Watering Guide

Proper watering is fundamental to maintaining healthy lawns and landscapes, but many property owners are unsure about the best practices for effective watering. This watering guide provides essential information to help you water your lawn and plants effectively while conserving water and supporting plant health.

Understanding Water Needs

This watering guide begins with understanding that different plants have different water needs, and these needs change throughout the year. Lawns typically need about one inch of water per week during active growth periods, but this can vary based on weather conditions, soil type, and grass species.

Following this watering guide means observing your plants and adjusting watering based on their actual needs rather than following a rigid schedule. Signs that plants need water include wilting, color changes, or soil that feels dry to the touch.

When to Water

This watering guide recommends early morning as the best time for watering. Morning watering allows water to be absorbed before heat and wind cause excessive evaporation, and it gives plant leaves time to dry before evening, which can help prevent disease problems.

Following this watering guide's timing recommendations helps maximize water efficiency while supporting plant health. Avoiding midday watering prevents water loss to evaporation, and careful evening watering can work if leaves have time to dry before nightfall.

How Much to Water

This watering guide recommends deep, infrequent watering rather than shallow, frequent applications. For lawns, this typically means providing about one inch of water per application, which encourages deep root growth that helps plants access water during dry periods.

To measure water application when following this watering guide, you can place a container such as a tuna can on your lawn while watering. When the container has collected about one inch of water, you have applied an appropriate amount according to this watering guide.

Watering Frequency

This watering guide suggests that watering frequency depends on soil type, weather conditions, and plant needs. Clay soils may need less frequent but longer watering sessions, while sandy soils may require more frequent applications to maintain adequate moisture.

During hot, dry weather, this watering guide may recommend increasing frequency while maintaining deep watering practices. During cool, wet periods, this watering guide suggests reducing or eliminating supplemental watering.

Watering New Plantings

This watering guide includes special considerations for new plantings, which typically need more frequent watering during establishment. New lawns, trees, shrubs, and perennials require careful attention to watering during their first growing season.

Following this watering guide for new plantings involves providing consistent moisture without overwatering, which can be as harmful as underwatering. This watering guide recommends monitoring new plantings closely and adjusting watering based on their response.

Watering Established Landscapes

For established landscapes, this watering guide emphasizes deep, infrequent watering that encourages plants to develop extensive root systems. Well-established plants with deep roots can access water from deeper in the soil profile, making them more resilient during dry periods.

This watering guide recognizes that established landscapes may need less frequent watering than new plantings, but the quality of each watering session remains important for maintaining plant health.

Water Conservation in This Watering Guide

This watering guide includes water conservation practices such as using mulch to reduce evaporation, selecting drought-tolerant plants, and improving soil health to increase water retention. These practices help you follow this watering guide while using water efficiently.

Following this watering guide's conservation recommendations can help you maintain healthy landscapes while reducing water use, which is particularly valuable during dry periods or in areas with water restrictions.

Greenwise Watering Guidance

At Greenwise, we provide personalized watering guidance based on your specific property conditions, plant selections, and local climate patterns. Our team works with property owners throughout Chicagoland and Milwaukee to develop watering practices that support healthy landscapes while using water efficiently.

While this watering guide provides general principles, our team can help you adapt these practices to your specific situation, ensuring your lawn and landscape receive appropriate water while following sustainable practices.