Properly watering your lawn is crucial for maintaining a healthy, green, and lush lawn. While there are general guidelines for how long and how often to water, the exact amount will vary based on factors like your location, the type of grass, weather conditions, and more. Read on to learn the key factors to consider when determining your lawn’s ideal watering schedule.
How long should you water your lawn each time?
As a general rule of thumb, you should water your lawn long enough each time to soak the top 6-8 inches of soil. This encourages deep, strong root growth. To determine how long this takes:
- Place an empty tuna can on your lawn and turn the sprinklers on.
- When the can has 1-1.5 inches of water in it, you’ve watered for about an inch of soil penetration.
- Water for 40-50 minutes to soak 6-8 inches of soil.
The exact duration will vary based on your sprinklers’ output. Sprinklers typically output 0.5-1.5 inches of water per hour. Perform this tuna can test periodically to ensure your watering time remains accurate.
How often should you water your lawn?
Aim to water your lawn 1-3 times per week during the growing season. Watering frequency depends on factors like:
- Type of grass – Warm season grasses like bermuda and zoysia go dormant and require less frequent watering in cool weather. Cool season grasses like fescue stay active year-round and need more frequent watering.
- Season – Water 2-3 times per week during hot, dry periods and 1-2 times per week in cooler weather.
- Soil type – Sandy soils require more frequent watering than clay soils which hold moisture better.
- Weather – Adjust watering after rainfall. Long stretches of extreme heat may necessitate additional watering.
- Lawn health – Newly seeded or sodded lawns need frequent, light watering for establishment.
Tips for determining watering frequency
- Perform the screwdriver test – Stick a screwdriver into the soil. If it goes in easily up to 6 inches deep, the lawn doesn’t need watering. If there’s resistance, it’s time to water.
- Check for wilting and discoloration – If grass blades start to fold, wilt, or turn blue-gray, it’s time to water.
- Walk across the grass – If you leave footprints that remain indented for several minutes, the lawn is dry and needs water.
- Evaluate runoff – If water quickly begins running off during watering, split watering time into shorter, more frequent sessions to allow for better absorption.
How weather impacts lawn watering
Adjust your lawn watering schedule based on the weather. Major factors include:
Temperature
High temperatures increase evapotranspiration – the loss of water through plant leaves and soil evaporation. During hot spells:
- Water in the early morning before evaporative losses intensify.
- Increase watering frequency – aim for every other day if temperatures exceed 85°F.
- Apply approximately 1-1.5 inches of water to replace losses.
Humidity
Low relative humidity accelerates soil moisture loss. When humidity drops below 30%:
- Watch for signs of drought stress and wilting.
- Water more frequently, even if overall temperatures are moderate.
Wind
Wind causes rapid moisture loss through increased evapotranspiration. Adjust watering to account for drying winds:
- Monitor lawn closely and check soil moisture frequently.
- Water early in the morning before wind intensifies to prevent drift and evaporation.
- Use a “cycle and soak” method – water until runoff occurs, wait 30 minutes for water to absorb, then resume watering.
Rainfall
Thoroughly soak lawns after dry periods, but reduce or eliminate watering after adequate rainfall. Most smart irrigation controllers can automatically adjust watering schedules based on local rainfall.
- 1/2 inch of rainfall or more = Don’t water for at least 5 days
- 1 inch of rainfall or more = Don’t water for at least 7-10 days
Ideal lawn watering times
The best time to water your lawn is early morning between 4-10am. Benefits include:
- Less evaporation and wind drift due to cooler temperatures.
- Decreased disease risk by allowing grass blades to quickly dry once the sun is up.
- Avoids contributing to fungus and mold growths.
Avoid watering in the evening sinceremaining moisture overnight can promote disease development.
Using sprinklers effectively
To maximize the effectiveness of lawn sprinklers:
- Inspect, clean, and adjust sprinkler heads frequently to ensure even coverage.
- Overlap spray patterns to avoid dry spots and brown patches.
- Pay special attention to hot, dry, sunny areas which may need extra water.
- Consider installing a smart controller to automatically adjust to weather conditions and restrict morning watering.
- Group sprinkler zones according to plant type and sun exposure.
- Consider rotating sprinklers or consolidating zones to decrease overall watering times.
Watering new lawns
Newly planted lawns have different watering needs. Follow these tips when establishing a new lawn from seed or sod:
Seeding
- Water lightly 3-5 times per day, just enough to keep the top 1/4 inch moist.
- Reduce frequency after grass reaches 2 inches tall but increase duration to soak deeper soil.
- Ease off watering over 4-6 weeks to condition roots to less frequent deeper watering.
Sodding
- Soak sod thoroughly after installation and for the next 3 days.
- After 3 days, water 1-2 times daily, keeping sod moist but not soggy.
- Over 2-4 weeks, transition to a normal lawn watering schedule based on weather.
Signs your lawn is underwatered
Underwatering causes obvious symptoms including:
- Wilting, folding, or browning of grass blades
- Lawn thinning or balding patches
- Crabgrass and weed invasion in bare areas
- Crunchy, straw-like appearance
- Purple or gray-blue color
- Footprints remaining visible
Increase watering frequency and duration if these symptoms appear. The lawn may recover in 10-14 days if soil moisture is restored.
Signs your lawn is overwatered
Excessive watering can also damage lawns. Watch for these overwatering signs:
- Mushy, squishy feel underfoot
- Water pooled on the surface or puddling
- Grass laying flat instead of rebounding
- Mold, mushrooms, or algae growth
- Yellowing or thinning turf
- Earthworms and grubs emerging
- Standing water several days after rainfall or watering
Allow the soil to dry between waterings by reducing frequency. Improve drainage or aerate compacted soils to promote drying.
Best grass types for water conservation
When establishing a new lawn or overseeding, choose a grass variety suited to your climate and intended watering schedule. Recommended low-water grasses include:
Warm season grasses
- Bermuda – Heat tolerant and drought resistant. Forms a dense turf. Aggressive spreader requiring frequent mowing.
- Zoysia – Excellent heat and drought tolerance. Slow growing and tolerates some shade. Slow to establish and recover from damage.
- Buffalograss – Very drought resistant native prairie grass. Straw-brown winter dormancy.
Cool season grasses
- Fine fescues – Fine-bladed grasses with good shade and low water tolerance. Include red, chewings, and hard fescues.
- Perennial Ryegrass – Quick establishment but requires more watering. Useful in seed mixes.
- Tall Fescue – Deep roots confer good drought resistance. Durable grass popular in many regions.
Lawn care practices that reduce watering
Good lawn maintenance and management improves the lawn’s water efficiency. Help your lawn retain moisture by:
- Mowing high (3-4″) to encourage deeper roots.
- Leaving clippings which decompose and provide moisture retention.
- Aerating compacted soils in spring and fall for better infiltration.
- Controlling thatch through dethatching.
- Applying 1/4-1/2″ compost to increase water holding capacity.
- Fertilizing sparingly with slow-release nitrogen sources.
- Overseeding to maintain dense turf that prevents weeds.
When to stop watering lawns for winter
As day lengths shorten and temperatures cool in fall, gradually taper down lawn watering. This eases the grass into winter dormancy, allowing it to harden off and improve cold tolerance. Recommendations include:
- Stop nitrogen fertilization by early September to avoid tender new growth susceptible to frost damage.
- Reduce watering duration and frequency through September and October as needed based on rainfall.
- Allow the lawn to show early signs of drought stress once the average daily temperature falls below 60°F.
- Stop watering completely once the average daily temperature is firmly below 50°F to allow dormancy.
- Mow lawn less frequently once growth slows.
- Apply winterizer fertilizer in November to provide nutrients for spring greenup.
When to restart lawn watering in spring
Begin sprinkling lawns again in spring once temperatures warm consistently above 40°F and natural rainfall is lacking. Follow this spring restart guide:
- Check for early spring greenup and growth around late February to March.
- Apply pre-emergent crabgrass control by mid-March.
- Core aerate and overseed thin areas in April.
- Begin light watering in early April or when daytime temperatures exceed 60°F.
- Slowly increase watering frequency and duration through spring as temperatures rise.
- By May, most lawns can resume a normal summer watering schedule.
Using automatic lawn irrigation systems
For convenience and optimal watering, consider installing an in-ground irrigation system. Benefits include:
- Programmable watering schedules customized for your yard’s needs.
- Precise control over watering zones, durations, and frequencies.
- Efficiency from below-ground pipes and high uniformity nozzles.
- Ability to link with smart and WiFi controllers for automation and remote control.
- Reduced disease by avoiding overhead watering at night.
- Flexibility to include drip irrigation, lighting, and drainage in design.
Work with an irrigation specialist to design a system meeting your lawn’s specifications. Have the system inspected annually and upgrade components as needed to maintain performance.
Lawn watering regulations
Many municipalities impose mandatory lawn watering restrictions, especially in drought-prone regions. Regulations may include:
- Restricting outdoor water use to specific days and hours.
- Prohibiting daytime watering during peak heat.
- Banning wasteful watering practices like runoff and irrigation during precipitation.
- Setting an allocated volume of water permitted per billing cycle.
- Requiring smart irrigation controllers and sensors on new systems.
- Limiting turf grass in new residential developments.
- Restricting high-water use grasses like cool season grasses in arid climates.
Check with your local municipal water authority for any mandatory restrictions in your area.
Special considerations for sloped lawns
Sloped lawns present unique drainage and watering challenges. Strategies for watering hills and slopes include:
- Shorten watering durations to prevent fast runoff.
- Split watering into shorter, frequent sessions for improved absorption.
- Install borders and terraces to hold moisture.
- Use sprinklers with precise directional control.
- Aim perpendicular across the slope rather than down it.
- Consider installing an in-ground drip or sub-surface irrigation system.
Also improve water retention and drainage by:
- Applying soil amendments like compost.
- Allowing grass to grow slightly taller for deeper roots.
- Minimizing soil compaction from heavy foot traffic when wet.
- Seeding with drought and slope-tolerant grasses.
Conclusion
Proper lawn irrigation keeps grass healthy while avoiding overwatering and runoff. Evaluate factors like weather, soil, and grass type to determine ideal watering frequency and duration for your conditions. Make adjustments through the seasons as temperatures fluctuate. Invest time into good maintenance practices that maximize the lawn’s water efficiency. Finally, automate your system with smart technology to provide peak convenience and precision.
