Expert Tips for Watering and Feeding Your Lawn 
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The secret to a lush, healthy and attractive lawn lies in proper maintenance. This means, you should devote your time and energy in watering and feeding your lawn as necessary. With the right techniques in fertilizing and mowing, you can give your yard that green, carpet-like appearance all year round!
 
Watering Tips
 
Most problems with lawns arise due to incorrect watering techniques. This is particularly true in areas that are too hot and dry, and in this case, plants largely depend on sprinklers and an ample amount of water. If you give your plants too little water, this can encourage growth of weeds that can destroy the appearance of your lawn. On the other hand, overwatering triggers disease such as molds. Also, it is wasteful to use too much water than what your grass needs, considering the scarcity of this natural resource in other areas.
 
With this in mind, it is important that you know the right amount of water to use. In addition, you can enhance your lawn's ability to hold water by adding compost prior to planting grass. This way, your plants get to absorb water better and prevent wastage.
 
Generally, grasses require about an inch of water a week during the growing season, although the amount would be more in rainy or humid areas such as in the North or Southeast, respectively. An additional 1 inch of water weekly is applicable to places with low humidity or drought throughout the summer. It is also important to note that more water is needed by plants once the dry climate has ended.
 
When the weather is intensely hot, be sure to leave your grass higher since the extended height provides shade for its soil. Thus, there is minimal need for water, and the longer roots are capable of absorbing more moisture from the ground. However, you can also use a rain gauge to determine the exact amount of water that your grass receives. Another alternative to this is by placing empty cans of soup around the sprinkles and measure the water collected in these cans.
 
Infrequent and thorough watering help discourage bugs and pests as the lawn dries well in between periods that it receives water. You also need to observe your yard since there are some areas that tend to dry quicker than the rest. If there are signs of too much dryness or drought, add more water as your grass needs it.
 
Feeding Techniques
 
If you notice your grass is turning yellowish and pale green, this is an indication of insufficient amount of nitrogen. Hence, you should be aware of the right time for proper feeding to make sure that your plants can fight off harsh external elements and pests.
 
Begin by checking the pH level of your soil, since the right pH enables the fertilizer to take better effect. You also need to feed your lawn with specially-formulated fertilizer, and this includes following label instructions and the right tools. Furthermore, you should use the right fertilizer that may include natural organic, slow-release and fast-release chemical fertilizers. 
 
The easiest to apply is the slow-release fertilizer, and it is least likely to cause damages to the lawn when too much of it is aplied. As for natural organic, the slow release of nutrients require frequent application of this fertilizer. While fast-release can give your yard immediate effects, putting too much can burn your lawn when used during the warm weather.
 
Fertilizing may be done once a year during specific months such as early June for warm-season grass or September for cool season type of grass. If you wish to fertilize twice in a year, you can do this during fall or spring. 
 
As for the amount of fertilizer to use, most lawns require more nitrogen than phosphorus or potassium. The best way to determine the amount is by conducting a soil test since there are instances when you have to steer clear from applying potassium or phosphorus. Experts also advise that you should not use over a pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of land in each application.
 
So, think about these tips when watering and feeding your lawn to achieve amazing results to your outdoor space. 

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