Charlotte Lawn Care Tips: Summer Watering

Maintaining a green and healthy lawn can be challenging, especially during the hot and dry summer months in the Charlotte area. One important key to successful lawn care in North Carolina is proper watering. Just like us, lawns need water to survive! When it comes to lawn watering, it’s important to know when to water and how to spot signs that your lawn is struggling. We’ll cover all the “do’s and don’ts” to summer watering with the best Charlotte lawn watering tips. 

How Much Water Does a Lawn Need?

The amount of water your lawn needs depends on your grass type, but the most common lawn grasses in the Charlotte area are Bermuda, Zoysia, and Fescue. Most grasses require about 1 to 1.5 inches per week and it’s best to water 2-3 times per week. Rainfall can help but is normally not sufficient enough to keep a lawn hydrated through the heat of summer days. When watering your lawn, it’s more beneficial to water deep and infrequently, rather than short, daily spurts. Shorter watering cycles encourage shallow root growth causing weakness in your lawn. 

When is the Best Time of Day to Water a Lawn?

It’s also important to avoid watering your lawn during the hottest part of the day. The best time of day to water your lawn is in the morning before peak sunlight hours. For Carolina lawns, this is normally around 5 AM-10 AM. Watering in the afternoon can risk losing water to evaporation from the sun which is bad news for your lawn, and your bill. Watering too late in the day doesn’t leave enough time for the lawn to dry, leaving it wet overnight and encourages fungus. Of course, always remember that any water is better than no water at all. So never skip watering your lawn if your schedule isn’t ideal. 

How to Spot Signs of Drought Stress

When a lawn doesn’t receive enough water during hot summer days, it may experience something known as drought stress. One sure sign of drought stress in your Charlotte lawn is if you notice footprints in your lawn. Also referred to as “footprinting,” if you can see footprints from where you’ve walked in your lawn and the grass doesn’t spring back up, it’s time to water. Another sign of drought stress is discoloration in your lawn. If you notice the grass turning bluish/gray or yellowish-brown, your lawn may be thirsty. Drought stress normally affects the entire lawn, so if you see patches of discoloration, you may have a lawn disease. 

Professional Lawn Care in Charlotte, NC

For the best, local lawn care in Charlotte, homeowners can turn to Turf Brothers Lawn Care. We are a family-owned lawn care provider, servicing Charlotte, Waxhaw, Indian Land, Rock Hill, and surrounding areas. Our team of knowledgeable technicians can provide lawn watering tips, mowing tips, and other expert recommendations to help improve the health of your lawn. Our lawn care service includes weed control, fertilization, fungicides, insecticides, and more, to ensure a healthy Charlotte lawn year-round. Contact us today for a free quote!