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When Should I Start Watering? 

Maintaining your lawn’s appearance is undoubtedly important, but it’s crucial to avoid watering it immediately after the winter season ends. The soil is typically cool and damp during this time, and over- watering it can harm the developing grass roots. Instead, it’s recommended to wait until the Memorial Day weekend before turning on your sprinkler system, unless the weather becomes and stays hot and dry prior to that. Read further recommendations provided by our lawncare experts to help you create a customized watering schedule that caters to your lawn’s unique requirements.

Tips on When to Water Your Lawn 

You can determine the best approach for maintaining a healthy lawn by considering factors like the weather, soil type, and grass variety. 

  • To start, it’s important to monitor the weather and begin watering your lawn when the climate starts getting dry. On average, your lawn will require about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, which can be measured using a soil probe. 
  • During the growing season, it’s typically recommended to water your lawn around three times every week, ensuring that the top layers of the soil (around 2 inches) are always moist, and not soggy. Once the grass has grown, water twice a week.  If your area has received rain recently, you can skip watering your lawn if the soil has enough water (typically 1 to 1 1/2 inches)
  • If the weather is hot and dry, you may need to water your lawn more frequently to keep it healthy. In cooler temperatures, you can reduce the frequency of watering as water doesn’t evaporate as easily. 
  • It’s important to water your lawn more frequently after adding new seeds to ensure they have enough moisture to germinate. 

The ideal time of day to water

Morning: The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning when the weather is still cool, and the water has plenty of time to be absorbed by the ground. 

Afternoon: Watering in the afternoon is not recommended as the water can quickly evaporate in the heat of the sun. 

Evening: Watering the lawn during the latter half of the evening can lead to grass blades remaining moist all night, increasing the risk of disease and fungal growth.

Soil type

Sandy soil – Needs to be watered more often as it dries up faster than other soil types.

Clayey soil – Clayey soil can retain water for longer helping it to penetrate deep into the soil, encouraging deep root development. 

Grass type

Cool season grasses – Cool season grasses require 20 percent more water than warm season grasses. These types of grasses require to be watered more than warm season grasses because they don’t have very extensive root systems. You can reduce the watering frequency during cooler months. 

Warm season grasses – Like cool season grasses, they need to be watered in the summer more often than in the dormant winter months.  

Understand your Lawn Needs and Keep it Thriving 

While it’s important to water your lawn regularly, over-watering can be just as detrimental to its health as under-watering. On an average, you should water your lawn 3 times a week, but it’s essential to consider other factors such as soil type and grass variety when developing your watering schedule. By understanding the unique needs of your lawn, you can develop a watering schedule that promotes healthy growth and keeps your lawn looking its best all season long. 

Get our lawn care professionals to help water your lawn and maintain a beautiful outdoor space that you can be proud of. 

Check out our service programs or call GREENSKEEPER at 215-938-8440. You can also contact us using our online form for a free quote.