Summer watering tips

During the summer, keep a beautiful landscape by watering efficiently. Read on for some helpful tips.

• Mow your lawn to the correct height: at least two inches for cool season grasses (those that stay green all year) or about one inch for warm season grasses (those that turn brown in the winter).
• Water early in the day for both lawns and gardens – the earlier the better to minimize evaporation.
• Deep soak the lawn. Most lawns need one inch of water each week. If it’s really hot, try watering more frequently. It’s better to deep soak rather than watering lightly.
• Place a shallow bowl, about one-inch deep, on the lawn while watering. When the bowl is full, you know you’ve watered with the right amount.
• Check hose connections for leaks. A small leak can waste hundreds of gallons a day.
• Remember to water container plants and those with shallow roots more frequently.
• Control where your water goes! Place sprinklers so water doesn’t hit pavement and avoid watering on windy days.

For large areas, consider installing an irrigation system.  Louisville Water offers a retro-fit irrigation meter on an existing water service, which allows separate metering of irrigation water usage from residential usage.

There are no sewer charges on irrigation usage. Click here for more information.

Trees are an important part of our environment. They provide us with clean air, protect us from pollutants and the hot, summer sun.

During periods of drought, it’s important that we return the favor and take care of our trees by watering them properly.

• Mature trees during a drought should be watered once a week deeply. Young trees planted within the last three years should be watered every three to four days.
• Water trees early in the morning or in the late evening to avoid evaporation.
• Running a soaker hose with a slow, steady drip works best. A sprinkler can be used also. The water should be dispersed, not near the trunk but out at the drip line, which is below the tip of branches.
• Deep watering is the most desirable and entails a slow drip or flow that saturates down deep into the soil five to six inches. It will take three to four hours for a young tree and longer for mature trees. The roots on mature trees spread further into your yard as they grow, extending the drip line. You’ll need to move the hose around the tree numerous times, laying it out by the drip line or even further out, leaving it there for at least four hours each time. It takes at least one hour for the water to saturate through the turf and to begin to work its way into the soil.