t evenly distribute water across your lawn, some areas will receive too much water while others won’t.
As a result, it can lead to patchy, yellow grass that is more susceptible to disease. In addition, overwatered grass is more likely to develop shallow roots that are easily damaged by heat and drought.
If you suspect your lawn is being overwatered, take a close look at your sprinkler system to see if it provides even coverage. You would have to adjust the position of the sprinkler heads or add additional heads to ensure that all areas of your lawn are receiving the proper amount of water.
How To Fix Overwatered Grass?
You can fix overwatered grass by reducing watering, measuring the watering it absorbs, aerating your lawn. You can even de-thatch your law, adopt a watering schedule, and start sprinkling the lawn more precisely, you can even try to resolve it with experts help and chemicals.
– Reduce Watering
The most crucial thing to do is to cut back on watering as soon as you realize the issue. If you are watering every day, you can cut back to every other day however, if you are watering every other day, cut back to once a week. It will give the grass a chance to dry out and the roots to get the oxygen they need.
Moreover, it is best to water your lawn during the daytime instead of at night. The lack of evaporation at night can cause excess water accumulation. Along with that, skip watering your lawn when it rains outside.
Nevertheless, make sure that you don’t stop watering your grass altogether, or else it would b in a stressed and a shocked condition which would be harmful in the long run.
– Measuring Watering Level
It would be best to determine how much water your lawn receives. You can do this by checking your sprinkler system to see if it works properly and by measuring the amount of rain on your lawn. Once you learn how much water your lawn receives, you can also adjust your watering plan accordingly.
However, if it is being overwatered with rainfall, and you cannot do must about the weather, the best way to avoid overwatering your grass is to check the weather forecast and only water when necessary.
This way, you would adjust your schedule according to the needs of your grass and the estimated amount that would water it through the rain.
– Aerating Your Lawn
You will need to aerate your lawn if it is overwatered. Aerating is a process where small holes are punched in the soil to let the air and water to reach the roots. This can be accomplished by the help of a garden rake.
Apart from that, It is also important to aerate your lawn regularly to allow excess water to drain away. The process is simple and easy, but plays a crucial role in gardening.
– De-thatch Your Lawn
If a layer of debris, organic matter or dead grass accumulates on the surface of your lawn, it is time to dethatch your lawn. Dethatching is a mechanical process to remove the extra and unwanted layers from the grass, basically it is like pruning.
This recovery process helps the grass to absorb water in the roots as required. Dethatching also ensures a better and healthy growth of the grass as it receives sufficient nutrients.
Not only that, but also, as you dethatch it, it will accelerate the beauty and appearance of your lawn while making it look put together and well-taken care of.
– Adopt Watering Schedule
In general, it is a good idea to water your lawn once a week. You may need to water your lawn more often during hot and dry weather compared to other seasons.
It mostly depends on numerous factors, such as the type of grass, the climate, and rainfall. However, check with your local cooperative extension office if you are unsure how often to water your lawn.
– Use a Sprinkler For Proper Watering
We often forget or may overwater our grass unknowingly, which can lead to overwatered grass. A sprinkler can do the job easily by watering your lawn even when you are not around and in the right proportion.
As sprinklers water the grass only as much as it is required, the chances of overwatering your lawn are significantly reduced. However, don’t forget to adjust your sprinkler according to rainfall and climate.
Overwatered grass will usually recover if you take the proper steps to fix the problem. The most essential thing is to cut back on watering and allow the grass to dry. You may also require aerating your lawn and pruning away any dead grass or soil. With a little effort, your lawn should be healthy and green in no time.
If you are watering your lawn daily, try switching up your watering routine by changing the frequency of watering or how often you water. This new and updated watering routine will give the grass a chance to dry out and the roots to get adequate oxygen.
– Consider Expert Lawn Treatment
When nothing else seems to work or if the damage to the grass is beyond repair, you will definitely need to reach out to a lawn care expert. The professional will perform the necessary treatment to the overwatered grass to revive it and bring it to a better state.
Lawn treatment service may not be an affordable option but it is better to have the chance to revive the grass than letting it wilt and die. They will be using different types of chemicals that will help in the drainage process of the excess water.
Overwatered grass is a common problem, especially among individuals who are new to gardening or have never taken care of lawns before. With a little effort and technique, it can be fixed to its proper state.
Conclusion
Overwatering your grass can be detrimental to its health. It can lead to disease, pests, and even death.
Here’s a list of what we covered today:
- Overwatering grass is a common issue that can cause your grass to become thin and weak.
- Overwatering can often cause your grass to turn yellow or brown due to the growth of fungus.
- If you overwater your grass by mistake, be sure to take corrective measures immediately. These measures may include aerating your lawn, removing excess water, and fertilizing your lawn.
- Overwatering can lead to the leaching of nutrients, soil compaction, and thatch development.
- Moreover, overwatering can also encourage the growth of weeds and disease, such as root rot of different types of fungus.
Overwatering your grass is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. If these tips don’t seem to help, you can always contact a lawn care provider for professional assistance.
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