How to Water Grass

How much water should your lawn get for better results
How Much Water to 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 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.
When to Water the Lawn?
If you find your lawn has taken on a grayish cast or appears to be dull green, it’s telling you that it needs water. You can also check your lawn by walking on it: If your footprints don’t disappear quickly, it’s because the grass blades don’t have the needed moisture to spring back. While it may seem like you can head out to water your lawn anytime during the day, your lawn actually needs more specific care. Watering in the morning (before 5 a.m.) is the best time for your lawn; it’s cooler and winds tend to be calmer so water can soak into the soil and be absorbed by the grassroots before it can evaporate. If you must water in the evening, try between 4 and 6 p.m. which should give the grass blades time to dry before nightfall. The later you water, the greater chance of disease becoming prevalent in your lawn. It’s worth noting, though, that you don’t necessarily have to water your lawn. Lawns are resilient. Established and properly cared-for lawns can survive weeks without water by going dormant (when the lawn turns brown), then recover once the rain returns.

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[helendaly]

Good information for those that don't have a clue. Which seem to be most. Thanks.

[Gonzalocapetillo]

yes sir Correct. I water my front yard at 5 in the morning and my back yard at 8:30 at night but I don't have irrigation in the back ..

[robertl]

What if you water like in the evening meaning like at 6 pm or 8 pm what would happen, or is better to do it in the morning thanks

[benkenny]

Is your Ram a v6? I wonder how much power you really need for you current setup.

[toddfromflorida]

I saw multiple lawns being watered on camera while you were driving so I know it is happening.

BUT I will tell you that if you drove around my neighborhood you might see some water on the concrete that was still evaporating and think I just finished. But mine takes a while to evaporate due to the high humidity in the air here in N.E. Florida. Also. I see a lot of people in your comments mentioning they run long runs on each zone. I would NEVER run a single long run on each zone back to back. On any soil type that I can think of. I think you always benefit from multiple shorter runs. I have 6 zones. They are almost all mini rotor/mister zones. So lets say I would normally want 14 minutes total on each zone to make it easy. To do it my way, I will break that one 14 minute run into two 6 minutes runs. Since the grass can absorb it better you can actually shorten the overall time slightly and save water.

After that first round of 6 zones at 6 minutes per zone finishes, I start a second round of my schedule set to go off after my first run finishes. So 6 zones multiplied by 6 minutes = 36 minutes. Add a little gap so seasonal adjustments can take place and the first run still finishes before the second starts so maybe schedule the 1st run at 5am and the second at 6am. This way the water is getting into the root zone and adsorbed more readily by the grass and not run straight through and out of reach. My sandy soil definitely will let it run through so I have to split my zones up like this. I know you know this already but maybe some of those commenters will read this.

Additionally, some higher end controllers have this feature built in. I believe the call it 'Dwell Time'. My old one did. My new wifi controller doesnt so I have to manually schedule a second run of the program.

My only exception to the above is I will also run a short run during the middle of the day maybe around 2pm if it is exceptionally hot and my grass is suffering. Maybe 4 minutes a zone. Just to cool it off and a little moisture to get through the day. Not every day. Only on the worst days.

[DonaldAJr]

Yeah Johnny, I learned that from golf courses a good 30 years ago. I have heard that when it's 100° outside you can give it some water around 3 p.m. to keep it from burning.

[plutojack]

Hey Johnnie, how about watering 6:30 or 7:00 in the evening in South Ga?

[louisbaillie]

I’m in the desert southwest. I water my tiff-dwarf bermuda at 5 am, and 10pm during the summer. So the water can soak deeper. I’ve never suffered disease or fungus. It’s cut several times a week at 1/2 inch. It looks like the first rough on a putting green.

[Swaggy]

A veteran landscaper told me he sets his his clients irrigation system to 4am

[randomreviews]

First. 6am
Second. 12 - 2pm?
Third. 5:30-8pm?
Should we water two or three times a day?

[evencutlawncaremorellc]

I set my customers starting time about 3 am depending on the # of zones may run for 45 minutes or so as long as the nozzles have been calibrated to deliver the right amount of water for grass & it gives the turf time to have cooled off and limit the possibility of a fungus developing.

[CityScapesLawnCare]

Words of wisdom, yes water before it evaporates and never late at night as this will cause fungal disease 💯

[brettmason]

I don't ever water my lawn, infact over the years I have purposely killed most of my lawn and planted native plants that don't need as much water.

[steven.events]

I'm not afraid to the water during the daytime if necessary. It's what sunshowers do.

[flch]

We’ve had some teens going around in the wee hrs of the night vandalizing property. I’ve had my mailbox flag knocked off. Don’t need them destroying my sprinkler heads. I’ll stick to late afternoon which has worked for me.

[philipfelicio]

I tell my customers to do it around 2 or 3 am, , , but than you have the customers who think your wrong and have no idea what your talking about and water it during the day lol, , I try to explain why and they do it anyway and plus when I show up and the water is on I can't cut the grass and that's another issue

[Dave-qncg]

Thanks Johnny I believe the early morning is best for getting results with your lawn, it’s worked for me . Always a pleasure getting much needed knowledge on your lawn 💪

[markmilan]

My wife(cheap as hell) doesn’t water the lawn lol. She said let the weather do the watering.