Watering Wisely: Proper Lawn Care Practices for Central Iowa
Healthy lawns do not require excessive watering. In fact, overwatering is one of the most common causes of shallow roots, increased disease pressure, wasted water, and higher utility costs. By using water efficiently and practicing good lawn care
habits, homeowners can maintain attractive lawns while conserving one of our most valuable resources.
Start with an Efficient Irrigation System
An irrigation system should apply water evenly and only where it is needed.
Don't have an irrigation system? That's okay! A healthy lawn can be maintained using a hose and a portable sprinkler. The watering principles on this page, such as watering deeply, watering at the right time of day, and avoiding overwatering, apply whether you use an automated irrigation system or water manually.
- Use matched sprinkler heads that deliver water at the same rate.
- Ensure spray patterns overlap correctly to avoid dry spots and excessive watering.
- Adjust heads to keep water off sidewalks, driveways, and streets.
- Divide sunny and shaded areas into separate zones because they have different water requirements.
- Install a rain sensor or smart controller to prevent unnecessary watering after rainfall.
- Water pressure should be properly regulated to minimize misting and runoff.
Maintain Your Irrigation System
Even a properly designed system requires regular maintenance.
At least once each season:
- Inspect sprinkler heads for damage or clogging.
- Straighten heads that have shifted over time.
- Replace broken nozzles and leaking valves.
- Adjust spray patterns to avoid watering pavement.
- Look for areas where water puddles or runs off before soaking into the soil.
- Check rain sensors to ensure they are functioning correctly.
Small leaks or misaligned heads can waste thousands of gallons of water over the course of a season.
Most established lawns in Central Iowa need only about 1 to 1½ inches of water per week from rainfall and irrigation combined.
The best time to water is:
- Early morning between 4:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
- Avoid evening watering, which can increase disease development.
- Avoid watering during the hottest part of the day when evaporation losses are greatest.
Rather than watering every day, water deeply and infrequently. This encourages deeper root systems and improves drought tolerance.
Healthy turf often gives visual clues when moisture is becoming limited:
- Grass blades begin to fold or curl.
- The lawn takes on a dull blue-gray appearance.
- Footprints remain visible after walking across the lawn. If the grass has the water it needs footprints will often put back up after 30 minutes.
When these symptoms appear, apply enough water to moisten the soil 6 to 8 inches deep.
More water does not mean a healthier lawn. Excessive irrigation can:
- Promote fungal diseases.
- Encourage shallow rooting.
- Increase weed pressure.
- Cause nutrient losses.
- Waste water and money.
During periods of summer heat, some lawns may naturally slow growth and become slightly dormant. Established cool-season grasses can survive temporary dormancy and recover when temperatures moderate and rainfall returns.
Choose the Right Grass for Long-Term Water Savings
One of the best ways to reduce water use while maintaining an attractive lawn is to select grass varieties that are naturally adapted to Iowa's climate. Proper grass selection can significantly reduce irrigation requirements while still providing a dense, healthy, and beautiful lawn.
Kentucky bluegrass is the most common lawn grass in Iowa and provides excellent color and appearance. However, it generally requires more water to remain actively growing during periods of summer heat and drought. Fortunately, Kentucky bluegrass has the ability to enter dormancy during dry periods and recover when cooler temperatures and rainfall return. Homeowners should understand that temporary browning during drought does not necessarily mean the lawn is dead.
Turf-type tall fescue has become increasingly popular in Central Iowa because of its exceptional drought tolerance and deep root system. Compared with Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue often requires significantly less supplemental irrigation.
Benefits of turf-type tall fescue include; Deep roots that allow the plant to access moisture deeper in the soil, improved tolerance to summer heat and drought reduced irrigation requirements good resistance to many common lawn stresses, and attractive dark green color and improved texture compared to older tall fescue varieties. Many newer cultivars produce lawns that are nearly indistinguishable from Kentucky bluegrass while using less water.
Combining several improved varieties of Kentucky bluegrass or using mixtures containing turf-type tall fescue can provide better drought resistance and overall lawn performance. Diversity within the lawn helps reduce the risk of disease, insect damage, and environmental stress while promoting a more resilient turf.
Maintaining a lawn that remains dark green throughout the hottest and driest parts of summer often requires large amounts of supplemental irrigation. Accepting some slowing of growth or temporary color changes during periods of heat can dramatically reduce water use without causing long-term damage.
Different areas of the landscape may benefit from different grass species, so matching grass type to the site is very important.
Sunny locations often perform well with turf-type tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass while areas receiving partial shade may benefit from fine fescues, which require less water and fertilizer.
Sites with mature trees or heavy shade may be better suited for shade-tolerant groundcovers, mulch, or landscape beds rather than struggling turfgrass. Trying to grow grass in areas where it is poorly adapted often leads to excessive watering, increased disease pressure, and disappointing results.
Not all grass seed is created equal. Improved cultivars developed through university and industry research have been selected for traits such as better drought tolerance, improved disease resistance reduced fertilizer requirements, enhanced color and density, and better heat tolerance.
Homeowners should look for high-quality seed blends containing improved varieties rather than purchasing seed based solely on price. Homeowners can always reach out to their IPLCA member lawn service providers to get information on the proper seed selection for their site.
Perhaps the most important principle of water conservation is to place the right plant in the right location. A lawn established with grass species adapted to Central Iowa can remain attractive and functional with less irrigation, fewer inputs, and lower maintenance costs. A beautiful lawn does not necessarily require more water—it often requires better grass.
Mowing practices greatly influence water use.
Maintain Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue lawns at a height of 3 to 4 inches. Taller grass shades the soil surface which can slow how quickly the soil dries out by reducing evaporation. Mowing at a taller height allows the grass to spend its energy generating more roots instead of replacing leaf tissue that was cut off. This encourages deeper roots and improves drought tolerance. Another benefit is that taller grass helps to suppress weeds. Never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade during a single mowing.
Leave your grass clippings as they contain valuable nutrients and organic matter. Leaving the grass clippings on site for a season are the equivalent of having a fertilizer application to the lawn.
Returning clippings to the lawn helps recycle nutrients, improves overall soil health, reduces fertilizer requirements, and conserves moisture. Bagging clippings is generally unnecessary unless excessive growth has occurred.
Healthy soils hold water more effectively. Homeowners can improve water efficiency by core aerating compacted lawns, maintaining proper soil fertility, increasing organic matter over time avoiding excessive traffic when soils are wet, correcting drainage problems. Healthier soils allow rainfall and irrigation water to soak in rather than run off.
Reduce Turf Areas That Are Difficult to Maintain
Not every area of a property needs to be maintained as irrigated lawn. Consider alternatives in difficult locations such as steep slopes, areas under mature trees, narrow strips along sidewalks, poorly drained sites. Mulched planting beds, native plants, shrubs, and perennial gardens often require less water and maintenance than turfgrass.
A two- to three-inch layer of mulch around trees, shrubs, and landscape plants helps reduce evaporation, moderate soil temperatures suppress weeds, improve soil quality over time. Keep mulch several inches away from tree trunks and plant stems.
Central Iowa frequently receives enough rainfall to meet much of a lawn’s water requirements. Use a rain gauge to track weekly precipitation and adjust irrigation accordingly. Automatic systems should supplement rainfall, not replace it. There are also many phone apps and websites that can be utilized to monitor the rainfall.
A Healthy Lawn Uses Water Efficiently
Water conservation does not mean sacrificing lawn quality. Through proper irrigation practices, sound mowing habits, healthy soils, and thoughtful landscape design, homeowners can enjoy attractive landscapes while reducing water waste and protecting Iowa’s natural resources.
There are many IPLCA professionals throughout Central Iowa that you can contact to help you best manage your lawn and landscape so it is using water resources efficiently and responsibly. It is up to all of us working together to be good stewards to our environments and utilize our limited resources responsibly.
