The new advice: Water your lawn weekly, about an inch, and adjust as rain and precipitation occur in your area. This generalization applies to well-established lawns, not newly sodded grasses. You know your lawn best as you may have a specific variety of grass other than Kentucky Bluegrass, which is what is most common.
Maybe it is your water bill that you are concerned with reducing, or maybe you have just heard it is a good idea to water less frequently. Either way, your pocketbook will thank you for using less water on your lawn. You only need to water once a week and give a good saturation to your lawn.
According to the City of Sun Prairie, watering once a week is good for storm utilities as well. Here is a link to the flyer with other suggestions for a naturally healthy lawn.
Watering once a week is good for your lawn’s root system.
Watering too frequently can cause a shallow root system that is not good for your lawn. If you water too lightly, the roots will not grow deeply enough, which will set up your lawn for trouble when drought or hot weather comes. Remember to check with your local ordinances to verify watering restrictions, if any.
Water in the early morning for a good soaking.
While overwatering or underwatering presents challenges, watering during the wrong part of the day creates several issues as well. During the hottest part of the day in the first few hours of the afternoon, water evaporates quickly and moist soil can warm up to a high temperature, damaging the roots. The best time of day to water a lawn is in the early morning before 10 am. This is the coldest part of the day and water will get a chance to soak deep. If you must water in the evening, try between 4 and 6 p.m. which should give the grass blades time enough to dry thoroughly before nightfall. The later you water, the greater chance of disease becoming present in your lawn, which you do not want.
How do I know how much water my lawn is getting?
Set out empty tuna cans to see if your lawn is getting a good soaking of an inch or not. Usually, tuna cans are about an inch, so when they are full, your lawn should be soaked. Another way to determine if your lawn is getting a good soaking is to drive the head of a six-inch screwdriver into it. If the screwdriver easily permeates your lawn, it is had a good soaking.
If you have lawn care questions or want to establish a mowing routine, call A+ LawnCare for your lawn care needs.