For most homeowners, a lush, green lawn is what dreams are made of. But maintaining your lawn takes more than simply turning on a sprinkler. In fact, there's a chance that you've been watering your lawn wrong. 

Below are a few of the right and wrong ways to water your lawn. 

How Much Is Too Much?

In the dead of summer, watering your lawn more frequently makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Although it seems like the right thing to do, watering your lawn too frequently can backfire. In fact, even if you only water once a day, you should only be watering about one-half of an inch. More than that can kill your grass, even when it's over 100 degrees outside. 

Healthy lawns only require about 1 to 1.5 inches of watering to stay lush. Note, this doesn’t need to only come from you. If you live somewhere that gets a lot of rain, you might want to reduce the time you spend watering. Watering too much can lead to pooling in certain areas and eventually kill the grass. 

When to Water

When you water is just as important as how much. Some people swear by early morning water sessions. However, it's best to set a timer and water in the evening, no later than 6:00 pm. Watering later that 6:00 pm might not give your lawn a chance to dry, which can lead to root rot. 

Also make sure that you're watering your lawn evenly and not over saturating one area. This is a common mistake people make when trying to grow new grass. They think that if they saturate the areas of new sod, it will grow faster. Unfortunately, this usually has the opposite effect and causes root rot. 

How Often You Should Water

Unless you live in a very hot locale that doesn't get much rain, you really don't need to water every day. A good rule of thumb is to water every other day. But when you water, make sure to penetrate deep into the ground, at least six inches. This encourages root growth and will help make your grass lush and green. It will also make your lawn more resilient to scorching temperatures and torrential downpours. 

Keeping your lawn healthy doesn't need to be a chore. Just make sure you're following the above-mentioned tips and tailor them to the climate where you live.

If you find mushrooms in the middle of your yard, you're probably wondering why they're there. The answer to that question depends on what type of mushrooms are growing and what's in your yard. Here are a few questions that you need to ask yourself to figure it out:

Are the Mushrooms Growing Near a Tree?

Some mushrooms need substrate to grow, which the roots of a tree will provide. These mushrooms will only grow if there are roots, mulch, or other forms of wood substrate. These mushrooms can also grow in areas where there are shrubs that have a significant root network. Here are a few examples of mushrooms that require substrate in order to grow:

• Amanita Mushrooms: Mushrooms in this family are quite common, and they grow in areas where there are tree roots underneath the soil. These mushrooms have a cup at the base, and you'll often be able to see a ring-like veil on the stem. Most mushrooms in the Amanita family are highly toxic.

• Oyster Mushrooms: Oyster mushrooms often grow on decaying wood, and they can be found growing in lawns where there are wood chips or dead branches on the ground. They are shelf mushrooms, but they can grow on small branches that are on lawns.

• Straw Mushrooms: Straw mushrooms may grow on lawns that have hay, straw, or dead grass on them.

Are the Mushrooms Growing on Grass That Isn't Near a Tree?

If the mushrooms are growing on grass that's not located near a tree, then they don't need substrate to grow. These mushrooms typically only appear when conditions are wet, and they do need access to soil in order to grow. Therefore, if you put down stone or another material that covers up the soil, the mushrooms will not be able to grow. Here are a few examples of mushrooms that can grow without substrate:

• Parasol Mushrooms: Parasol mushrooms are common mushrooms that have an off-white color and spots, and there often is a veil visible on the stem. These mushrooms are often found on lawns.

• Agaricus Bisporus: This white mushroom with dark gills is common on lawns, and it can grow in bare areas or grass-covered areas of your lawn.

• Calvatia Craniformis: Calvatia craniformis mushrooms have a distinctive brain-like appearance, and they often grow in lawns and on patches of bare ground.

How Has the Weather Been Lately?

In most cases, mushrooms will not grow unless the weather has been wet. However, some mushrooms can last longer than others when the weather conditions have not been particularly wet. If wet weather tends to increase the amount of mushroom growth in your yard, one way that you can prevent it is to create a drainage system that removes water from your lawn. 

How Can You Get Mushrooms Off of Your Lawn?

Mushrooms need organic matter to grow, which means you'll need to make sure that there is little to no organic matter on or underneath the soil if you want to prevent mushrooms from growing. One great way to do that is to pick up any branches or other forms of wooden debris before mushrooms get a chance to grow in these areas.