How Often Should You Water Your Lawn?

Last Updated on August 8, 2021 by woodcutter

How often should I water my lawn? As simple as this question may seem, watering your lawn just right may prove difficult. This is because of the thin line that exists between an over-watered and an under-watered lawn. Both extreme states could cause a lot of damage to your lawn. Everyone would love a lush green lawn all year round, and this article is designed to help you achieve just that.

Read through the article to find out how to water your lawn just right. I will look at how regularly you need to water your lawn to achieve the perfect lawn look you desire. The right amount of water also depends on the area and season you are in. In rainy and dry seasons or hot and cold climates, your lawn watering habits should adjust to suit your lawn.

Seasonal watering needs of your lawn

During summer or a phase of high temperatures when there is hardly any rain-water, you should water your lawn as often as you can. This will prevent it from drying out or browning if it does brown, just water it as soon as possible. It is likely to go back to its normal color after it cools. Thus in hot weather, it is wise to water daily since your lawn needs more water. This is because, in addition to its daily water requirements, it also needs water for its internal cooling system. Thus you will need to water it deeply 2 to 3 times a week and also water a little on the other days. This will help prevent it from experiencing drought stress especially when the sun also.

You may think your lawn needs less water during winter, but this is not the case. If you do not water your lawn in the colder season, it is likely to be damaged by the cold. To keep your lawn green during this season, keep watering your lawn deeply 2 to 3 times a week, depending on the type of your grass.

In the spring or rainy season, you will likely need to waterless. Gauge the rain and check if it is enough for your lawn. Also, it is best to plant new grass during this time. You can even fill blank patches during the rainy season. This is because there is plenty of moisture for it to grow during this time. Thus, it will be established without you having to water too often.

How Often Should You Water Your Lawn?

Every week, throughout the year water your lawn long enough for it to have 1″ to 1 ½” of water.

Your lawn needs a minimum of 1″ to 1 ½” of water weekly. To measure this, simply buy a rain gauge and set it up somewhere in your lawn where the sprinkler hits. Every week check the level of water caught. If it is at any time less than 1,” make sure you water more.

To determine how long you ought to water to get an inch

• Place an empty 1″ tuna at an area that water from your sprinkler gets to.
• Turn your sprinklers on and use a timer to establish the time it will take to get half full. The time you could take depends on the type of sprinkler you use, but it usually takes about 30 minutes.
• Multiply the time taken by three if you aim at getting 1 ½” of water down. Thus if you water your lawn three times a week for the time taken to get ½ an inch, the water should be enough.

For example, if your sprinkler took 30 minutes – Water your lawn for 30 minutes 3 times a week.

When your lawn is exposed to extreme heat, you may need to keep your sprinklers on a little longer to water down. This allows for evaporation and also reduces any heat stress that your lawn may be subjected to.

Research on your grass type

The watering needs of grass types are different. Certain species need more water than others. Some grass types are water-resistant, whereas others cannot go even for a short time without water. For instance, Fescue Grass can go for a while without being watered well in colder temperatures. In hotter weather, it needs regular watering. Bermuda grass, though, is more drought-resistant and can go up to 4 weeks without proper watering.

If your grass is relatively new, it needs to be regularly watered no matter how drought resistant the grass type is. This is because if you water it irregularly before it is established, it will not thrive. You also need to be careful because over watering may also cause the grass to die.

How often should I water my lawn?

●       Firstly, do not water daily.

When watered daily, the lawn develops a very shallow root system. This makes it a week and prone to drought. Instead, water the lawn deeply 2 or 3 times a week. It will help the grass to deepen its root system, so it is more likely to survive even when water is scarce.

●       Watering early in the morning is best.

Watering your lawn in the morning has many advantages –

1. Your lawn will be dried in the evening. Regularly leaving your lawn wet at night creates a breeding ground for fungi and other pests or diseases.
2. The cooler morning weather reduces the likelihood of evaporation. More water will get into the lawn. Also, you will save on your water bill.

If your schedule prevents you from watering early, water when you can, it is much better to water late than not at all.

●       Find out your soil type to help you determine how often you should water it.

Different soil types have different water demands. Most soil types are a combination of clay and sand. The table below gives you the soil types and their water needs.

Soil type	Description (how to identify it)	Water needs
Sandy (Very rare)	A handful of wet sandy soil rolled into a ball will fall apart as soon as you let it go.	It needs to be watered regularly. This soil type does not hold water at all. Also the wind or sun dries it out easily.
Sandy loam (mixture of clay and sand with more sand)	If you roll wet ball it will not hold for long after you let it go.	It also needs regular watering as harsh weather can dry it out fast. Water penetrates it fast but it does not hold for long.
Clay loam ( mixture of sand and clay with more clay)	A rolled ball of moist clay loam does not fall apart.	It holds water best. You may not need to water too often but when you water it has to be deep. This is because water penetrates slowly.

Remember, the 1″ to 1 ½” rule is just a guideline. Determine your soil type to find whether you will need more water.

How to determine whether you are watering properly

1. Check your grass blades. If they look brown or an unusual shade of green, it is likely that you are not watering enough. Promptly change your watering pattern until the blades return to their standard shade of green.
2. If the grass blades wilt and bow water as soon as possible. This is a warning sign that your grass may be in the dormancy stage.
3. Use a screwdriver, spade, or any other sharp garden tool to check your soil’s moisture. Simply drive the machine into the ground. If you face great difficulty in doing so, you are not watering enough. It shows that your soil is too dry. Increase the water until you can put the tool in without any difficulty. Make sure that your soil is moist at least up to 6 inches deep.
4. Check for weeds. Too many weeds may indicate that you are overwatering your garden. This is because weeds need extremely damp conditions to survive.

Use an in-ground sprinkler system if you can afford it.

This is one of the best methods to keep your lawn well-watered. There is no need to looking advice for “How Often Should I Water My Lawn with sprinkler system”. Lawn sprinkler system help to keep your lawn well-watered and with minimal water wastage. If you cannot afford this, you can get a pulsating or oscillating sprinkler to do the job. If your lawn is not that too big, you may hand water using a hose. To make the job easier, attach a sprinkler nozzle to your handheld hose.

To Sum Up