A Rain Gauge Measures Precipitation

Most lawns made up of turf only need about three-quarters to an inch of water per week to keep that beautiful green carpet healthy. During drought periods or hotter days though, you will actually want to cut back on your watering, not increase it. This allows your lawn’s growth to slow naturally during extreme conditions. This practice is better for the water supply and is actually much healthier for your lawn. Install a rain gauge to help you get an accurate rainfall measurement so that you know the amount of water you need to provide your lawn.

There are a few issues to consider when watering your lawn, such as the time of day, new rainfall, the method of watering, the weather and the use of chemicals, such as fertilizers in the water. These are all important factors to think about.

Remember that the water requirement for you lawn includes both precipitation and daily water by you. If you receive rainfall in any given week, be sure to take a rainfall measurement using a rain gauge so that you know if you can hold off watering until it is needed. Additionally, it is important to realize that heavy rainfall isn’t an absolute requirement. Your lawn won’t get sick and die if it doesn’t get a lot of rain every week. Too much water in a short time period can be harmful though. If the weather forecast calls for rain, you can safely hold off on watering until a later date.

Not only does over-watering impact your water bill, it can also increase problems with insects and diseases as well. Use a rain gauge to measure rainfall so you know how much you need to apply. When you have determined how long it takes to water your lawn, then you can adjust your watering time and sprinklers accordingly.

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