Should you water your lawn once a day or every month? Watering grass too often or not often enough can damage it.
Aim to water your lawn once a week during warm seasons unless rain keeps the soil moist. Autumns in the UK are often wet, so you don’t have to worry about watering your lawn. But during mild, snowless winters, you may have to water dormant grass once every two weeks to make sure it won’t dry out.
Read on to find out more about the best way to water the lawn and how often you should do it for lush growth.
Image credit: @ambitious.lawn
Do you even need to water your lawn?
You need to water your lawn unless it rains regularly. Grass can survive for up to six weeks without water, but not having enough water can undermine its growth and health. If the grass becomes dormant because of heat or dehydration, you should water it to help it recover.
Water your lawn when the soil is dry and the wind isn’t blowing. Don’t water if the temperature drops below 4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit). If you don’t get snow in the winter, or if you live in a part of the UK that’s affected by drying winds, it’s crucial to keep watering your grass in winter. Dormant grass isn’t dead, it still needs water to bounce back to life come spring.
How often should I water my lawn?
During spring and summer, water your lawn once a week, soaking it well. The water should reach a depth of 4 inches. During autumn, lawns in the UK don’t generally need watering. But if you experience a dry winter with temperatures above freezing, you can resume watering your lawn.
So, how often to water grass in winter? During winter dormancy, grass needs less water than during the summer. Water it deeply twice a month but be careful not to overwater it. If snow falls, stop watering the grass.
What’s the best time of the day to water lawns?
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The best time to water grass in the UK during warm seasons is early in the morning, before the heat sets in. Early morning provides the best temperatures to water grass. During a dry autumn or winter, you can get away with watering your lawn in the afternoon provided the temperatures are not too cold. But make it no later than the early afternoon to allow the earth to absorb the water before temperatures drop in the night.
The night is the worst time to water grass. During the warmer seasons, it increases the risk of fungal and bacterial diseases and root rot. During a dry winter, it may damage the grass. So as a rule, don’t water grass later than early evening (in warm seasons) to allow it to dry before nighttime.
The only exception to this during warm seasons is if the grass is in dire need of watering and you can’t water it during the day. You could then water it at night. But for the sake of your lawn, don’t let night waterings become a habit.
How long should you water your lawn?
Water your lawn uniformly for up to 30 minutes. Then stop watering to prevent puddling and allow the soil to absorb the water. Water your lawn uniformly one more time for up to 30 minutes to maximise the amount of water that reaches the roots of the grass.
Usually, it’s not necessary to leave the grass sprinklers on for more than 30 minutes provided that the water reaches all areas of your lawn. If the soil is moist or rain likely, reduce the watering time or skip watering altogether.
Can you overwater grass?
While lawns are more likely to suffer from a lack of water than too much water, it’s still possible to overwater grass. This happens if you water it too soon after rain, or if your grass sprinkler setup is overworking.
Signs that you’re overwatering your lawn include:
- runoff
- standing water
- squishy grass hours after watering
- depressions in the lawn
- wilting grass
Should you water grass after mowing?
You can water your lawn after mowing if it needs moisture. As a rule, you shouldn’t mow a wet lawn. This means that watering the lawn after mowing is generally a good idea. One exception is impending rain. If the clouds are about to burst over your lawn, save the watering for another day.
Can you water grass in the sun?
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Watering grass in the sun doesn’t burn or scorch it—it’s only a myth. However, intense sunlight may make some of the water evaporate before it can reach the roots, especially if the soil is very dry. On a hot day, it’s best to water your lawn early in the morning, before the heat sets in. Water grass in the sun only as an emergency. Don’t make a habit out of it!
How often to water new turf?
Lightly water new grass twice a day for the first 1-2 weeks until it becomes established. Water new turf for 5 to 10 minutes at a time, ensuring that the soil under the turf becomes moist. You can then reduce the watering to once every second day.
While new turf becomes established, a process that may take up to 6 weeks, keep the soil damp every day. If it dries out, it may become damaged.
Do you need to water new turf if it rains? Of course not! If it rains heavily you can skip watering. As long as the soil is damp, you don’t need to water it.
The wrap up
Neither too much nor too often but just enough to prevent drying. That, in a nutshell, sums up how often to water a lawn for great growth.
The best time of day to water the lawn is in the early morning. It’s best to pay attention to the condition of the soil and grass. Different types of soil will absorb and hold more water than others.
In the end, adapt your watering to the soil condition and season and you can’t go wrong.
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