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How Often To Water The Lawn

What Time Of Day Should I Water My Lawn During Summer

How Much Should I Water My Lawn? | Lawn Watering Tips

Ideally, the best time to water your lawn during summer is before 10.00 am when the sun is not as hot, but not before 6.00 am.

The reason for this is the wind during these hours is not as strong, and the sun is not as hot, meaning the water fed on the lawn wont evaporate.

But, what if you cant be at home during these hours?

In that case, water your lawn between 4-6.00 pm because the sun is setting, so its not as strong.


During summer, avoid watering your lawn past 6:00 pm. The late you do it, the more you will be exposing your lawn to sogginess, which comes with parasites and diseases. And you dont want that.

Fertilize Turf To Help Heal Damaged Lawns

Damaged areas in turf will recover more quickly with two applications of fertilizer in the fall. The first application should be made in early fall . This will help turf recover from damage that occurred during the growing season. Nitrogen and potash stimulate turf growth and repair, and harden off the turf for winter. Fertilizer should be applied at a rate to deliver 0.5 kg of nitrogen per 100 m2.

Should I Water My Lawn Every Day

You dont need to worry about watering every day. Each week, the grass needs about an inch to an inch and a half of water. Water the lawn until the top six or eight inches of soil is wet, which will give the grass time to grow.

If you have a lawn mower, you can use it to water your lawn. You can also use a garden hose or sprinkler system to do the same thing.

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What Happens If Grass Doesnt Get Enough Water

When water is in short supply, grass is less able to consume nutrients from the soil.

As a result, it is unable to photosynthesise and produce food. So it has to rely on food and water stores to survive.

Often times youll see the grass start to lose colour. This happens as the grass draws water, nutrients and food stores from the leaf back into the roots. One of these nutrients is Chlorophyl, which gives grass its green colour.

During drought conditions, like the one the UK suffered from in summer 2018, youll see the lawn turn completely brown as the grass goes completely dormant. To avoid this, you can water your lawn as part of your summer lawn care regimen.

This is a survival mechanism and in most cases is nothing to worry about. The grass will start to grow and become green again when the rains return. However, in the worst cases, the grass could die, in which case, you might need to repair your lawn when the weather is more favourable.


When To Mow New Sod

What Is the Best Time of Day to Water Grass?

Most sod will be tall enough to mow approximately two weeks after installation. If you mow any earlier than this, the grass may not have time to develop strong enough roots to survive the cutting.

Before mowing your new sod, be sure that the grass and soil are moderately dry. If you mow over damp sod, theres very good chance footprints or tire tracks will be left behind on the lawns surface. I also recommend raising your mower blades to the highest setting .

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How Much Water Does My Lawn Need During Summer

Whether on irrigation or rainfall, your lawn requires only 1.5 inches of water.

Its upon you now to choose whether to do it during a single watering session or on the days you are available in the week.


To measure how much water your lawn has consumed, get a screwdriver, deep it in the soil and measure. Ensure you have the timer on the moment you begin watering.

Lets say you set your timer to 20 minutes, Turn off the sprinklers, and measure how deep the water has penetrated. That way, you will be able to tell how long it will take to achieve the one-inch watering goal.

Knowing how much water your lawn requires during summer is key as it acts as the guidance to help you avoid overwatering or underwatering. Any of the scenarios can have devastating effects on your lawn.

How Long Should I Water The Lawn

You should water your lawn once or twice a week, giving your grass 1 to 1.5 inches of water each time. The precise number of minutes for each watering will vary from lawn to lawn, depending on factors like the size of your lawn, the type of sprinkler you have, and its settings.

Here are a few methods for finding the number of minutes you should water your lawn.


  • Do a can test: Tuna cans are 1 inch tall, and work best for this method. Empty one out, and set it in an area that your sprinkler hits. Turn your sprinkler on, and check the can periodically to see how long it takes to get ½ of an inch of water in there. You can use that to find how many minutes you need to water either once or twice a week.
  • Break it down mathematically: Your sprinkler system will have a designated flow rate of gallons per minute, which you can find out from the manufacturer. To find out the number of minutes to run your sprinkler, multiply your lawns square footage by 0.62 gallonswhich is 1 inch of water per square footthen divide that total by the sprinkler flow rate.
  • Look at a flow timer: Youll need a timer that measures flow in hundreds of gallons. Multiply the square footage of your lawn by 0.62 gallons, and that will tell you how many gallons you need to give your lawn the water it needs.

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How Dry Is Too Dry

Conserving water is a good idea. Golf courses do it. Homeowners should do it, too. But how long can you let your lawn go without?

As with so much else in turf care, it depends. A hardy grass like Bermuda is camel-like in this regard: It can survive long bouts of deprivation. Not so with bentgrass in searing summer heat.

In drought conditions, grass does what it does in colder seasons: It goes dormant as a means of self-protection, redirecting moisture and nutrients to its roots. Its leaves turn color as a result. Dormant grass can be brought back to life just add water.

But dead grass? Well, dead grass is dead.


As with so much else in turf care, the durability of your lawn depends on many factors. But as a general rule, Cutler says, grass starts going dormant after two weeks without water. After a month, its apt to die.

How do you tell if your grass has crossed that line? One faithful indicator is its crown. Thats the thick, light colored part of the plant, just above the soil, right where the roots meet the shoots. Look closely. If theres still green in the crown, theres still life in your grass. If not, you might be out of luck.

Another way to tell is pretty simple, too: tug on the grass, Cutler says. If its roots remain intact, its probably still alive. If it uproots easily, its toast. Youll need to reseed to get it back.

How Long Should You Water New Sod

How To Water Your Lawn After Seeding

It can be exciting putting down new sod, but it will require some constant attention for the next two weeks. New sod should be watered a minimum of 2 times a day, up to 3 to 5 times a day. The first week it is critical to keep the sod thoroughly moist. Good times to water new sod is around 8 am or 1 pm, and avoid watering at night to prevent the growth of fungus. Water your sod for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the sod is wet up to a depth of 4 to 6 inches.

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Watering At The Wrong Time

To water well, timing is everything. Water in the early morning between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Midday watering leads to wasteful evaporation, while nighttime watering causes droplets to cling to grass overnight, increasing the chance of lawn diseases.

A Dual Outlet Electronic Water Timer will prove handy for those mornings you are away or want to sleep in. Just program the start time, frequency and duration of watering, and let the timer take care of the rest. The dual outlets make it easy to hook up two hoses at once and program separate schedules for different parts of the yard. We suggest attaching a Flexogen Super Duty Hose, as it easily curves around the yard without kinking and connects to a spigot without leaking saving water and money.

Select A Sprinkler That Best Fits Your Needs

Automatic irrigation systems with pop-up sprinklers are often associated with excessive irrigation. However, properly designed and operated systems supply water uniformly over an entire area without wasted runoff.

Missouri soils generally have low water-infiltration rates. Automatic controllers can be set to supply several short cycles so that the total amount of water desired is supplied without runoff.

The most common type of watering occurs with hose-end sprinklers. Some studies have shown that the average homeowner applies 2-1/2 times the amount of water required for overgrowth when using hose-end sprinklers.

Several types of hose-end sprinklers are available . Select one that best fits the size and shape of your lawn, and operate it efficiently. All hose-end sprinklers can be attached to inexpensive timers that can be used to shut off unattended sprinklers and avoid overwatering.

Figure 1Some sprinkler types and their applications

Sprinkler types

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Consider Using A Rain Barrel

Hydrating the lawn, especially during summer when the portion doubles can take a considerable amount of water and at times the money. You might also want to maximize rainfall that comes every once in a while.

Rain barrels are designed to catch water from your roof and store them until you need them. Youll be surprised at the quantity of water you could have at your disposal if you can do this.

How Often Should I Water My Lawn During The Summer

How often should I water my lawn?

Two or three times a week.

In addition to the frequency, your next worry should be how much is enough rainfall or watering.

Aim to water the lawn about 1.5 inches of water every week. That should sustain the lawn to avoid drought and retain its strength and the green coloration.

If you are using sprinklers, ensure the positioning is right so that you water the entire lawn evenly.

There are several types of sprinklers you can install for optimal results. They include:

  • Oscillating sprinklers- Best for a rectangular-shaped yard as the water fans get to every corner
  • Stationery Sprinklers- These work best for a small circular area as they are positioned on one area of your lawn
  • Impact sprinklers are also ideal for a circular but large yard as they can spread out widely.

A sprinkler makes it easy to water your lawn, especially during the summer when the rainfall is minimal and your lawn depends on your watering.

However, avoid the temptation of turning on the sprinkler and vanishing only to reappear when turning it off. Instead, check to verify that the sprinkler is properly functioning.

How?

Get a few empty cans and place them strategically on the lawn as the sprinkler is working.

Once you are done with watering, collect the cans and measure the amount of water the cans have collected.

If the water collected in the cans is equal, you can rest assured the sprinkler is functioning properly.

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Understand How Much Water Your Turfgrass Needs

Different types of turfgrass, sun exposure, temperature, and soil conditions require different amounts of water. In general, lawn grasses need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. Because its difficult to apply all of that water at once without excessive runoff, we recommend watering two or three times per week. Aim to provide about ½ of water over the course of an hour to prevent runoff. Give your lawn enough water each time to add up to the right amount over the course of the week.

How do you know how much water youve given your lawn? Place several small cans around your lawn and run your irrigation system or sprinkler. When the can has ½ of water it in, that means the surrounding lawn has gotten the same amount.

Does Grass Need To Be Watered Every Day

Knowing how often to water grass helps. Only grass seed that is getting its start in the world, should need watering every day. Once seeds, sod, or plugs are established, cut back. Established grass benefits from less frequent, but deeper watering. How often you would water a lawn depends on the grass type, heat and drought, and other factors. Bermudagrass can wait 5 to 10 days between watering and bounce right back, for example.

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Watering Trees And Shrubs

Established trees and shrubs do not require as much water as new plantings, but during July and August some watering may be necessary. Basic principles include:

  • Watering with a hose and nozzle is not recommended. Merely syringing the plants and soil is of little value to the root system through which water is absorbed.
  • An open hose placed at the base of a tree with the water flowing slowly will provide needed water to the root zone. If the water is allowed to trickle into the soil gradually, it will seep down and saturate the area around the roots. Since the composition of soils varies, the rate of absorption will vary, but the water pressure should be as high as possible without surface run-off.

Ensure Your Lawn Is Getting Enough Water

How Much And How Often You Should Water Your Lawn | Smart Irrigation Tips

Watering on a regular basis is essential to achieving a thick, healthy lawn. By working together with your lawn care company, youll have the knowledge and tools to properly water your lawn and give it the care it needs.

Our custom blended fertilizers can actually help your lawns root system to retain moisture better over time, by adding bionutritional materials that can help you get the most out of your watering efforts.

If you ever have any questions about the best time to water grass in Ohio or Northern Kentucky, the lawn technicians at Oasis Turf & Tree are always available to help. When we come to your home, were not just there to perform treatments. A healthy lawn is a team effort, and its our goal to continuously educate you on what you can do to achieve success.

At Oasis Turf & Tree, were here to answer any questions you have regarding watering your lawn via our contact page. For more helpful lawn care tips, or .

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How Much Water Does A Lawn Need

You might be surprised to know that your lawn doesnt need that much water to thrive and look its best.

The amount of water a lawn needs is dependant on several factors including

  • The type of soil your grass grows in
  • The species of grass your lawn is made up of
  • How much sun or shade the lawn sits in

That said, as a good rule of thumb, an inch of water per week either from rain or irrigation is all a lawn needs to stay healthy and look good. This will soak into to top 6 inches of soil where most of the grasses roots grow.

How To Water Your Lawn

Instead of watering daily, stick to watering your lawn 1 to 2 times per week if Mother Nature isnt providing steady, soaking rains. Deep and less frequent watering is best Watering 1 to 2 times per week often provides Ohio homeowners with better results and gives your lawn plenty of time to dry between watering, which helps to reduce turf diseases.

When watering your lawn, avoid doing so for short periods of time, such as less than 45 minutes at each location. Instead, deeply soak your lawn until the soil is moist to a few inches of depth. The amount of time this will take varies depending on the size of your lawn and your sprinkler system, but could typically take 45-60 minutes.

If your property has a sprinkler system installed, be sure to regularly check each zone, making adjustments as needed from time to time. Areas can occasionally be missed and a minor adjustment may prevent common stresses from over or underwatering.

At times, your lawn may get enough water from natural rainfall that you dont need to water it. However, you dont want to assume that a heavy downpour automatically means you can skip watering your lawn. Using a rain gauge is one of the most effective ways to measure the amount of water your grass is getting.

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Divide Weekly Sprinkler Duration By Weekly Watering Frequency To Calculate How Long To Run Your Sprinklers Each Watering Session

To grow a healthy lawn, water must reach and be fully absorbed by the grass roots, which requires watering often enough to suit your lawns soil type. If you water only once a week, you could wind up with soggy soil that invites pests and rot. Water daily, and the water may only reach the top of roots, yielding short roots and a dry turf.

In general, clay and loamy soil store water longer but absorb it more slowly, so water lawns with these soil types one to three times per week. Sandy soil absorbs water faster but doesnt store it as long, so water two to four times weekly.

To determine how long to run your sprinklers during each watering session, divide the total weekly sprinkler duration by the weekly watering frequency. If you need to run your sprinklers 40 minutes per week to meet your watering needs, and plan to water your lawn twice a week, set your sprinkler to run for 20 minutes each watering session . Space watering sessions at least a few days apart to allow the grass roots to absorb water and breathe.


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