There are a number of factors that have an effect on your lawn’s ability to retain moisture.  They are temperature, humidity, wind and the solar effect of the sun.  Temperature is the most effective and when the thermometer moves just a few degrees from the high 80s to the low to mid 90s, water will evaporate excessively.  As a result, your lawn will start to wilt at the tips and then fold in half vertically.  From that point, you will begin to see draught stress start to turn the grass brown.  The areas of your lawn that get less water will brown out first.  While the grass suffers from a lack of water, it will weaken and it will be vulnerable to disease and insect damage.  Just as humans are more subject to a cold or a virus when they are run down and weak, the lawn is more subject to attack from fungus and insects when underwatered, even if you have it professionally sprayed to protect it.

Watering restrictions in some areas limit people to watering only once per week.  This can present quite a dilemma because your lawn will require more water to sustain itself when temperatures are excessive.  Sometimes watering is required two or three times per week in order to protect it from draught stress.  GreenTec Pest Control, Inc. generally recommends that you water your lawn with one inch of water per week when the temperatures are in the high 80s or lower.  The best way to determine if your lawn is receiving enough water is to measure it with a tuna fish can or a pet food can.  The walls of some of the cans are vertical and one inch deep which is perfect for measuring.  Put a can in the middle of the brown area and one in an area where the grass is nice and green.  If the water in the green area is full and the other can has less water, an adjustment is required to so that the distribution is evened out.

If you have any questions about this or require assistance with measuring water, give us a call.  The service is free and we would be pleased to be of service.

GreenTec Pest Control, Inc.
727-847-6733
greentec@tampabay.rr.com
greentecpestcontrol.com