How To Water Narrow Strip Of Lawn The Easy Way?
I’m not ashamed to admit that I used to be one of those people who thought maintaining a narrow strip of lawn was easier. Most people who think like this end up neglecting narrow strips of grass.
Unfortunately, you run the risk of overwatering the grass if you don’t know how to water narrow strips of lawn. The easiest way to do this is to place your sprinkler on a tripod for maximum coverage.
Installing a few automatic sprinklers is also a good choice. However, narrow strips of lawns require different amounts of water depending on the season. So, you must take that factor into account as well.
Useful Tips For Watering Narrow Strip Of Lawn
It’s not wise to use the same water hose or sprinkler to water narrow strips of lawn. You can’t use the same methods you use in your backyard or gardens as it will consume more water than necessary. Apart from using a separate watering method, there are a handful of tips you need to know.
1. Use A Soaker Hose
Soaker hoses have pores through which water gradually seeps out and irrigates the area around them. Drip irrigation can be used for lawns and gardens with soaker hoses.
This solution is ideal if you want to avoid water spraying up and crossing your paths. By laying the hose along the length of the narrow strip of grass, you can water its surrounding area.
Following are the steps for using a soaker hose:
- Spread the hose across the lawn.
- Connect the hose to the water faucet adaptor.
- Make sure water is seeping out properly from the faucet by turning on the faucet and checking the length of the hose.
- You can regulate the flow of your soaker hose by attaching a flow regulator.
- Using this accessory, you can control the amount of water dispersed on the hose.
2. Sprinkler With Tripod
Using any regular sprinkler won’t do you any good when watering a narrow strip of lawn. On the other hand, installing multiple sprinklers on various narrow strips isn’t a wise decision.
You can mount sprinklers on a tripod instead. This method will allow you to water a wide range of narrow strips with limited effort.
Make sure you turn on all the sprinklers at your disposal in one go. Doing this will reduce the watering time and effort as well.
3. Using Automatic Sprinklers
Automatic sprinkles are your best friend when watering your backyard. The same goes for watering narrow strips of grass. This is definitely less time-consuming as you can take care of all the grass strips at once.
If you can’t afford them, then you can resort to a sprinkler with a remote control. This is an effective way to take care of all the narrow strips of grass in your yard from the comfort of your porch.
4. Pick Your Timings
It’s better to be careful about which season you water the narrow strips of grass. The ideal window for watering these types of grass is in the autumn season.
This is when the grass needs the most water to prepare for the cold winter ahead. Water the grass more frequently during this season.
The Best Ways To Water Narrow Strips Of Grass
Narrow strips of grass require watering with gentle streams that won’t wash away the nutrients in the soil. The water pressure should be between low and moderate. Hence, I handpicked some efficient ways of watering narrow strips of grass.
1. The Water Bottle Trick
I’m sure you never thought of using a water bottle to water the grasses in your yard. But you can do exactly that by using a few simple steps. The trick is to fill up a two-liter water bottle and replace the cap with foam.
Placing the bottle upside down on the grassroots will allow the water to seep through gradually. You can even use the bottomless water bottle method to water narrow strips of grass quickly.
All you need to do is make carefully placed holes on the bottle’s sides. It will produce multiple steady streams that moisturize the seedling. Make sure you place the water bottle 15 cm deep with the tightly shut cap.
2. Homemade Irrigation System
Large-scale irrigation systems are not suitable for watering small patches of grass. They use more water than necessary for the purpose and are also expensive.
Fortunately, you can make your own version of an irrigation system with just a few items. Just follow these simple steps
- Pick a suitable sprinkler for watering narrow strips of grass. Equip it on top of a poly tee for an extended range. Finish it by installing a small riser on the ½ inch poly pipe.
- You can easily install the water pipe to the poly tee by carefully removing the pipe collar. The pipe collar will easily open if you twist the screws. Once you install the tee, it’s time to attach the collar to the pipe again.
- Poly tubes have a flexible property, so you can bend them at your will. This will allow you to water the previously unreachable corner. The grass staples are the perfect place for installing the poly tube.
- The next step is to attach the emitter to the pipe. This usually contains a hole punch. You will know that you’ve installed it correctly if the emitter makes a popping sound.
- For an added precaution, you can attach a bubbler along with the emitter. This clever contraption spreads water in all around the narrow strip.
- Ensure you attach the tube end closures when the sprinklers are turned off. It will keep the water from leaking while at rest.
3. Use PVC Pipes
A sprinkler head, PVC pipes, and some tools can be used to create your own sprinkler system. You can do it by following these steps:
Prepare your materials:
- Two long PVC pipes,
- sprinkler heads,
- thread extenders,
- PVC tee connectors,
- hose connectors, hacksaw,
- pipe caps, sandpaper,
- PVC primer,
- PVC glue,
- and thread tape.
Here are the steps to follow:
- A PVC pipe should be cut into two pieces of 2 feet and one piece of 1 foot.
- Make sure the cut PVC pipes are sanded both inside and outside.
- The long PVC pipe should be fitted with a PVC tee connector.
- Attach the 2-foot pipes to both ends of the tee connector in a T shape. This will help stabilize the pipe.
- Place a cap on the ends of the 2-foot pipes to prevent water from escaping.
- Measure one foot down from the base of the T and cut the long pipe.
- An upward-facing tee connector should be placed between the cut part and the open hole.
- The sprinkler head should be connected to the tee connector’s open slot.
- Another tee connector fits on the other end of the long PVC pipe.
- The sprinkler head should be facing upward on the open hole, and the 1-foot PVC pipe should be on the other end.
- After the structure is built, disassemble it again and apply PVC primer and glue.
- Sprinkler heads should be secured with thread tape.
- Adjust the water flow by connecting it to a hose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about how to water a narrow strip of lawn:
1. How Much Water Should I Use When Watering A Narrow Strip Of Lawn?
You should aim to give your narrow strip of lawn about 1 inch of water per week. To achieve this, you may need to water for 30-60 minutes, depending on the water pressure and flow rate.
2. When Is The Best Time To Water A Narrow Strip Of Lawn?
The best time to water your narrow strip of lawn is early in the morning, between 4:00 and 10:00 a.m. This allows the water to soak in before the heat of the day sets in and reduces the risk of evaporation. Watering in the evening is not recommended because it can promote the growth of fungi and other diseases.
3. How Should You Waterside Your Narrow Strip Of Lawn?
The best way to waterside your strip of lawn is to install sprinklers along the edge of the strip. You must position the sprinklers so that the water can cover the entire strip. If you want to water the grass more efficiently, consider installing a drip irrigation system.
4. How Often Should I Water My Narrow Strip Of Lawn?
It depends on various factors, such as the climate, soil type, and the type of grass you have. However, as a general rule of thumb, most narrow lawns will need about 1 inch of water per week, which can be achieved through one or two deep watering sessions.
5. What Is The Easiest Way To Water Narrow Strips Of Lawn?
There is nothing easier than watering the narrow strips of lawn with a soaker hose. The water pressure is powerful enough to soak every corner of the lawn.
Installing sprinklers is also a good option, as you can automatically water your lawn without getting up from bed.
6. How Long Should I Water Narrow Strip Of Lawn?
Every strip of lawn in your yard must get at least 1 inch of water every 7 days. You can use either water the grass for 30 minutes twice a week or for 20 minutes every 3 days. Both of these applications will show similar results.
7. How Much Time Does It Take To Water A Lawn 1/2 An Inch?
Watering your lawn twice a week is essential for a well-established lawn. To nourish the grass for a few days, the ground needs about 1-1.5 inches of water over a single watering.
When you water the ground, how do you know how much water has already soaked into it? If you want to know this, you can use a rain gauge or sprinkler gauge.
To give your lawn 1/2 inch of water, you must leave it on for around 15 minutes if you’re using a sprinkler or soaker hose.
This depends on how much water is coming out of the hose and how you set your water flow. Most of the time, 15 to 20 minutes should be sufficient to remove half an inch of water.
8. How Can I Tell If I’m Overwatering Or Underwatering My Narrow Strip Of Lawn?
Overwatering can lead to water waste, shallow root growth, and an increased risk of disease. Signs of overwatering include mushy soil, standing water, and water runoff.
On the other hand, underwatering can cause the grass to turn brown and dry. To avoid over or under-watering, monitor the moisture level of your lawn by checking the soil a few inches below the surface. The soil should be moist but not soggy.
Conclusion
By now, you must be clear on how to water a narrow strip of lawn. The trick is to use only a little water at a time.
Otherwise, you will end up destroying the grass in the process. Too much water can wash the necessary nutrients from the soil as well. So, be careful about which type of sprinklers you install.
