If you read my last article, you'll be clued-up on mowing your lawn to keep it looking pristine. But what about watering? After all, plants need water and your lawn is no exception. In summer you can see for yourself that your grass becomes scorched in the strong sunlight, but what exactly are the rules for watering? Knowing the right thing to do can be tricky, but I hope to offer some pointers.

As already mentioned, turf usually needs watering in the summer months. In winter however it never needs watering (unless you have very hot winters!) so be sure not to water it by mistake. Grass grows in the summer, so it makes sense that it uses a lot more water during this time.

Grass gets all its water through the roots, so there really is no point in watering just the tips. You should aim to get the water into the soil, so that it reaches a depth where there are roots. As a general rule, the roots are as long as the grass is high. However, as the turf becomes more established, the roots get longer, so the water needs to reach a little deeper.

It's very hard to see immediately if you're watering correctly, but there is an easy way to find out. Dig a small hole in the soil. It shouldn't be soaking, as this can waterlog the grass plant, but it should be cool and damp.

If you have brand new turf, the biggest danger is to underwater it. The first few weeks are very important, as this is when the plant becomes established in your soil, and it needs more water to help it along. If you've just laid the turf, water it twice a day for the first week, then a few times a week, and just once a week after about 6 weeks have passed. As it managed to draw nutrients from the soil, you can gradually stop watering it so much.

The main danger of overwatering your lawn is that the turf can become saturated, suffocating the grass. Roots need to be able to absorb oxygen and they can't do this in soaking ground. In hot weather, grass is likely to suffocate more quickly, so this is when you need to be extra careful. Because the only part of the grass that needs to be wet is the roots, if you see water above the soil you know you've overdone it.

You may be tempted to use a sprinkler - after all, it saves time! If you do however, make sure that you turn it off when it rains; after a rainfall there's no need to water your lawn.

So as long as you don't overwater your lawn, and you don't let it get parched in summer, it will remain healthy. If you look after your turf it'll look just as good as the day you bought it, and looking after it really isn't difficult. A little water at the right time is all your grass really needs.