When to Water Your Grass

To achieve a healthy lush lawn it needs water, a well known fact. However, as with any plant life, too much or too little can be harmful. Running the sprinkler all night creates the right conditions for disease. Light but frequent watering causes the grass to grow shallow roots which will cause trouble in hot weather.

Normally, natural rainfall is enough for grass to grow strong. There are times when rainfall needs to be supplemented, for example with newly planted lawns or long periods of heat and drought. It’s important to water deeply but not too frequently. Avoid watering from 11 AM-3 PM, the hottest part of the day. As with all your plants, water your lawn between 6-10 AM. At this time of the morning, there is usually less wind, less heat and the lawn has a full day to dry. Watering at night promotes mildew and fungus and is therefore not advisable, however if morning watering is not possible then between 4PM and 10pm will do. Once again, AVOID afternoon watering as the heat and wind will evaporate much of the water leaving the lawn still thirsty, or if you try and counter that by excessive watering, the heat will end up boiling the grass roots.

On average apply approximately a 1 inch of water twice or three times per week. To know how much water you are applying, set a marked containers near the lawn, and when it fills to the mark your lawn has had enough. If you are not able to keep a close eye on it, just consider that it usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes.  Keep in mind, sprinklers don’t always apply water evenly, so the container method will also help you make sure that there is even application. If you have sprinklers, you should practice this method at least once just to make sure you (if with a hose) or your sprinklers are doing a proper job. Remember, during prolonged drought you will have to increase the duration, frequency and therefore quantity of water.

NOTE: If enduring a prolonged drought, it is ok to let your lawn go dormant (turn brown). It will slowly bounce back as soon as the rain/water comes. HOWEVER the only thing to be very careful of is dormant lawns can not handle  stress, so foot traffic and play on a dormant lawn is NOT advisable. The lawn may return with dead patches after it gets the much needed water.