Following are things that you can do to help keep Forsyth County streams clean and, consequently help in the overall water quality of our downstream neighbors and the estuaries. It is best to water established lawns at the rate of one inch per week, applied all at one time to promote deep rooting. Water early in the morning to decrease evaporation and the risk of disease. A container with a one-inch mark placed under your sprinkler will help you determine the amount of water your lawn is using. Established lawns can survive several weeks of dormancy during the summer.
Excess water can keep the soil too moist, which damages roots.
This shades the soil surface thus reduces evaporation and the sprouting of weeds. Proper fertilization promotes deep roots and drought tolerance. Otherwise, it may have the opposite effect. It is better to fertilize in the fall as fertilization during this time promotes root growth versus fertilization in the spring which is more likely to promote leaf growth. Plan and develop a landscape that has less lawn and requires less water and maintenance.