Many believe that since a brown lawn is dry, a green lawn is wet, right? Not quite. As the saying goes, everything in moderation.
Believe it or not, overwatering is a common problem of homeowners. Understanding the signs of overwatering and taking steps to correct the issue will get your lawn back on track – here’s what you need to know.
What Does Overwatering Do?
Overwatering your lawn suffocates your grass and also stunts root growth.
Below the surface of the turf, your soil is made up of soil particles surrounded by pockets of air and water. These pockets of air and water provide the roots of your lawn with the oxygen and H2O needed for healthy growth. However, when your lawn is overwatered the air pockets become filled with water, removing the oxygen from the soil, and your grass suffocates.
Additionally, when the water becomes readily available in the soil, the roots of your turf grass are not encouraged to grow and find water. As a result, the root system of your grass will not develop, leaving a shallow root system that is susceptible to drought and disease.
6 Signs of Overwatering
Your lawn is always trying to tell you something. Whether it’s a lack of potassium, too little water or too much water, the signs will be there. You just have to know what to look for.
Here are 6 easy signs to watch for:
1. Runoff: If you can clearly see streams of water running off your lawn and down the sidewalk or street, that water obviously isn’t making it into your soil. This is an indication that your lawn is already well saturated, possibly already overwatered. Additionally, the runoff water could be washing away nutrients that your lawn craves.
2. Spongey Lawn: Another simple way to tell if your lawn is getting to much water is to give it a step test. Just step on the lawn in a few different areas. If the turf feels spongey or just plain squishy, you should probably dial it back a bit.
3. A Plethora of Weeds: While an overwatered lawn is not ideal for growing healthy grass, it may be the optimum conditions for weeds like smooth crabgrass or yellow nutsedge to thrive. If you see a lot of weeds moving in and starting to take over, it could mean you’re going a little heavy on the watering.
4. Growing Fungi: If you notice discoloration on your lawn – particularly colorful growth on the grass blades themselves – you likely have overwatered to the point of providing optimal conditions for fungus growth. Mushrooms popping up across your lawn is also a clear indicator, and keep in mind that mushrooms can be hazardous to pets and children.
5. Thatch, Thatch, Everywhere!: Thatch is a layer of partially decomposed plant material. A little bit of thatch can be a good thing as organisms in soil break down the thatch and provide natural nutrients for the soil. Overwatering inhibits these organisms from breaking down thatch, resulting in thatch build up. Too much thatch can prevent oxygen from getting into the soil plus…
6. Bugs Move-In: A nice thick layer of thatch is a great place for bugs to hide. It protects them from the sun, predators, and even pesticides. If you’ve noticed that the bugs are really stepping up their game, it could be that overwatering has made things easy for them.
Final note, poor yard drainage is a major factor! Even if you are maintaining a proper watering schedule.
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