How to Water Grass Between the Sidewalk and Street
When the sidewalk doesn’t stretch all the way to the road, you are left with a space between the sidewalk and the street that can quickly become a jungle of weeds if not managed. If you want to have beautiful and healthy grass in the road verge, you will want to find a way to water it. Although in many cases, these areas are considered the property of the state or city, they may not be managing them to your standards. Below are a few ways on how to properly water grass between sidewalk and street, and the benefits of it.
How to Water Grass Between Sidewalk and Street
You need to water grass between sidewalk and street so that it continues to grow and not be taken over by unwanted weeds or pests. Below are the most common ways homeowners get water to this strip of grass.
- Extended Water Hose
- Sprinkler Irrigation
Extended Water Hose
If the lawn on your property does not currently have an installed irrigation system, then you really are only able to water the area manually with a water hose. You can purchase a second water hose or a longer one to reach the area, allowing it to stretch across your lawn. If you go with this method, make sure you have something to keep the hose rolled and organized. You do not want to spend more time rolling up a water hose than you do actually watering the area.
Sprinkler Irrigation
If you have an irrigation system in your yard, you can extend it to water grass between sidewalk and street. Keep in mind that area is not exactly your property, and is usually owned by municipalities, so you do not want to put a sprinkler directly on that area. You want to make sure that your sprinklers on the edge of your yard can reach that area so that it si watered at the same time as your lawn.
When Should I Water Grass Between Sidewalk and Street?
Because that is usually a small strip of grass, it is easy to overwater it. You want to water the road verge approximately three times each week for a few minutes, suturing the soil so that it has the water it needs. Depending on the weather, however, you may want to water at different times or frequencies.
If it is hot in your area, you want to water this grass early in the morning. This gives the grass ample time to absorb the water before it gets too hot and is evaporated by the sun. If it is cooler outside, you can wait to mid-morning to water instead of super early. This is because the ground may already be wet from morning dew and you do not want to overwater too early. Fungi can start to set in throughout the soil if the conditions are right.
At no point during the year should you water this grass at night. Even during the hottest days, if there isn’t sun available, the conditions for infection and fungal takeover will happen. You will start to notice things like wild mushrooms growing in your grass and the grass dying around them.
Why Should I Water Grass Between Sidewalk and Street?
There are several reasons that you should take care of this grass patch, although it isn’t on your property.
- Improves curb appeal
- Protects your lawn
- Prevents unwanted pests
- Maintains safety
Improve Curb Appeal
If you are looking to sell your property and the road verge in front of your home in unkempt, then your property value will decrease. That will stick out in pictures and to those on tours like a sore thumb. A little water a few times a week is worth protecting your property value and improving the overall curb appeal of your home, even if you do not plan on selling.
Protects Your Lawn
If the road verge is not watered regularly, it will be taken over by weeds and unwanted plants. There are several types of weeds that need very little water to survive and will choke out the grass planted in that area in just a few weeks. If they are growing in that space, you can expect them to jump over and start infecting your lawn, as well. Birds will drop the seeds over, or if the weeds are vine-like, they will reach until they get to your grass and start taking over.
Prevent Unwanted Pests
If this patch of grass starts to grow up,it can be a place for unwanted pests to bed and nest. Rats, moles, and other pests will find these overgrown conditions to be ideal for nesting. If they start in this part, they will soon multiply and seem out more areas in your own lawn, shed, or garage.
Maintains Safety
There are lots of folks walking alone, with family members, or with their pets along the sidewalks daily. If these areas are not maintained properly, they can pose safety issues. Dangerous pests like snakes can be lurking in this grass. Also, debris and toxins can roll into this space and go undetected until your pet starts sniffing around. By that time it could be ingested. If the grass were maintained, watered, and not allowed to become overgrown with weeds, this could be avoided.
Know How to Water Grass Between Sidewalk and Street Properly
Since there are many factors as to why you need to keep this area watered, it is worth taking the time each week to ensure that the grass is growing and getting the water it needs. While it may not legally be your responsibility, you are being a responsible homeowner and neighbor by making sure that it stays in the appropriate condition along with your lawn. Over time, it is worth making that investment into watering that grass so that your curb appeal is always neat and you are preventing anything unwanted from lurking onto your property from the road verge.
