Watering Tips

Grass blades are made up of about 75% water. There are many factors that can influence the amount and frequency of water needed for a lawn. The soil type, the grass type, frequency of rain, temperatures, wind, and humidity all can affect the amount of water your lawn needs. Hot, windy days tend to increase the demand for water, while cool, cloudy days tend to decrease the amount of water your lawn needs.

Watering Guidelines

Most landscape irrigation systems have two types of irrigation heads: rotors (or rotating heads) and sprays (or stationary heads). Most of the time the rotor zones are in the turf areas and the spray zones are in the planting beds. Spray heads normally apply three times as much water in an area than the rotor heads. Always keep this in mind when setting your irrigation clock.

As a general guideline, lawns and landscape plants only need about 1 inch of water per week. It is best to water 1 to 2 times weekly early in the morning to achieve this goal. Watering for a longer period of time (30 min to 1 hour on rotor zones and 7 to 10 min on spray zones) less frequently soaking the soil to a 6” to 8” depth will promote a deeper root system and improve drought tolerance. Short frequent watering will cause shallow rooting. Shallow rooting will lead to poor drought tolerance and increase disease susceptibility. A can or measuring cup placed on the lawn while the irrigation is running will help you determine how long your irrigation system must run in order to apply the proper amount of water. Remember to subtract the amount of rainfall you receive from your weekly watering schedule. Over-watering you lawn can promote turf damaging disease, weed infestations, and overall poor turf health. It is always best to let your lawn dry out between waterings. If you notice areas in your lawn that continually stay wet, you may consider adjusting your irrigation or installing a drainage system.

When to water

It is best to water your lawn and landscape plants early in the morning before the sun rises. This will allow the water time to soak into the soil before evaporation can occur.

Watering during the sunny hours of the day in most cases is not recommended. You will lose as much as 50% of the water you put out to evaporation.

It is not recommended to water your lawn or landscape plants at night. Disease thrives in moist, humid environments. If your lawn stays wet for a prolonged period of time (10 hours or more), disease activity can be increased.

Watering new seed or sod

When installing new grass seed or sod you must keep the soil moist for it to survive. It is OK to water frequently (2 to 3 time a day) for a short period of time (10 to 15 min.) to keep the soil moist. This will promote rapid seed germination and root development. Typically, these watering habits should only be used until the root system of the new grass has started to develop. Once the roots have started to develop, you should follow the regular water guidelines.

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