Down the Garden Path: Watering (or not watering) the lawn this summer

Every summer, neighbors can be found discussing which is better, watering the lawn all summer or letting mother nature take over. You can find pros and cons on both sides of the fence.

One of the biggest pros is enjoying a beautiful, lush, green lawn during the height of the summer heat. The biggest con is getting the water bill later. The best time to decide if you are going to water is spring. This puts into play additional lawn management practices. If you are going to water all summer, that changes the fertilizer program, how often you will need to mow the lawn, how high to mo and how to handle the lawn clippings. Depending on the age of the lawn, disease management also may be on your list.

Choice 1: Water the lawn

If you’re watering, then the lawn will take a higher level of care, including the need for more fertilizer. Our typical cool season grasses naturally would expect to go dormant during the hot, dry summer. So when kept alive, it means the need for more energy. With more inputs such as water and fertilizer, the time spent on the lawn increases. More water and fertilizer also will drive the mowing question – how often and how the high. One of the best ways to keep the lawn looking good is to mow higher, more often and with a sharp mower blade. (Pro tip: On most lawn mowers, choose the second-highest setting. This actually works very well for the lawn whether you water or not.)

With higher amounts of water and fertilizer, the potential for lawn fungal diseases can increase, especially with older lawns more prone to disease. A good preventive practice is to water so the lawn dries well before the end of the day’s sunshine. Consider starting on the north or east side of the home, where it will take longer to dry and finish, than on the southern and or western exposures.

Choice 2: Rain only

If you are not going water and let Mother Nature do her thing, the lawn will remain green as long as the rain lasts, then go dormant. With this choice, besides saving on the water bill, additional cost savings will be found in less fertilizer, as you will not be using any during the time the lawn is dormant. Plus, less mowing means less fuel for the mower and the frequency of how often you mow will lessen. The mowing height should be maintained, however. The taller grass blades further shade the soil, helping to retain what soil moisture remains.

With either choice, a good cultural tip is to consider topdressing the lawn annually with quality black dirt or organic matter. Organic matter will absorb and hold water for the lawn to use later as well as feed the lawn the micronutrients not found in synthetic fertilizers.

Want more gardening advice? Master Gardener help desks are now open for questions via email, phone or visit. In Kendall County, volunteers are available 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 630-553-5823. For information, visit go.illinois.edu/HelpDeskMGdkk.

Richard Hentschel is a Horticulture Extension educator with University of Illinois Extension, serving DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties. This column originates on his blog at go.illinois.edu/overthegardenfence. To get more tips from Hentschel, watch his “This Week in the Garden” videos on Facebook and YouTube.