Page 6 - RVO Home Lawn Garden 2016

6VV SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2016
HOME, LAWN & GARDEN • RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRATGAZETTE
Poorly placed sprinklers that shoot water out onto driveways and other surfaces that do not need water can rob a lawn of the water it desperately needs when temperatures climb in the summertime.
RIGHT AS RAIN
WATERING TIPS TO PRODUCE HEALTHY LAWNS
S pring and summer are seasons for landscaping, and homeowners who live in regions that get es-
pecially hot in the summertime often worry that their lawns won’t make it through the dog days of summer looking lush. But lawns don’t have to succumb to the sizzling summer sun.
Oftentimes, the right watering strat- egies can help homeowners nurse their lawns through the hottest months of the year, ensuring the lawns make it to au- tumn looking as green as they did back at the height of spring.
➤ Reconsider when you’re watering.
Come summertime, homeowners may want a glass of water at high noon, when temperatures seem to be at their hottest. But you and your lawn are dif-
ferent, so the best time to satiate your thirst is not necessarily the best time to water your lawn. Watering in the mid- dle of the day is often ineffective, as water tends to evaporate quickly in the afternoons when temperatures are peak- ing. Nighttime watering can contribute to the growth of fungus, which can cre- ate an entirely new set of headaches for homeowners. Morning watering sessions tend to be most effective during the summertime, as temperatures tend to be cooler in the morning, leading to less evaporation. Less evaporation means all that watering isn’t going to waste.
➤ Reconsider your sprinkler.
If you can’t afford an in-ground irri- gation system, which many landscaping professionals feel is the most effective