The best time to water your lawn is before 10 a.m., preferably between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. At this cool time of day, it’s less likely the moisture will evaporate before your grassroots can absorb it from the soil. Generally, grass needs one- to 1-1/2-in. As soon as the temps begin to drop, you certainly notice. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. “The principal hydrozone is the area of your lawn where there is the most activity and therefore will require the most water, such as your backyard,” Mann explains. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. For odd-numbered houses, the days are Tuesday and Saturday. At the 2020 Farmhouse in Fairfield County, builder Jerry Effren desired the look of a traditional New England barn that has been modernized over time, along with a contemporary farmhouse. “Most lawns are able to sustain five to seven days between watering, so if you deeply water on a weekly basis, your grass should thrive.” If you notice that water is puddling or runoff occurs, turn the sprinkler off for a few minutes so that the water can soak into the ground. Grass Color. The best time to water grass seed is in the morning and evening. All rights reserved. For lawns, use the cycle-and-soak method for sprinkler watering. Water once per day for 2 -3 days before planting the grass seed. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), plants in your yard should be watered early in the morning, National Association of Landscape Professionals, the healthiest lawns are watered thoroughly at infrequent intervals, Why You Should Always Trim Candle Wicks Before Lighting, Family Handyman’s Vintage Projects and Tips From the ’60s, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Early in the morning is the best time to water grass. Watering in the early morning is best because the grass has all day to dry out before night falls. This Old House Reviews Team recommends hiring a lawn care company like TruGreen. Water a bermudagrass lawn once every three days during the summer. The best time of day to water your lawn is before 10 a.m., or between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Be sure not to ever water your lawn at night when the moisture will linger until morning. Best Time Of The Day To Water Is In The Morning. You need to care for different grass types in different ways to keep them at their healthiest and hardiest. If you can’t water in the morning, then another option is to water your lawn during the late afternoon or evening hours, when the sun is past its peak time. Watering is the most important task when it comes to establishing a new lawn. 2 times a week are sufficient for the lawn. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. Watering your lawn and other plants deeply instead of frequently will establish deeper, stronger roots that are more able to withstand drought and result in an overall healthier plant. Curled grass blades are another indicator—it means your grass is thirsty. This is the area where most of the turfgrass roots grow and gather their nutrients from soil and water. Businesses can water on Tuesday and Fridays. If your lawn is well-watered, your grass should spring right back up where you’ve stepped. A water timer can simplify the process of when to water grass seeds, so you can easily and efficiently water your newly seeded lawn with no hassle at all. Mature trees can use up to 15 gallons of water per hour on a hot day. One obvious benefit of watering your grass is beauty; a lush, green lawn looks much better than a dry, brown lawn. In the winter, grass goes dormant and doesn’t require watering. For the first three and last three months of the year, five hours every 10 days will normally do the trick. Check the Soil. If your area receives one inch or more of precipitation per week you don't need to water. It’s usually warm in Texas well into September and October. If you water in the evening or overnight, the moisture will encourage the growth of harmful fungi. As a result, more water remains on the lawn and can get soaked in the soil, giving the grass roots more chance to absorb the water. Ask yourself the following questions: How much water will I need? If water evaporates before it gets to the roots, you would only assume you should change to night watering. Then, you should soak the soil down 6-8 inches, like you would an established lawn. The sprinkler number is 0.3 inches. You can break up these waterings into twice a week during most of the year, or three times a week during the hot summer months. But when the dust (and fiberglass) settles, you'll enjoy a fatter bank account and more comfortable indoor temps year-round. Watering the proper amount is critical—overdo it, and your grass, your water bill, and the environment will suffer. You should water most lawns so that the top 6-8 inches of soil is moist, which translates to 1-1.5 inches of water per week. Some people may stop watering on the day it rains, but if there has been significant rain it may be enough to stop watering for several days. Watering two days a week should be sufficient during most of the summer. This routine also depends on the soil type of your turf. It’s the only time you should water several times a week. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Other water use restrictions, including allowed irrigation times, Preventing Leaks and Losses in the Utility Room. Its dawn, the sun is just rising eastwards and is yet to set, get up, grab your watering can and water your lawn. Those should be watered only if they start to look dry because natural rainfall should be enough. Just read this handy guide to learn everything you need to know about the proper way to water. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Overall, they require less water than cool season grasses, but even they need extra water in the dead heat. These are the coolest parts of the day, which allows water to absorb into the ground instead of evaporating. You should water your lawn once or twice a week, giving your grass 1 to 1.5 inches of water each time. Here are a few methods for finding the number of minutes you should water your lawn. There are many different ways to efficiently and automatically water your lawn. Quite naturally, it’s early in the morning.However, the grass has a deep root system. Grasses should be watered in the warm seasons or summer months, Mann says. Water too little and your lawn will become dry and patchy. For the same reason, the evening is the worst time to water the lawn. During times when the weather is warm and dry, continue to … Fungal diseases may take hold if your lawn is overwatered. For new St. Augustine grass, the time of year will determine how long you need to water. Even during the hottest part of the year, most lawns do not need to be watered every day. This is one reason why automatic irrigation systems come in handy. According to The Lawn Institute, if a probe such as an old screwdriver or large metal spike can easily be pushed into the soil, the soil is still moist and the grass doesn’t need watering. Watering deeply, but infrequently, leads to stronger root development and drought-resistance than watering briefly every day. When it’s extremely hot, 2 inches of water … If you’re unsure, consider tackling one of two tests. For the step test, simply walk on your lawn. Your investment in your lawn shouldn’t stop at proper watering techniques. Is there anything nearby that can’t get wet? Keep an eye on rainfall totals and remember that most lawns only need 3/4 inch to 1 inch or water per week. Use your sprinkler number and the lawn watering weather information to determine efficient run times. For How Long and How Often Does Grass Need to Be Watered? Water too much and your lawn may fall victim to rot or disease. Proper watering is one of the most important factors in making a lawn beautiful. If you’d like a free quote, call 866-817-2287 or fill out this simple form. To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com. Water your grass until there is one- to 1-1/2-in. She has previously written for Food & Wine and Southern Living, too. If your lawn is getting one to 1-1/2-in. And a healthy lawn requires less effort to control weeds and insects. Once the grass grows to a 3-inch mowing height, you can reduce watering to twice a week. Using the durable board and batten siding from LP Smartside, Jerry and his team created a functional and customized look for the home. “Professionals recommend a deep watering compared to daily watering because it’s more efficient,” says Mann. “High traffic areas should receive routine weekly watering, and areas that are visually important to your lawn but don’t have much activity should receive reduced irrigation.”. On your assigned watering days, water in three 4-minute cycles, with about an hour between each cycle if using pop-up sprinklers. When you water during midday or early afternoon hours, the water evaporates quicker than the grass can have the chance to absorb. This is when temperatures are warm but not hot. Water a day or two before the cold temperatures arrive to give the moisture time to soak into the roots. In Hot, Dry Weather The second-best time to water is between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. These types of grasses, like fescue, rye, and bluegrass, grow actively in the fall. this will likely result in a … Water trees and shrubs as needed, but not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Shrubs and perennials need half as much water as lawns. Two surefire signs that your grass needs more water than it’s getting: Soil Probe Test. As the seeds germinate, keep the top 2 inches of soil moist. There are a few factors you should take into account. Here’s another reminder to winter water. Keep reading to learn how to get rid of gnats and how to prevent future infestations. On average, it will take 30 minutes to get a half inch of water. Daytime Watering The best time of day to water your lawn is when air temperatures are lower and there is dew on the ground. It’s simple as can be, but if your once-vibrant green lawn has taken on a gray shade, you need to water. Weather: On a hot, sunny day in midsummer, the average lawn uses 125 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet. The screwdriver test is another classic. of water per week, it will likely remain healthy. You can either water the lawn once a week or divide it into two watering during the week as per your convenience. How to Tell If You've Watered Enough. The easiest, most efficient way to do that is by hiring a professional lawn care company. If you’d like a free quote, call 866-817-2287 or fill out this simple form. The Lawn Institute also advises that the healthiest lawns are watered thoroughly at infrequent intervals. That’s by far, the most ideal time of the day to get your greenery moistened and freshened. The best time of day to water your lawn is before 10 a.m., or between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Be sure not to ever water your lawn at night when the moisture will linger until morning. This amount can rise in extremely hot, dry weather and decrease when the temperature is cooler. If it doesn’t, it’s lacking moisture, so it needs water. Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Strike the right balance for your personal green space by factoring in your yard’s special considerations. On an adequately-watered lawn, footprints will disappear within minutes. A gnat infestation is a common occurrence for many homeowners. Watering Restriction Exceptions Additional watering for up to 60 days is allowed for the installation of new lawns and landscaping. This will depend on your individual lawn, but typically it takes about 30 minutes. The benefits continue, Mann says: “Healthy lawns also act as natural coolants, noise minimizers, and play vital roles in cleaning the air.”. They’ll need about 1-1.5 inches every week until the growing season ends, roughly when the first frost sets in. The lawn will need water in order for the new grass seed to germinate, aid with root establishment and turfs to knit together. Timing is important when it comes to watering your grass. Our latest shed is also a pavilion—and you can build it, too! When the temperature is cooler, water less. If you water in the heat of the day, much of it will evaporate rather than hydrate your lawn. Instead of watering a few times a week, you will need to take a mister and gently spray the newly seeded areas once to two times a day, depending on the weather. of water each week, whether from natural rainfall or watering. At sunrise, when everything is cooler, you’ll get the best water absorption. Typically, the ideal time ranges from sunrise till 8 a.m. With five annual plans and many a la carte services, TruGreen can keep your lawn lush. Do this once per week. In the summer, we recommend sprinkler watering four days per week and increasing the schedule only if your landscape needs more water. Example: The lawn watering information states that 0.6 inches of water needs to be applied to the lawn. In general, you want the top 6-8 inches of soil to be moist, but not soggy—which translates to 1 to 1.5 inches per week. Utility rooms are loaded with pipes and fittings and tanks—and plenty of opportunities for water leaks. If you notice that water is puddling or runoff occurs, turn the sprinkler off for a few minutes so that the water can soak into the ground. You’re under-watering your new lawn. You’ll also want to make sure your lawn is properly fertilized, aerated, and overseeded as needed, and that it gets regular weed and pest control. While your existing lawn may be getting too much water, your … Also, make sure it isn’t pointed at the street—you don’t want to soak any passersby. “Water only when the probe is difficult to push into the ground, or shows that the soil is dry at a depth of four to six inches,” according to the institute. When to Water Watering in the morning is key to the health of your grass. If you can’t push the tool down that far or you meet a lot of resistance, it’s time to water. During Daylight Standard Time, you can water twice a week. The time of day when you water the grass is also important. The temperature above 85° F doesn’t damage the grass. So, if you get an inch of rain, you may not need to water your lawn again for a full week. How large an area do I need to cover?