In spring, vibrant green lawns effortlessly cover the entire landscape, and there is not much to do other than regular mowing. But when summer arrives, you’ll experience a long period of hot, dry weather, and your grass may change from a lush green carpet to one with large brown patches. It may even be a little crispy in some places. If you want to keep your lawn lush all summer long, this is the best time of day to water your lawn and how to keep it healthy. Once the moisture is restored, the green leaves usually start to grow again.
Start Watering as Early as Possible
The best time of day to water your lawn is early in the morning, between 4:00 and 8:00 a.m. Cooler temperatures and less windy winds allow water to penetrate deep into the soil without much evaporation. In addition, during this window, the municipal system will not have as much water demand, which may affect the pressure. Watering at noon is less efficient because evaporation is fast and strong winds are more common. Wind can increase evaporation and carry water to driveways, patios, or streets, quickly adding large amounts of waste.
Another benefit of watering early in the morning is that as the sun rises, turfgrass leaves dry out faster, reducing the chance of disease occurring. Watering at night when there is more dew lays the foundation for the fungus to grow on the leaves, which will remain moist at night. If these fungi take root and start killing your grass, no amount of watering will help.
Water Deeply and Infrequently
Instead of watering as planned, the grass is watered according to its needs, thus increasing the effect of early morning watering. The best time of day to water your lawn is when your lawn shows signs of drought stress, not 15 minutes a day. The blue-gray color and the footprints left after walking through the lawn definitely indicate that the lawn needs water.
Turfgrass is designed to be watered thoroughly and infrequently to promote deep root growth. Lawns with deep roots can go 12 inches or deeper into the soil to collect water and nutrients. Watering one to one and a half inches of water every seven to ten days is usually enough to create a healthy, green lawn. Keep in mind that factors such as soil type, lawn type, and prevailing weather conditions will greatly affect the amount and frequency of watering you need. Look for clues in the grass.
Hibernation Is a Good Option
Most types of turfgrass can easily withstand prolonged droughts. They do this by hibernating on the ground. While your lawn may look dead during droughts, your grassroots system is generally healthy and robust during dormancy. Lawns can withstand four to six weeks of drought with minimal impact.
If your water use is limited or cost-prohibitive, your lawn can go dormant without causing any harm. Resist the urge to sprinkle a little from time to time. Watering in small amounts is wasteful and ineffective for lawns. It is believed that when the weather pattern changes, it turns green.