06/30/2023
The Best Time to Water Grass
The early bird gets the worm (and the healthiest lawn). According to Teri Valenzuela, natural science manager at lawn care company Sunday, the ideal time to water your lawn is between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. "Watering during these hours allows the lawn to absorb water effectively, helps prevent heat stress during high temperatures, and is useful in deterring lawn diseases," she says.
If morning isn't your thing, there's another decent window late in the evening. "If your goal is to conserve water, consider watering your lawn between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.," Valenzuela says. "This period is ideal as it reduces the opportunity for water to evaporate and often adheres to municipal watering restrictions."
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That leaves mid-afternoon as the worst time for you to water—both environmentally and for the health of your lawn. (Though it's probably the best time for kids who want to splash through the sprinkler!) "Watering during this time can stress your grass and and limit the amount of water the grass is able to absorb," Valenzuela says. You can lose up to half of the water you apply to your lawn in evaporation, runoff, or the wind, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and that loss happens more often when you're watering during the peak hours of heat and sunlight.
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Getting the water levels just right for your lawn can help your lawn thrive (and help you save on water use, too!). "Overwatering can lead to potential fungus and disease, as well as soil compaction from foot traffic on oversaturated ground," Valenzuela says. "Underwatering often manifests as dry, cracked ground and withered grass. This can prevent adequate water from reaching the root zone, stunting the growth and development of grass roots."
Try these tips to ensure your lawn thrives this season.
Spread out your watering sessions
Valenzuela recommends avoiding watering your lawn daily, which can lead to shallow roots—and can cause your lawn to stress quickly if you have to stop watering due to drought. Instead, give your lawn about an inch or two of water per week, split into three watering sessions. (And obviously, if you're getting a good summer rainstorm, subtract that amount from your weekly watering session.)
Feed your lawn
Applying fertilizers and nutrients before the heat of summer can help your lawn do well—even if you have to cut back on watering due to drought conditions. "Watering strategically in summer months can be stressful for your lawn," Valenzuela says. "Preventative nutrients like Lawn Aid strengthen grass roots, helping your lawn handle both heat and lack of moisture better."
Choose a smart irrigation system
To help reduce the amount of watering work you have to do, consider investing in WaterSense-labeled irrigation systems, which can automatically adjust the amount of water used based on local weather—they'll water less when they know you've had rain—or based on detecting moisture in your soil. (That'll help ensure that you get the water levels just right for your lawn.
Avoid water waste
Adjust your sprinklers so you're only watering the lawn—not your surrounding sidewalks or driveway. Drip irrigation systems and hoses are often used for gardens and landscaping, but if you don't mind moving them in and out of your lawn when you're ready to water, you can use that to ensure the water gets right to your grass roots, instead of evaporating into the air.
