It is crucial to understand how frequently to irrigate the grass and the duration of each session. Healthy lawns in a growing condition need about an inch of moisture weekly, whether from rainfall or irrigation. This is about two 30-minute watering sessions. Anything less or more than this amount can produce a mediocre appearance with dead or dried patches.
Figuring out the perfect timing and amount will depend on factors like soil type, grass variety, and when the sun is most harsh in your hardiness zone. This may sound intimidating but caring for the average urban lawn is not a huge time commitment. Let’s discuss how to water lawns to make every drop of water count.
When to Water Your Grass
When watering your lawn, the best time is in the morning, mornings marked by a little sun and cool temperatures. There are no strong winds during this time, so more of your water will stay where it needs to be. Therefore, more moisture will reach the roots and soil, so turn on the sprinkler system or pull out the hose before 9 a.m.
The lawn, however, should not be watered during peak temperatures, typically from 12 to 3 in the afternoon. Rather, water it during the morning or evening when it is cooler and not exposed to direct sunlight. Watering your grass early in the day allows more water to soak in for a deeper watering depth because moisture may evaporate before it even reaches the roots when it is the hottest outside.
The best time of day to water in the evening is from 4 to 6 p.m. Watering after that puts your lawn at risk of becoming wet overnight, which can attract bugs and fungus. When you water in the early evening, the grass has time to drain and dry up before the sun sets and the temperature drops. The time of day is less significant when watering your grass during the cooler months. As long as your lawn is not soaking wet when the sun goes down, you can water any time of the day.
The more important question is how much water to give your lawn. Most lawns require one to two inches of water each week on average. It may entail using the hose or sprinkler system anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes weekly. That does not mean you turn on your hose and sprinkler for an hour only one day of the week. Ideally, you should water the lawn in several short stints weekly. You can divide an hour of watering across two days with 30 minutes of watering each day.
Avoid too many intervals, so do not water your lawn for 20 minutes thrice a week. Watering often for too little time keeps the roots near the surface and does not sufficiently wet the earth. Watering more deeply, frequently, and for long periods promotes roots to seek water downwards. Seeking water deep in the soil results in a deeply rooted system that is less vulnerable to insect damage and heat stress.
If you are using your sprinkler system for the first time and unsure whether 30 minutes to an hour is the correct amount, place a plastic container in the yard and set a timer. Stop the timer once there is an inch of water in the container. This is how you can determine how much time it takes for your sprinkler system to deliver an inch of water to the lawn.
After watering, you also want to be sure your lawn is getting enough water. A simple technique to determine that is by checking how wet the soil is. It should be moist up to six inches below the top layer. Consider watering the lawn a few extra minutes each day if you notice that the soil is getting dry in between the watering sessions.
Factors That Impact Watering
Although giving your lawn an inch of water per week is the golden rule, other factors can influence how and when you water your lawn.
1. Type of Grass
When making a schedule for watering your lawn, consider grass in the yard because it makes a difference in the amount of water your lawn needs.
Grass types can be classified into cool-season or warm-season types depending on their developed patterns and climatological preferences. You may tailor your lawn care for maximum growth by being aware of these categories.
Cool-season Grass
Unlike warm-season grasses, cool-season ones are not accustomed to climates with little precipitation and prefer colder climatic conditions. They usually grow in Northern states with temperatures that range from 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. They cannot survive without water for too long and, therefore, need water frequently. Cool-season grasses need about 20% more water than warm-season grasses to survive.
Most cool-season grasses need water in late spring, summer, and early fall, sometimes every other day during the summer. They should be watered throughout fall since they lack water during the winter. You can reduce the frequency at the onset of winter.
Thorough, infrequent watering is necessary for irrigating a heat-tolerant grass lawn to encourage strong root development and improve drought resistance. Bermuda, zoysia, and St. Augustine are examples of these grasses that thrive in hot climates and normally need around 1 inch of water weekly, including rainfall.
Irrigation should be done once or twice a week, with some level of dryness in the soil before the applications. This serves to develop the embedded roots that may seek moisture in periods of drought. The optimal time is early in the morning before 10 a.m. It reduces evaporation and gives grass the chance to soak up moisture before the afternoon heat begins to rise.
Whether you use a sprinkler or a hose, wet 6-8 inches of soil evenly. It will take 20 to 30 minutes depending on the system. Anything more can lead to fungal infections, weak roots, and wasteful resource consumption.
2. Growing Season
The grass in your lawn's growing season is equally important as knowing its type. Grass consumes more water during the growing season. Cool-season grasses like ryegrass and fescue flourish in cooler temperatures between 50°F and 80°F, usually experienced in fall and spring. In these seasons, the grass experiences vigorous growth. It is necessary to water more often during these seasons to keep a healthy lawn.
Warm-season grasses grow best in hot summers when temperatures typically fall between 80°F and 95°F. During their active growth season in summer, provide about 2 inches of water weekly, including rainfall, to ensure the grass remains hydrated and supports growth.
During the off-season, you don't need to water your lawn as often. It might just be 30 minutes every two weeks, depending on the kind of grass and how much water it needs overall.
The amount of sunshine or shade your lawn receives also affects how you should irrigate your lawn. If the lawn is in the sun for most of the day, water it more as the grass dries from evaporation. However, if it remains mostly in shadow during daylight, stretch out the days between watering, as these areas hold moisture longer.
However, areas that are shaded by taller trees are an exception. Since these areas are competing with the trees for water, they require more water than those shaded by a structure. You might need to water these areas more regularly and thoroughly to promote extensive grass root growth.
4. Soil Type
Knowing the soil type in your yard will help you plan how often and for how long to water your grass because different soils have varying saturation levels or capacities to hold onto moisture. If your soil dries frequently and drains quickly, you might need to water your grass more than an inch weekly.
However, if you detect standing water or damp areas and your soil drains slowly, your lawn could do with less than an inch of water. If you do not know your soil type, take a soil test and adjust irrigation cycles accordingly. Soils are mostly of three types:
Clay Soil: Clay soil, frequently found in the warm Midwest and South, holds moisture effectively and requires less watering. It absorbs water slowly, so water runoff in your yard indicates overwatering.
Loamy Soil: Dense, loamy soils are ideal for growing grass. Although they are prone to floods because of their poor drainage, they hold water effectively, reducing watering frequency. Sandy ground.
Sandy Soil: Sandy soil is found close to creeks, rivers, and the seaside. Grass planted on sandy soil will require more regular watering because of the soil's poor water retention.
It is also crucial to watch the weather forecast while following a lawn-watering schedule. Watering immediately prior to or following rainstorms keeps the soil saturated for long periods, which makes the lawn susceptible to disease.
For instance, if there is heavy rain and you have an automated system, you need to adjust the irrigation timetable. The typical weekly watering for your grass is 1 to 1.5 inches, including rainfall and hand watering.
A common misconception, though, is thinking you can skip watering after rainfall because wet blades equal hydrated grass. However, the amount and rate of rain determine whether or not the grass is hydrated, not the presence of rain. A heavy downpour that lasts less than five minutes does not sufficiently water the lawn. Water from such rainfall runs off before fully infiltrating the ground and reaching the grassroots.
On the other hand, if the rain has persisted for over two hours, you likely won’t need to irrigate your lawn. If it rains for several hours or all day, there will be minimal drainage, allowing the water plenty of time to seep further into the soil.
6. Age of Grass
Newly seeded grass and fresh sod need much more water than a mature lawn since their roots are underdeveloped and cannot effectively draw moisture from deeper soil. Adequate watering encourages root development and guarantees that the new grass begins its growth healthily. Irrigate freshly sown lawns twice a day for about ten minutes each time.
Frequent, mild watering keeps the topsoil moist, which is essential for grass seed development. Drying out during this period can hinder the growth of grass seeds, which require consistent moisture to germinate. Follow this schedule for at least two to three weeks or until the grass appears and starts to develop.
For freshly laid sod, water twice a day for about 20 minutes. Although sod already has roots, it takes time for them to establish themselves in the soil. Longer watering sessions that allow water to penetrate deeper encourage roots to extend downwards. Continue to be consistent for at least two to three weeks, especially during hot or dry conditions.
7. Watering Method
The method by which you water your lawn can be more or less water efficient.
This will get the job done quickly, as long as the water pressure does not damage roots or flood the soil. It is better to gently mist or rely on rainwater than pressure washing the roots. Excessive water pressure can damage the root system and remove nutrients from the soil.
Sprinkler System
Depending on how much water your system emits, you will not need to water the grass for long because sprinkler systems are incredibly water-efficient. Set a timer to ensure the lawn is adequately hydrated and does not become soggy.
Drip Irrigation System
It may need to run longer than a hose or sprinkler system because it releases water slowly directly to the roots.
Problems in Watering Lawn
Overwatered Lawn
Most lawn care mistakes result from watering too much and this leaves behind many problems that affect the health of the grass. When a lawn receives too much water, the surplus moisture may lead to waterlogging which robs the grass roots of oxygen and favours disease conditions.
One or more of the following symptoms may be present in a lawn that receives excessive watering:
Round Patches: A circular area may seem dry but is most likely the result of an illness. In contrast to illnesses, which afflict small patches of a lawn in a circular pattern, lawn dryness is typically uniform.
Spongy Soil: The texture of well-watered soil should be soft without being too mushy or spongy. You can use a screwdriver or a thin stick to feel the texture of your soil. Your grass is getting the proper amount of water if the stick slides into the ground easily and the ground is not moist.
Stained Grass: The grass may be receiving too much water if it displays any color other than bright green. Excessive watering is clearly shown by light-colored grass.
Overgrown Weed: When the soil is continuously moist, weeds thrive. The continuous moisture content in the topsoil creates ideal conditions for weed growth since weeds have more shallow roots than grasses.
Development of fungi: Mushrooms will sprout in your grass after heavy rainfall or even if there is a lot of water from sprinklers or an irrigation system.
Underwatered Lawn
Underwatering is less common than overwatering. Nonetheless, it can still occur if you forget to water or an irrigation system's timing device breaks down. Any of the following signs would indicate that a lawn needs more water:
Dryness: The most apparent indicator of underwatering is dry soil. Pierce the ground with a thin stick or a screwdriver to check for dry soil. The soil is too dry if the stick does not penetrate and is not obstructed by a rock or another object.
Growth Retardation: When grass doesn't get enough water, it grows slowly. This slow growth may eventually cause the grass blades to change in size.
Yellow Spots: When users install a sprinkler system, they often make mistakes that lead to yellow spots. Your sprinkler coverage may be inadequate if you notice some yellow patches on your lawn, but the rest is green.
Noticeable Track: You may notice that footsteps remain longer than usual if you walk across grass lacking water. The footprints are caused by blades with less water, which lessens their springback.
