How and When to Water Your Lawn

When

Proper use of irrigation water to fill the gaps between rainfalls is critical to a healthy lawn. Efficient use of this important natural resource will keep water bills lower.

  • Follow local irrigation ordinances or restrictions when watering your lawn.
  • Drought tolerant lawn grasses will revive once rainfall occurs or irrigation restrictions are lifted.
  • To be most efficient when watering your lawn, irrigate your lawn:
  1. when winds are calm
  2. in the early morning hours (minimizes evaporation loss)
  3. when the lawn is showing signs of drought stress
  • Do not irrigate in the evening (to reduce risk of disease)

How

There are two basic kinds of sprinkler systems:

  1. Automatic lawn irrigation: The most efficient method of irrigating a lawn is through an underground lawn sprinkler system. It is a good investment in your lawn as well as the value of your home. A professionally installed system should be designed for complete and even distribution, have battery back-up for any timing devices, and a rain sensor to stop the system when rain occurs.
  2. Portable hose sprinklers: These systems are less expensive than under-ground systems. Sprinklers may be either "portable surface" (the most common) requiring moving the sprinkler to each area of the lawn or "traveling sprinkler," one that follows the hose or a cable around the lawn. Both types of sprinklers need frequent observation to avoid mis-application and water waste.

irrigating Tall Fescue Stephen Railford-2

Automatic Lawn Irrigation - Pop-up sprinklers installed before sod is laid.

How Much

As a general rule, keeping your lawn healthy requires 1 inch of water weekly, including rainfall. Water once every 2 to 3 days in dry weather (about 1/2 inch at each application). If one or more inches of rainfall occur in a week, additional irrigation is not necessary. (Example: if 1/2 inch of rain occurs within a growing week, apply 1/2 inch by irrigation.)

Heavy clay soils will require less water and less frequent applications than sandier soils.

Water as deeply as possible without causing run-off. Water to supplement rainfall shortages only. Avoid fixed timer irrigation settings. Do not waste water by over watering; avoid standing water for any period of time.

To determine how much water you are applying, place gauge midway between the sprinkler and the end of the coverage and check water depth in the gauge after a planned length of time (approximately 1/2 hour), then calculate the total time needed to apply 1/2 inch.

Watering Tips - at a glance

How to Water When Installing Sod:

Watering Tips for New Lawns:

  • Water enough to keep it wet like a sponge until it roots in. Refer to our complete tips on Watering New Sod

Watering Tips for Established Lawns:

  • Water deeply and infrequently. Proper use of sprinkler water will result in a healthier and attractive lawn and lower water bills.
  • Consider spot watering localized dry spots instead of the entire lawn.
  • Water areas on mounds and berms and near buildings more often, where reflected heat dries the turf.
  • Avoid irrigating until water runs off the lawn surface and on to walks and roads.
  • Tree shaded areas may require more water to support both trees and turf grasses.
  • Avoid standing water for any period of time.

What to do When There's a Drought:

  • Consider letting the lawn go dormant in drought conditions; Zoysia, Centipede and Bermudagrass lawns will regenerate once water is more available.
  • Click here to read about Surviving Drought.
  • Remove thatch so that water easily reaches the soil around turf plants.
  • Consider switching to the drought tolerant TifTuf Bermuda.

When Landscaping:

  • Select the drought tolerant TifTuf Bermuda.
  • Put sod, groundcovers, and bushes on steep slopes in lawns so that water does not run off rapidly.

Water & Mowing - What to Do:

  • Avoid scalping your lawn.
  • Always use a sharp blade.
  • In drought conditions, mow at a higher cutting height with a sharp blade.
  • Use robotic lawn mowers for less water loss and stress on your lawn.

Water & Fertilizing:

  • Fertilize lawn at proper rate for your location and turf selection, to prevent run-off of excess fertilizer.
  • Aerate heavy soils to promote better fertilizer and water penetration to lawn roots.