take care of it, your lawn can give you years of enjoyment for surprisingly little effort. For example, proper wateringis a simple step, but it is one of the most important things you can do to keep your lawn healthy—and experts say a healthy lawn can raise your home’s value by as much as 14 percent. Here are sometips, from gardening expert Paul James, to help you see to it that you’re watering your lawnright: Keep it balanced. Put measuring cups in various places around your lawn and run the sprinklers for 15 minutes. This will give you an idea of how much water the grass is getting and where. You’re looking for about one to two inches—depending on the soil—evenly distributed. An underground sprinkler system is probably the best way to be sure the lawn is evenly covered. e Avoid runoff. Instead of watering for one long continuous session, try splitting the watering time into shorter periods and take 15-minute breaks in between each session. This will let the water soak in, while minimizing runoff. e Water early in the day. That way, less water evaporates into the air and more goes to your lawn. Adjust the system to the season. You can save water with an automatic sprinkler system that lets you water less when it rains more. Rain sensors can sup- Paul James, “The Gardener Guy” plement this by turning the system off when it’s raining. An automatic underground sprinkler system can help you with all these things, without making you have to uncoil the hose every time you need to water your lawn. It’s easy to install and even easier to operate, and can save you hours of work just in the first few months after installation. To help homeowners get started with automatic underground irrigation, most manufacturers offer free or low-cost design services that provide a preliminary plan, a materials list and helpful installation advice. One company, Rain Bird, has a consumer-friendly approach that provides the entire irrigation solution, from a customized sprinkler design service to toll-free technical support. Learn more about underground irrigation systems and lawn care, from Paul James and Rain Bird Corporation, at www.rainbird.com.
