Best time to water your lawn
When is the best time to water your lawn?
With the warm summer months stretching out before us, now is a good time to learn about the best time to water your lawn. Knowing when is best to water the grass during the day can help you get better results from your lawn, and save on water too! This can be particularly important during times of drought and water restriction. Learning how to water your grass can be helpful for growing a happy and healthy lawn.
Below are a few lawn tips for watering your grass, including when to water your lawn, how often you should do it, plus a few ideas for saving water.
How often should you water your lawn?
When it comes to working out how often to water your lawn, the answer will largely depend on a few different factors. This includes the variety of lawn you have, the season, your soil type, and whether your lawn is new or established. For example, a drought-resistant turf variety such as couch grass or zoysia grass can go longer periods without watering. Similarly, a newly established grass will require more water than turf that’s been in place for years.
What time of day should you water your lawn?
Ideally, you’ll want to water your lawn early in the morning. Watering in the morning allows the water to penetrate the soil before the heat of the day causes it to evaporate. This is particularly important in the summer months. The best time to water lawn in hot weather is before 9 or 10am. But if you should water when there’s less direct sun, can you water your lawn at night? Yes, however it’s not recommended as doing so can leave your turf wet overnight, potentially causing fungal growth in your grass. The ideal time to water your lawn is early morning before the sun becomes too intense.
Should I water my lawn every day?
Not necessarily. In fact, it’s generally better to water your lawn less frequently but for longer periods of time. Watering your lawn for longer periods of time over a few times a week can lead to a healthier lawn. Try to aim for giving your lawn a good, thorough water two to three times a week. This amount may change depending on the season, type of grass and age.
How long should you water your lawn for?
A good rule of thumb to keep a fresh, green lawn is to make sure your lawn gets a thorough soaking, but not so much of a deep watering that it becomes waterlogged. Excessive watering can make a lawn swampy and lead to issues. Lawns need moisture at their roots – not on top – to encourage healthy growth. Try different amounts of time spent watering to figure out what works best for your lawn. Grass should generally be given around an inch of water a week. There should ideally be no standing surface water after watering.
Tips for saving water
There are a few different ways to save water when watering your lawn. Saving water is a good practice for not just the summer months, but for the entire year.
Use a weather app and rain gauge
Utilising a weather app and rain gauge can help you determine when you should water your grass and when you can simply sit back and let the clouds do the work! Knowing when it will rain is also good to help you avoid over-watering your lawn.
Mulching
Consider mulching your lawn instead of watering it every time. Using a thick layer of mulch will help retain moisture in the soil and keep you from having to water it as often. There are several different types of mulch available, and for optimal results you should choose one that has been created for use with lawns.
Set timers
If you have an automated watering system, consider installing timers to provide assistance with watering. Timers can help you choose a good time for watering your lawn, as well as regulate the amount of water you’re using. Remember, an inch of water is plenty for a great-looking lawn. This is particularly helpful for those who have busy lives or work during the optimal lawn watering times. Automating the process can help your lawn stay healthy and happy even on days you’re unable to water it yourself!
Aerating
Another way to save water while improving soil drainage is through aeration. Aerating involves using tools such as an aerator to poke holes in the lawn, increasing the amount of oxygen that’s able to get in. Aerating improves water drainage by removing plugs of dirt from between your grass’s roots and allowing the water to flow into the soil more easily.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning some tips and tricks regarding the best time to water your lawn. For more specific information, give Jim’s Mowing a call for info relating to your variety of lawn and the type of care and attention it needs to look its best!
