Heading: Securing Your Lawn: Three Essential Precautions Before Departing for a Holiday
Maintaining a Healthy Lawn During Vacation: Top Tips from Lawn Experts
As summer approaches and vacation plans are made, homeowners might worry about leaving their lawns unattended for extended periods. Fear not, as there are several strategies to ensure a lush and healthy lawn even when you're away.
Firstly, smart sprinklers like the Rachio WiFi Smart Sprinkler Controller can make a significant difference. These innovative devices adjust watering schedules according to real-time weather, saving water and preventing overwatering or underwatering. By watering deeply and infrequently, you can promote a healthy root system and reduce the risk of disease. It's best to water in the cool part of the morning to minimize evaporation and disease risk.
When it comes to cutting the grass, experts recommend cutting it about a day before you leave, but only remove the top one-third of blade length (raise the mower to the highest recommended setting). This helps the turf canopy shade the soil and reduce water loss. Leaving clippings in place (grasscycling) is also beneficial, as it returns moisture and nutrients to the soil.
Fertilizing is another crucial aspect of lawn care. However, it's essential to avoid heavy spring/summer high-nitrogen applications during heatwaves, especially on cool-season grasses, to prevent stress or burn the turf. Instead, consider using a light, slow-release or low-nitrogen formulation applied about a week before leaving.
Preparing your lawn for a long absence or extreme heat involves several steps. Raise your mower height and skip aggressive dethatching or core aeration immediately before leaving to avoid additional stress. Adding 2–3 inches of organic mulch to beds and borders can also help reduce moisture loss and protect roots of adjacent turf areas.
For those concerned about watering while away, setting an automatic timer or smart irrigation controller to run deep cycles 2–3 times per week for cool-season lawns (adjust by grass type and local rules) is a good solution. Test distribution and coverage before you leave to ensure water reaches 4–6" depth, and adjust sprinkler placement or run time accordingly.
If you don't have reliable irrigation, consider asking a neighbor or hiring someone to run a hose or use a soaker/drip line while you're gone. Alternatively, you could use low-tech water-retention helpers like mulching, burying ollas for near-plant watering, or placing kiddie pools/containers under sprinklers to reduce evaporation and extend soil moisture.
In conclusion, with the right preparation and the use of smart sprinklers, slow-release fertilizers, and automatic sprinkler systems, homeowners can maintain a healthy lawn while away on vacation. By following these tips, you can return to a beautiful, green lawn, ready for enjoyment upon your return.
A homeowner, preparing for a vacation, might consider adjusting their lawn care routine to maintain a healthy garden. For instance, they could opt for a home-and-garden product like a smart sprinkler system, such as the Rachio WiFi Smart Sprinkler Controller, which adjusts watering schedules based on real-time weather data. Additionally, they could engage in home-and-garden activities like gardening, such as fertilizing their lawn with a light, slow-release or low-nitrogen formulation, applied about a week before departure.
