Watering advice by Total Lawn Care

Watering Advice

Turf areas

Our watering advice for freshly laid turf will need to be kept damp as soon as it is put down for at least the first 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, the frequency can be reduced, until the lawn is growing at a steady pace. Bare in mind the weather conditions, as in extremely hot weather you may need to have sprinklers on almost all day and night. We recommend that each area that the sprinkler can cover will need 20 – 40 minutes watering 2 to 3 times per day. (or more in extreme heat conditions) Once the turf has rooted, usually between 7 to 14 days, the frequency can be reduced. If the new lawn needs cutting, try stopping the watering for 2 days before the cut, so that the soil underneath the new turf dries out a little before running over with the mower. Then resume your watering. Reduce the frequency further until the turf is growing healthy and strong. Keep the mower set high for the first few cuts, then lower it down to a normal height in stages. 3.5cm minimum hight recommendation by TLC

Seeded areas

Seeded Areas or seeded lawns will need light watering on a regular basis, so as to keep the soil damp. We recommend that each area that the sprinkler can cover will need 20-40 minutes watering 2 to 3 times per day. (or more in extreme heat conditions) Be careful not to over water as this will cause the seed to pool up into clumps and the area will then need re-seeding. Once the seed has germinated, 10 days as a rule, the frequency of watering can slowly be reduced. Keep watering until the seeded areas are growing steadily. 3 to 6 weeks. Mowing can take place as soon as the grass is long enough. Keep the mower set high for the first few cuts, the lower it down to a normal height in stages.

Summer time watering advice

When the lawns are turning brown, it is a sign that they are in drought. Try to start watering before the grass starts to turn from green to brown. We recommend that a good amount of water is put down at least once per week. allow the water to pool up on the surface, up to a centimetre, so that the standing water can seep down as deep as possible. Lawns that have not had any aeration may not be able to absorb the water. if this is the case, try forking the lawn with a garden fork. As lawn aeration cant take place until the ground has softened up, usually in the autumn, or the spring. Remember to lift the mowing height on the mower, so as to leave as much of the grass leaves as possible. This will drastically reduce the stress on the grass, and will aid its recovery once the dry weather is over.