Here’s The Best Time To Water Grass For A Lush Lawn, According To Experts

If you want a lawn that’s the envy of your neighbors, you need to know the best time to water the grass. Yes, there are many other important factors to a healthy lawn, but without proper watering practices, they’ll likely come to naught.

Following some simple lawn watering guidelines can help you determine how to best take care of your lawn based on your location, type of grass, amount of sun, and other factors. There are few things as lovely as a lush, sustainable lawn that is perfect for picnics, lawn games, and other summertime fun.

So if you’re wondering “How often should I water my lawn?” or "How long should I water the grass?", keep reading to learn the best time to water the lawn.

Why Timing Matters

While it may seem that simply providing your lawn with water should be sufficient, it turns out that when to do so is the key element. Starting a good watering routine is especially important when bringing your lawn back to life after winter.

The ideal time to water the lawn is in the wee hours of the morning when water pressure is at its peak since fewer people are using the utility early. And since the sun isn’t up yet, evaporation loss is negligible.

That time isn't convenient for a lot of people, so they may choose to water in the early evening when they are at home. The issue here is everyone is using water so the water pressure can be depleted. Plus, watering in the evening or early nighttime, raises the possibility of disease in your grass.

If you choose instead to water during the middle of the day, again, the water pressure is less and the sun and heat are at their zenith, meaning evaporation loss is a real issue. Grass is a resilient plant, but it is important to know how to help a heat-stressed lawn and prevent it before it happens.

When Is The Best Time To Water Lawn?

In a perfect world, the best time to water your grass is between 4:00 and 8:00 am. Unless you have an automated sprinkler system however, this isn’t always ideal.

The next best time is from 8:00 pm to midnight. Again, at these hours water usage as a whole is less so pressure is up and the possibility of evaporation from heat is lessened.

How Long To Water Grass

The most efficient way to water the lawn is to water slowly and deeply.

Well, the length of time it takes to thoroughly water your lawn depends on what type of grass you have, how old the turf is and how compacted the soil is as well as when you’re watering and of course, the weather.

If you are starting off with dried out turf and/or the weather has been hot and dry, you will need to water longer. If your soil is compact and doesn’t drain but the water runs off, well, you have a problem that could be remedied through lawn aeration.

Another consideration is how much of a water load can your irrigation system put out? Each system is different and it’s a good idea to figure out how many inches per hour your particular system puts out.

Most lawns need about an inch to an inch and a half (2.5-4 cm) per week depending upon the weather, drainage, etc. It is better to water deeply every 3-4 days rather than scantily every day. You will end up with grass with a more robust root system that is better able to withstand stressors like drought, disease or pests.

Automatic or smart sprinkler systems that have spray heads need about 10-20 minutes twice a week while systems with rotary heads require 30-40 minutes. If using other types of manual sprinklers that don’t have the capacity to apply larger volumes of water, plan to leave them on for 2-3 hours.

How Much Water Does My Sprinkler Put Out?

To find out how much water your sprinkler puts out, put multiple shallow containers (tuna cans work well) out in a grid pattern around the sprinkler. Run the sprinkler for a set time, say 15 minutes and then measure the amount of water the containers have captured with a ruler.

Add up the total water depth from the can in inches. Divide this number by the number of cans to get your average water depth. Then multiply the average water depth by 4 to give you the approximate number of inches your sprinkler expels per hour.

How Often Should I Water My Lawn?

How often to irrigate the lawn depends on a number of factors such as the type of grass, the conditions of the soil, the grade of the lawn, and of course the weather. Generally, you should provide your lawn with an inch to an inch and a half (2.5-4 cm) each week depending upon the weather.

Frequently Asked Questions

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