Walking in the yard last week I heard a familiar crunch that I have not heard since September. It was the terrible sound of grass crunching under my feet. After such a wet Spring, I thought the sprinkler would never need to be used, but alas, it's time to get the water going.

According to things I've learned from the University of Minnesota, grasses have very long root systems (if watered properly). When given long, deep watering as opposed to quick short spurts, the grass creates a web of filtering roots that grow. After our wet June, I figure roots must be about 10 feet long!

That same article points out that lawn watering is best done between 4 am and 8 am. It reduces evaporation waste and drift. So neighbors and paper delivery guy, if you see me out in my nightgown, baseball cap and pink Crocs at 5 am, please look the other way. I'm just doing what I can to make sure I can wiggle my toes in green grass in a few days.