When is the best time to water your grass? Good news for early birds (2024)

Everyone knows that a well-maintained lawn needs water. But the best time to water the grass and how much water to use can be more difficult to determine. While the answers vary slightly depending on the type of grass you have, where you live and how much rain you get, there are some basic rules you can follow to keep your grass as green and happy as possible. First things first, when it comes to your watering schedule, you may want to get up early.

Rise and Shine: Your lawn is a morning person

While it may seem like water is water any time of the day, what the clock says is important when it comes to watering your lawn. If you wait until late in the evening, the water will evaporate so slowly that you risk creating an environment where mold and disease can take over. But if you water during the hottest part of the day, evaporation will occur so quickly that your lawn won't get the hydration it needs.

Therefore, the best time to water your grass is at dawn, before the sun fully rises and burns, as it still allows enough daylight to keep fungal growth at bay. Many experts recommend wateringbetween 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Fortunately, if you're not the type to set an alarm clock, you can also water in the late afternoon or early evening, at least a few hours before the sun sets, with success. Depending on the time of year and when sunset occurs in your area, somewhere in between and near should work.

What temperature is too hot to water grass?

The warmer it is outside, the more water your lawn needs, right?

Well, to an extent yes, but there is also such a thing as being too hot to water the grass at all. Again, because of the magic of evaporation, once the temperature reaches 95 degrees Fahrenheit, you might as well not even water your lawn. Why? The water dries up almost immediately and doesn't have a chance to penetrate the soil, meaning you're just wasting water (and money).

The best time to water your lawn in warm weather is (you guessed it) early in the morning or early in the evening, as discussed above. But hot and dry conditions can certainly affect the amount of water your lawn needs overall. Let's take a closer look at that.

4 signs your lawn needs water

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Hittle Landscape ArchitectureWhy don't you mow the lawn every week

While some gardeners stick to a preset watering schedule (perhaps three days a week in the spring and summer and two days a week in the fall), if you pay attention to your lawn, it will tell you when to water.

Even sticking to a preset schedule can help prevent the mild dehydration that causes these signals.exaggeratecan be just as damaging to your grass. As long as you don't leave it for too long, it's okay (and even important) to let your lawn dry out a bit between waterings. Watering thoroughly, but not often, can help your grass grow deeper and stronger roots.

Here are some signs that it's time to break out the water hose again:

• Your lawn looks dull and grayish:If your grass no longer looks as shiny and vibrant as it used to, it may need to be watered. (Please note that a tan color can sometimes indicate that yourthe grass sleeps- not yoursthe grass dies.)

• The blades of grass are curled:Like other types of plants, grass leaves, also called fronds, will curl as the plant dries out.

• As you walk across the lawn, your footprints become:If your lawn is properly hydrated, the footprints you leave behind when you walk across the surface will bounce back in seconds. If the prints last longer (or worse, don't go away at all), it's probably time to turn on your sprinklers.

• The lawn feels or sounds dry:If you hear a "crunch" when you walk across the lawn, it's time to give those thirsty blades some water.

How much to water your lawn and how to tell when it's had enough

Now you know how to tell when your lawn could use some water. Next: How to tell howa lot ofwater it needs.

Most established lawns need about an inch to an inch of water per week, and sometimes more if it is very hot or dry. That's the amount of water needed to ensure the top 6 to 8 inches of soil is moist; that's where the grass roots live. Many gardeners choose to spread that amount over two or more waterings per week to prevent their lawns from getting wet once a week and possibly overwatering. (A newly seeded lawn needs less water more often – enough to keep the top inch of soil consistently moist.)

So how do you know when you've achieved that goal? Fortunately, there are a few different ways:

• Check the soil every 15 minutes with a screwdriver while watering:Keep an eye on the time. When the screwdriver easily penetrates 15 to 20 centimeters into the soil, the lawn has had enough – and you know ithow much timeit takes your sprinkler system to get there.

• Multiply the square footage of your lawn by the magic number – 0.62:Then divide the number you get by the flow rate of your sprinkler system (which you can find in your owner's manual). The resulting number is the number of minutes you need to run your sprinkler system to get 1 inch of water per hour. square meters in your lawn.Presto!

• Take a few empty cans:Placing empty cans around your garden makes it much easier to see how much you have watered in centimeters. Be sure to place the cans in different locations as sprinkler coverage may vary.

• Consider a flow timer:Again, use the magic number (0.62) to multiply by the square footage of your lawn to calculate the total number of gallons you will need to pour 1 inch of water into your garden. Set your flow timer to match that number, keeping in mind that it likely measures water flow in hundreds of gallons.

Need more help quenching your lawn's thirst?

Photo: With the love of photography / Moment / Getty Images

For many gardeners, watering the lawn doesn't have to be a big hassle. Knowing how much your grass needs and when will make it much easier to ensure you're meeting those needs properly.

However, a sprinkler system can certainly make the task even easier. With some of the newer systems on the market, with built-in flow timers and automatic schedules, the process can be as simple as set it and forget it.

Installation of sprinkler systemsHowever, it can be a lot of work – and it's important to make sure your lawn is watered evenly and is as healthy as possible. So hire onelocal sprinkler installation specialistis the best choice for your time and the health of your garden.

Also remember that your grass needs more than just watering.Aerate your lawnfor example, can ensure that your basal roots get more ventilation, moisture and nutrients they need to grow strong. You can also consider loosening and fertilizing. It's all about keeping it green, baby!