Watering Tips

1. Deep Water Once in a While 2. Don't Wait Until Dark 3. Get the Bugs Out 4. Water it Down 5. Give an Inch 6. Water Wisely 7. Every Problem has a Solution 8. Read All About It

1. Deep Water Once in a While

Just like you, plants love a good, long soak every once in a while. So indulge them. Give your lawn a long, thorough soaking and then be sure to allow enough time for the roots to dry before another deep watering. This produces extended, robust roots because they're forced to grow downward to search for water.

But hey, let's not go overboard. Roots don't have gills. They need oxygen that is absorbed through the soil. If the soil surrounding the roots is saturated with water, there's no way for oxygen to reach the root system.

Try not to be too stingy, either. Light, frequent waterings result in shallow roots. The water may even evaporate before it reaches the roots.

2. Don't Wait Until Dark

Avoid giving your lawn a drink after the sun has gone down. Nightcaps could lead to trouble. Late night watering leaves grass damp, making it especially vulnerable to the formation of mold, fungus, and other diseases.

The best time to water is in the morning, when the air is cool and moist. The warmth of the sun and the rising temperature gently dries the grass and the leaves on the trees. And since morning air is damp, you don't waste water through evaporation.

3. Get the Bugs Out

Insects, with the possible exception of the water bug, aren't terribly fond of water. Given a choice, they'll choose hot, dry weather over damp, cool conditions every time.

So if you want to discourage bugs by presenting them with an inhospitable environment, follow a regular watering schedule. It keeps your plants healthy and, at the same time, makes them decidedly less appealing to insects. Water your plants and the bugs will probably be on their way - where most of them will meet a windshield with their name on it.

4. Water it Down

Every lawn needs nutrients, but don't give it to them straight. Because fertilizer is applied above ground, it has to travel down to the roots to be absorbed. It's much easier for roots to swallow fertilizer when it's watered down.

If you use packaged fertilizer, follow the directions on the bag for the proper mix of fertilizer to water. If you have a commercial lawn care company spray fertilizer on your lawn, water the grass thoroughly following application. This is the most effective way to send the fertilizer directly and quickly to the roots.

5. Give an Inch

And your yard will grow a mile. Give or take a few thousand feet.

To be certain your lawn is hydrated adequately when it's failed to rain, the standard rule of thumb is to sprinkle one inch of water a week (as measured above ground in a cup or rain gauge).

Run your sprinkler for several hours or, perhaps, for an entire morning. That allows water to be absorbed deeply, encouraging roots to grow long and strong.

6. Water Wisely

Do you have any idea how many gallons of water there are in the oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams of the world? No? Well, that's okay. The important thing to remember is that there's not so much that we can be wasteful with it. Just like all natural resources, water should be used wisely. Using a timer is one way to help conserve water.

Also, try not to water the driveway. Or the sidewalk. Or the side of the house. Avoid watering in the hot sun, too. Chances are, a lot of the water you apply evaporates before it ever does any good.

7. Every Problem has a Solution

No matter what annoyance confronts you, there's a Nelson product that solves it. Like Snap Connects. These nifty little couplers make a quick, easy, leak-resistant connection between hoses, faucets, sprinklers, nozzles, or whatever watering tools need to be attached. They snap on easily and pop apart like a seat belt.

If you have an odd or unusually shaped area that needs watering, you need a Spot Rain. Just dial the shape you want-a square, rectangle, strip, half circle, or full circle-and the Spot Rain takes care of it.

For hilly terrain, a yard with obstacles, or people who are tired of hauling sprinklers around behind them, there's the Rain Train. Using the hose, you simply lay down the route you want the self-propelled Rain Train to follow and it travels the circuit you've designated. The entire area gets a good, even soaking and you never have to move the sprinkler. And when it's through, it turns itself off. How's that for convenience?

8. Read All About It

To make sure everything works properly, we include clear, detailed instructions with every Nelson product. You'll find all the information you need to assemble and operate the product right on the package. Make sure you read every enthralling word carefully before you begin.