Although Florida has sufficient and consistent rainfall throughout most of the year, Florida is also prone to drought-like conditions, especially during the winter months. This can cause problems with lawn maintenance. In this article, we will discuss common ways a person can determine if their lawn is too dry from not getting enough irrigation.
What Causes a Lawn to Become Too Dry?
The most common reason a lawn will dry out is from lack of water. As mentioned already, Florida has a consistent wet season and although the state has experienced drought-like conditions in the past, those have been few and far between. A more common reason for lawns to dry out in Florida is the intense heat. When the temperature gets too hot, the heat can cause a weed infestation, insect infestation, and/or a disease that weakens and kills grass. All of these issues can cause your lawn to become dry and brittle and eventually die out.
How To Tell if a Lawn is Too Dry?
There are many indicators a person can utilize to determine if their lawn is too dry. A few tests are as follows:
- Vision
- Footprints
- Soil Gaps
- Bed Edges
- Screwdriver or Shovel Test
What is a Vision Test?
As the name suggests, a vision test is simply determining the dryness of the lawn just by looking at it. If the lawn has visible brown or dry spots in areas, then this is indicative that your lawn is not getting properly irrigated.
What is the Footprint Test?
A healthy lawn is springy. When a person walks on a healthy lawn, a footprint should be visible for a few seconds. If the lawn is too dry, then there is not enough give within the grass to allow for the visible footprint. Additionally, you might hear a crunchy sound. This is another indicator that the lawn needs to be irrigated more.
What is the Soil Gap Test?
If your lawn is abutted at any place next to a cement pathway, such as a sidewalk or driveway, then you can expect the side of the cement. If you notice a gap between the cement and the grass where you can visually see the soil, then this is an indicator that your lawn is drying up and needs more irrigation.
What is the Bed Edges Test?
Bed Edges provide a great aesthetic look to a lawn. Beyond that, however, the bed edges can also serve as an indicator of a dry lawn. If the bed edges start to exhibit a lighter color than the rest of the lawn, then this can be an indicator that the lawn is not getting enough irrigation.
What is the Screwdriver or Shovel Test?
When a lawn is properly maintained, then digging into it should be a simple task. On the other hand, if your lawn is not properly irrigated, then the ground becomes hard. This makes it difficult to stick a screwdriver or shovel into the ground. If you can stick these tools into the ground with little to no resistance, then your lawn is properly irrigated. On the other hand, if you find resistance, then this is an indicator that your lawn needs to be irrigated.
How to Prevent Lawn Dryness?
With a regular irrigation cycle, you can ensure that your lawn will remain healthy. If you have your irrigation set with an automatic timer and are still experiencing dry lawn conditions, then this might mean your sprinkler system may have a problem. Contact Accurate Drilling and we will send a trained professional to your property to diagnose and assist you with your problems.
