Love Your Lawn

Watering Your Natural Lawn

Watering your lawn sounds simple although there are a lot of things to consider when watering your lawn effectively.

Use these tips to learn the right amount of water to keep your lawn healthy and beautiful all season long.

The Best Time of Day to Water Your Lawn

In the spring and summer, afternoon heat can evaporate up to 30% of the water as it jets out of the sprinklers. And watering in the late evening doesn't give the grass enough time to dry, leaving it vulnerable to fungal disease. So what is the best time to water the grass?

• The #1 best time to water is before 10 a.m.
• The #2 best time to water is 4-6 p.m.

Tips for Watering the Lawn Properly

Make sure your grass gets 1 inch of water each week.

Whether it comes from rain or watering, this amount ideally should arrive all at once to encourage roots to penetrate deeper into the soil, making it more drought-tolerant.

Let the grass dry between waterings.

More water is not better for your lawn. Overwatering can lead to fungal disease, weeds and pests.

Stick to weekly watering.

In the spring and summer, you may find yourself watering flowers, veggies, and landscape plants every day. Don't put your lawn on the same schedule. Frequent, shorter waterings will leave you with shallow roots and more vulnerable grass.

Buy or DIY a rain gauge.

You can purchase one at a gardening store or mark 1 inch on a can or cup that you already have. Place the rain gauge within range of your sprinkler system and time how long it takes for the water line to reach 1 inch. Once you have this information, you can add a timer to your sprinkler system that will shut it off automatically.

Check the soil.

If puddling occurs while you water, use shorter cycles to give the ground time to catch up—for example, 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off – until you meet the time it takes to reach 1 inch.

Top dress your lawn in the fall.

Golf pros taught us this trick. A thin layer of nutrient-rich compost holds onto moisture, so your lawn will require less watering.

How Often to Water Newly Planted Grass

When watering a newly seeded lawn, keep the top layer of soil consistently moist but not soggy. Mist the seeded area one or more times a day.

Then, once the seeds start to germinate, make sure the top 2 inches of soil is moist until the grass reaches around 3 inches. After that, you can water deeply two times a week, which will encourage the roots to grow down farther.

Signs of an Overwatered Lawn

Adding too much water to your lawn prevents the grass from accessing the other elements it needs to survive. It also keeps the grass from growing deeper roots because water is so available higher in the ground. Look for these signs to determine if you're watering too much:

• Mini streams of water running off your lawn
• A lawn that squishes when you step on it
• Thatch or weeds crowding out the grass
• Discoloration from fungus
• Insect infestation

Not Watering Your Lawn at All

We want your grass to look as good as it can for as long as possible, but it's worth noting that you don't necessarily have to water your lawn.

Whether it's a personal choice, drought advisory, or water-use ban, you can let the grass go dormant. Lawns are resilient and a properly cared-for lawn can survive for up to six weeks without water. Then, once the rain comes, your yard will recover.

Watering in Sunny vs. Shady Areas

The amount of sun your grass receives has an impact on how much water it needs. For shady lawns, you'll still water deeply but you'll do so less often. Sunny areas require more frequent, deep waterings.

Water early in the day, so the water has time to absorb or evaporate. Be sure not to water a little at a time. This encourages shallow grass roots, but deeper roots lead to a strong, healthy lawn.

You can also buy grass seed that is formulated to thrive in shade, partial shade, or full sun.

Watering Grass Each Season

Spring

Spring grass should be watered as early as possible when it comes out of its dormant state. In rainy climates and coastal areas, Mother Nature may do the work for you; otherwise, it's up to you to make sure it gets 1 inch a week. Be careful not to water too much, though. Overwatering can lead to pests and disease.

Summer

When summer arrives, you'll continue with weekly, deep waterings, but as the heat rises, you may need to water more frequently.

• How do you know if your grass needs a drink?
• The grass has a grayish cast or appears to be dull green.
• If you can see your footprints when you walk across your yard, it's time to water. Well-hydrated grass springs back quickly.

Fall

As temperatures start to cool and days become shorter, lawn watering often falls by the wayside, but it's not time to stop just yet.

Cool-season grass grows throughout the autumn months, but much of the work happens below the surface. Grass roots are busy absorbing nutrients and recovering from a summer of heat, sun and footprints.

Fall is also the perfect time to overseed your lawn and repair bare patches with overseeding mix and starting fertilizer products. But, again, follow the watering instructions on the product label to get the best results.

Winter

In most places, you can take a break from watering once the ground freezes. Once that happens, water won't be absorbed into the soil or reach the grass roots.

Use the winter months to service your lawnmower, trimmer and other tools, so everything is in tip-top shape for the spring.

Using Sprinklers and Irrigation Systems

There are hundreds of watering tools online and at gardening stores. Here's a quick guide to different types of sprinklers and irrigation systems:

• A hose with a nozzle or wand
• Pulsating sprinklers
• Permanent or built-in irrigation systems
• Drip irrigation