How Often Should I Water My Lawn in the Summer?

Every living thing needs water, and your grass is no exception.

But simply remembering to water your lawn isn’t enough. There’s a right way to do it.

For example, if you’re not generous enough with your watering, the roots of the grass won’t grow deeply, leaving your lawn in trouble at the height of summer.

What Time Of The Day Should I Water?

Watering on a hot summer afternoon is a horrible idea; the liquid will evaporate too quickly and may not reach your grass’s roots, so heat and irrigation shouldn’t go together. Instead, water in the morning. The weather should be cool enough for the nutrients to get to the soil, allowing your lawn to stay refreshed. Additionally,

your turf will have the whole day to dry, and the calmer winds will keep the water from blowing away. Even though nighttime may also have cooler conditions, evening irrigation could lead to lawn disease. When it comes to showering your lawn with the gift of nutrients, stick to the AM.

How Much Water Should I Use?

When watering an established lawn, it’s typically recommended to water until the top 6 to 8 inches of soil (where most turfgrass roots grow) is wet. Most lawns need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week—either from rain or watering—to soak the soil that deeply. That amount of water can either be applied during a single watering or divided into two waterings during the week. Just be sure not to overwater your lawn.

How Do I Know If My Grass Has Enough Water?

There are a few ways you can tell if you’ve given your lawn enough to drink:

  • Check the soil every 15 minutes during your first watering to see how long it takes to get soaked. Use a shovel or screwdriver to get a measurement, and when you’ve determined the water has gone six inches deep, note the time. That’s how long it should take in the future.
  • If you have a sprinkler system, find out its flow rate from the manufacturer. Multiply the square footage of your lawn by 0.62 gallons (which equals an inch of water per square foot) then divide that figure by the flow rate. The result will tell you how many minutes to run your sprinkler.
  • Place (clean) empty tuna cans around the lawn and measure how long it takes for the sprinkler to fill each can with an inch of water. The sprinkler coverage will vary, so use the average time it takes to fill the cans.

Need Help?

Homeowners have been trusting the lawn care experts at Imperial Landscaping & Masonry, Inc. for years. Our pros know all the tips and tricks you need to make sure your lawn and plants stay green and lush all year long—even through our hot, humid summers.Our experts can help with your lawn so that you can spend more time enjoying your beautiful landscape.