If your lawn looks yellow, brown, or pale green when it should be a lush, deep green colour, then there's a good chance it's getting too much water. Consider reducing watering frequency immediately to restore its vibrant colour. Overwatered soil will often feel spongy and soggy.
Off-color or Discolored Grass
A big sign of overwatering grass is color – or rather lack of color. Your lawn should be a deep green color. But if it looks yellow, brown, or even pale in nature, it could be getting too much water.
Discolored grass: Overwatering can cause your grass to become discolored, turning yellow or brown due to a lack of oxygen.
1. If a plant is overwatered, it will likely develop yellow or brown limp, droopy leaves as opposed to dry, crispy leaves (which are a sign of too little water). Wilting leaves combined with wet soil usually mean that root rot has set in and the roots can no longer absorb water. 2.
To naturally eliminate excess water in your yard, improve drainage by adding organic matter like compost to the soil. Plant deep-rooted vegetation to absorb water, and create swales or berms to redirect it. Ensure proper grading to encourage runoff, and use permeable materials like gravel or mulch.
Then, you should address any problems that you've created such as fungal growth, a pest problem, or thatch build-up. Most of the time, lawns will bounce back from overwatering unless it's been going on for such a long time that the grass is dead.
If your lawn looks yellow, brown, or pale green when it should be a lush, deep green colour, then there's a good chance it's getting too much water. Consider reducing watering frequency immediately to restore its vibrant colour. Overwatered soil will often feel spongy and soggy.
Overwatering means yellowing leaves, a general feeling of flop (science calls it wilting!), fuzzy soil, and a pot that feels like it could double as a weight. Underwatering shows itself with crispy leaves, that same sad droop, and bone-dry soil.
Discoloration: When soil is saturated with water, soil oxygen levels take a dive. (There's that nerdy info we promised you.) What does this mean for your lawn? Well, its ability to uptake water and nutrients is compromised, its root hairs die, and your grass turns brown or yellow.
There are specific signs that will tell you your lawn is being overwatered. Overwatering your lawn is actually worse than under-watering because it will cause more damage.
Water Wisely
Many of us water too often and too long. Most lawns need to be watered no more than three days a week in the spring as well as in the summer and two days a week in the fall. This watering schedule is recommended under normal water supply conditions.
When it comes to irrigating lawns during hot summer months, improper techniques can hurt your grass more than help it. Overwatering, irrigating at wrong times of the day, and watering too often can be ineffective and—at times—downright harmful.
If your grass is looking dried out, brittle, and crunchy underfoot, it likely needs more water. When grass plants don't get enough moisture, they will start to turn brown and die. Increase watering times to provide more hydration. You may need to bump up watering in the heat of summer when more moisture evaporates.
The fungus causes a white or grayish powdery coating to appear on the leaves and stems, feeding on the plant tissue and causing damage. The affected leaves may also turn yellow or brown, and the grass may become stunted and weakened.
Conclusion: Achieving a Healthy Lawn
Recognizing the signs of an overwatered lawn is crucial for making necessary adjustments to your watering habits. Overwatering can lead to numerous lawn problems, but with the right care, you can restore your lawn's health and enjoy a lush, green lawn.
Organic mulches like wood chips, bark, and straw absorb water. Inorganic mulches like rocks, gravel, pebbles, and rubber don't absorb water but may allow water to drain through the gaps between pieces.
If your lawn seems to always hold water, then there's a yard drainage issue at play. This can be related to the way your property is graded and how water flows, where your gutters are directing water, or even what's going on at a neighbor's property (potentially sending excess water into your yard).
The time it takes for your lawn to be mowable after a storm depends on your climate. The warm, dry California air and plenty of sunlight mean lawns usually take only about a day (or sometimes several hours) to be mower-ready.