When to water if you’re looking for a luscious lawn
Homeownership means freedom—and it also means new responsibilities. While it’s easy to focus on everything inside your home, what’s on the outside is equally important. A properly watered, healthy lawn will boost your curb appeal and become the perfect canvas for all your dream landscaping projects. But how can you tell if your lawn is getting enough water?
An underwatered lawn can bring down your home’s glow with discolored, patchy grass. Signs of a dry lawn include a dull blue-gray color, grass that flattens when you walk on it, curling or crispy blades with a yellow hue, and brown spots.
Most lawns require one inch of water per week, including rainfall. If you are experiencing periods of heavy rain, your lawn may be getting all the water it needs for the week.
It’s best to water between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. so your lawn can effectively absorb the water into its soil and roots. A midday sprinkler session runs the risk of water evaporating before your lawn has a chance to drink up, while watering in the evening can leave behind droplets and increase the risk of lawn disease.
Your sprinkler will produce around a half inch of water in about 30 minutes, though each sprinkler system will vary. Most experts recommend watering over two-to-three sessions per week, lasting between 20-30 minutes each.
That said, your watering frequency will change with the seasons based on temperature and rainfall.
How will you know if you’re watering too much? If you find standing water, mushrooms, spongy ground, or overgrown weeds, you’ll want to scale back a bit on your sprinkler cycles. Too much water creates a breeding ground for fungus and produces additional unwanted runoff.
Every lawn is different, so watering may not be an exact science—but these tips can help you create a routine that ensures your grass is always greener (on every side!)
Most lawns require one inch of water per week, including rainfall. If you are experiencing periods of heavy rain, your lawn may be getting all the water it needs for the week.
It’s best to water between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. so your lawn can effectively absorb the water into its soil and roots. A midday sprinkler session runs the risk of water evaporating before your lawn has a chance to drink up, while watering in the evening can leave behind droplets and increase the risk of lawn disease.
Your sprinkler will produce around a half inch of water in about 30 minutes, though each sprinkler system will vary. Most experts recommend watering over two-to-three sessions per week, lasting between 20-30 minutes each.
That said, your watering frequency will change with the seasons based on temperature and rainfall.
Spring
Spring produces more frequent rainfall. Between that and the cooler temperatures, your lawn may only need 15-minute watering sessions once or twice a week.Summer
Hotter temperatures and less rainfall can stress out your lawn. Summer months require more frequent watering sessions, usually about three per week, with each session lasting roughly 30 minutes.Fall
Scale back your watering in the fall as temperatures begin to cool, running your sprinkler for about 20 minutes two-to-three times per week.Winter
If you are in a colder climate—like the Midwest—your lawn will go dormant during the winter months and you won’t need to water. If you are not in a climate cold enough for your lawn to go dormant, it may still require a 15-minute session for maintenance, but not much more as the winter is typically a non-growing season.How will you know if you’re watering too much? If you find standing water, mushrooms, spongy ground, or overgrown weeds, you’ll want to scale back a bit on your sprinkler cycles. Too much water creates a breeding ground for fungus and produces additional unwanted runoff.
Every lawn is different, so watering may not be an exact science—but these tips can help you create a routine that ensures your grass is always greener (on every side!)
Disclosure
All information presented on this page is for educational purposes only and doesn’t constitute tax, legal, or accounting advice. It is to be considered as general information, not recommendations. Please consult with an attorney or tax professional for guidance.