Even with all the rain we've been having, you should still be watering daily. Most lawns need all the water they can get during these hot summer months. Remember that if you have any trees or other plants in your lawn, they're also using water and that's water your grass isn't getting. For example, a mature Oak Tree can use 50 or more gallons of water a day. 

Trees can suffer from not getting enough water as well. If leaves are looking yellow or brown it is important to increase the amount of water going to them. They can dry out just as fast as your lawn, especially in poor soils. They may also need to be watered longer to ensure a good amount of water reaches the root zone. It is a good idea to dig down around the root ball with your hand or a hand trowel and make sure the soil is wet after being watered. Sometimes mulch deflects water or the ground is simply too dry and hard and water runs off and does not reach the roots, even though you watered that area heavily. Drip lines or soaker lines work best for watering your landscape. 

If you don't have an irrigation system installed, you should still be watering your grass. To make this easier, you can get a digital hose timer and an impact sprinkler or two, set it, and forget it. 

A digital hose timer.

 A digital hose timer allows you to set a time and duration for watering automatically. You can connect it to a sprinkler (preferably an impact sprinkler on a stake, such as the one shown below) or two. Set these up somewhere where they won't need to be moved. Even if it doesn't cover your lawn completely, 90% coverage is so much better than not watering at all. 

An impact sprinkler on a stake.

 You can find hose timers and impact sprinklers at stores such as Home Depot. As always, if you have any questions please call our office at 734.699.0010. 

If you're walking through your lawn and you see small white or tan moths flying around your lawn, it is most likely the adult stage (see below) of the sod webworm. Sod webworm larvae usually do not cause visible damage in irrigated lawns kept at the proper height. As long as you follow recommended cultural practices, you shouldn't have to worry about these insects. 

For bluegrass lawns, proper mowing height is 2 1/2" - 3". During the hot summer months, you should be watering daily (see above).  

Adult Lawn Moth