The Best Time to Water Grass for a Greener Lawn—and Less Water Waste

In most residential neighborhoods, you can see sprinklers running from before dawn until well into the evening. But watering your lawn at the wrong time of day can be a problem for your lawn's health—and can waste a lot of that effort, too, as the water is lost to evaporation or runoff.

So when's the best time to water grass? And how often should you water your lawn to help keep it healthy—even when the heat of summer can stress out your grass? We asked a lawn care expert for their best watering tips to ensure your grass thrives.

The Best Time to Water Grass

According to natural science manager Teri Valenzuela, the ideal time to water your lawn is between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. "Watering during these hours allows the lawn to absorb water effectively, helps prevent heat stress during high temperatures, and is useful in deterring lawn diseases," Valenzuela says.

If morning isn't your thing, there's another decent window late in the evening. "If your goal is to conserve water, consider watering your lawn between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.," Valenzuela says. "This period is ideal as it reduces the opportunity for water to evaporate and often adheres to municipal watering restrictions."

When You Should Never Water Grass

Mid-afternoon is the worst time for you to water—both environmentally and for the health of your lawn. (Though it's probably the best time for kids who want to splash through the sprinkler!)

"Watering during this time can stress your grass and and limit the amount of water the grass is able to absorb," Valenzuela says. You can lose up to half of the water you apply to your lawn in evaporation, runoff, or the wind, and that loss happens more often when you're watering during the peak hours of heat and sunlight. This can all increase the likelihood of lawn diseases and kill your grass.

Factors to Consider Before Watering the Grass

There are several factors that affect when, how, and how often you should water your grass. Better understanding these factors can help you establish a regular watering routine that effectively grows your grass and keeps it green and healthy.

Grass Type

There are different types of grass, and some require more watering than others. For example, cool-season grasses require more water than warm-season grasses.

Some cool-season grasses include:

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Buffalo

Some warm-season grasses include:

• Bermuda
• Zoysia
• Centipedegrass
• St. Augustinegrass
• Seashore Paspalum
  

Soil Type

The type of soil also plays a pivotal role in how you water your grass. That's because the type of soil influences factors like water retention and drainage rates. This affects how frequently and deeply you need to water the grass. Understanding the characteristics of your soil can help you create a healthy watering schedule to ensure the health of your lawn.

You might have sandy, clay, loamy, or silt soil for example. Other types of soil include acidic and alkaline soil. You can determine which type of soil you have—and determine its pH and nutrient levels—by doing a soil test.

Climate

The climate certainly plays a role in when and how often you should water your grass. If the grass gets a lot of rain, for example, then it may not require as much watering. However, if you live in a drier climate, the grass will likely need to be watered more often.

The weather conditions can also affect when you water your grass, since it may be more necessary during drier times of the day, but if the sun is too hot, it can lead to wasteful evaporation. Similarly, the wind can affect how well your grass absorbs water and tends to be calmer in the mornings.

The Best Way to Water Your Lawn

Getting the water levels just right for your lawn can help your lawn thrive (and help you save on water use, too!). "Overwatering can lead to potential fungus and disease, as well as soil compaction from foot traffic on oversaturated ground," Valenzuela says. "Underwatering often manifests as dry, cracked ground and withered grass. This can prevent adequate water from reaching the root zone, stunting the growth and development of grass roots." Try these tips to ensure your lawn thrives this season.

Spread Out Watering Sessions

Valenzuela recommends avoiding watering your lawn daily, which can lead to shallow roots—and can cause your lawn to stress quickly if you have to stop watering due to drought. Instead, give your lawn about an inch or two of water per week, split into three watering sessions. (And obviously, if you're getting a good summer rainstorm, subtract that amount from your weekly watering session.)

Feed Your Lawn

Applying fertilizers and nutrients before the heat of summer can help your lawn do well—even if you have to cut back on watering due to drought conditions. "Watering strategically in summer months can be stressful for your lawn," Valenzuela says. "Preventative nutrients like Lawn Aid strengthen grass roots, helping your lawn handle both heat and lack of moisture better."

Choose a Smart Irrigation System

To help reduce the amount of watering work you have to do, consider investing in WaterSense-labeled irrigation systems, which can automatically adjust the amount of water used based on local weather—they'll water less when they know you've had rain—or based on detecting moisture in your soil. (That'll help ensure that you get the water levels just right for your lawn.)

Avoid Water Waste

Adjust your sprinklers so you're only watering the lawn—not your surrounding sidewalks, driveway, or any areas with a lot of weeds. Drip irrigation systems, hoses, and watering cans are often used for gardens and landscaping, but if you don't mind moving them in and out of your lawn when you're ready to water, you can use that to ensure the water gets right to your grass roots, instead of evaporating into the air.

Dethatching your lawn—removing dead grass, leaves, and debris (thatch)—can also help you avoid water waste. This layer of stuff that hasn't decomposed can interfere with how well the soil absorbs water and essential nutrients.