TIME OF YEAR:
- April through September
- October through March
Unless we are in a severe drought, the grass ONLY needs watering during the warm/growing season (April through September) ESPECIALLY May through August!
TIME OF DAY:
- Early in the morning during the morning dew
To minimize the amount of time that the grass is wet it is best to water early in the morning during the morning dew. When it’s wet, get it wet.
If you water in the evenings, you are lengthening the amount of time that the lawn is wet and therefore are promoting disease growth that will lead to undesired results.
LENGTH OF WATERING:
A book could be written about this. But here is the summary:
Avoid runoff. Most irrigation systems are set to run for short periods each day, but that approach often does more harm than good. Light, frequent watering only wets the top layer of soil, which dries out the fastest. This trains your grass to develop shallow roots, making it more vulnerable to heat, drought, and stress.
The goal is simple: water deeper and less often.
Deeper watering encourages roots to grow further into the soil, where moisture lasts longer. This leads to a healthier, more resilient lawn with better access to nutrients and improved tolerance to extreme temperatures.
Recommendations:
- Deep Watering: Run your system for a longer session, you may consider 30-45 minutes once or twice per week. This allows water to soak deeper into the soil where it will not evaporate as quickly.
- Cycle and Soak: Water for 15 minutes, then wait 15 minutes to let the water absorb. Repeat this cycle once or twice more. Do this two to three days per week, depending on how your lawn responds.
During peak summer heat, increase each cycle to 20 to 25 minutes to maintain proper moisture levels.
Looking for Faster Growth?
If you are trying to push more aggressive growth, you can add one additional watering day per week. Be careful not to overdo it, since too much water can lead to other issues.
The Finger Method
Not sure if you are watering enough? Try the finger method. Simply push your finger into the soil after watering. If the moisture has reached several inches below the surface, you are on the right track. If the soil is only damp near the top, increase your watering time.
This quick, simple check makes a big difference in how your lawn grows and performs.
Watch the Finger Method in Action
Thousands of homeowners have already seen the difference this simple technique makes. Check out our video to learn more:
Are you watering your lawn correctly?? – YouTube