The great thing about summer is it brings a lot of light to nourish your plants.
But the rising heat and temperature can be tricky to deal with since it evaporates moisture quickly. If you want to keep your lawn looking lush and healthy under the summer heat, one of the tricks is to figure out the proper routine for watering.
If you water too often, you’ll risk rotting your yard, but if you water too less, you’ll get dry grass.
So how often should you water your lawn in the summer?
This article will answer your question and more below.
How Often Should I Water My Lawn in Summer?
A single approach to watering your lawn doesn’t exist.
In the summer, we must consider the grass type and the amount of light your lawn receives throughout the day. The type of soil your grass is growing on is also an essential factor to keep an eye on.
Some soil types take no time to dry, while others take days longer.
For instance, sandy soil tends to absorb moisture quickly but dries it up just as fast, and clay soil tends to retain moisture and take a while to dry out because of its dense texture.
Watering it 1 to 3 times a week should be sufficient to keep your lawn vibrant and hydrated throughout the season. However, observe how long it takes for the soil in your yard to dry completely and adjust your frequency accordingly.
If there’s recent rainfall, remember to hold back on watering to prevent overwatering your lawn.
What Are the Best Times to Water Your Lawn in the Summer?
On the one hand,
Early morning, between 6–10 am, is the best time to water your lawn since it gives the grass time to absorb the moisture for the rest of the day. It also keeps the soil cool during the day’s peak temperature, lowering the risk of heat stress.
On the other hand,
If you can’t water in the morning, do it late in the afternoon (4 pm onwards) so it still has time to evaporate by the time the sun sets.
Growgardener’s Note: Try not to water in the late evening and nighttime since the temperature is cooler, making the water take longer to dry up. If you’re not careful, frequently doing this will make your lawn more susceptible to root rot, disease, or fungal growth.
How Long to Water Lawn in Summer?
Deeply watering your lawn can be beneficial since it helps it develop a more profound and healthier root system.
You’ll want to give it 1 to 1.5 inches of water every week, whether from the rain or watering.
The time it takes to water your lawn properly will depend on the size of your yard and the number of sprinklers you have. It will typically take 25 to 30 minutes to give the grass 1 inch of water.
But you can also adjust the time if your turf is getting too much or too little water.
What Does Overwatering Do to Your Lawn?
It may be easy to think that frequently watering your lawn will ensure the grass stays healthy all summer.
But sometimes, giving them too much of a good thing can be the cause of their demise.
Overwatering your lawn will give the grass a shallow root system, making them less resilient to the elements.
It also promotes fungal growth and diseases because of excess moisture in its surroundings, not to mention the presence of moisture-loving weeds, like yellow nutsedge and crabgrass.
An overwatered lawn will also have difficulty breaking down thatch and preventing its nutrients from nourishing the soil. That’s why you’ll notice light yellow patches appear in some areas of your lawn. The thatch can also protect pests, so their population increases if you don’t address the source of the issue immediately.
What Does Underwatering Do to Your Lawn?
If overwatering is bad for your lawn, the same goes for underwatering it in the summer.
It causes slow growth and dry patches if you don’t give it water at least once a week.
Footprints will also be more visible if you walk over your turf. Since the blades don’t have moisture stored in their leaves, it’s difficult for them to spring back into their usual form.
Caked and dry soil is another sign you might be underwatering your lawn. You can test how dry it is by inserting a screwdriver through the ground. If it’s difficult to push into, it means the soil is too dry.
You can salvage an under-watered lawn by slowly reintroducing it with water. But if the grass is already dry and crunchy, you might need to sow new grass seeds to regain your lawn’s former glory.
How to Water Your Lawn in the Summer?
Now that you know how often to give your lawn a drink in the summer, follow the steps below to learn how to do it properly:
- Set up your sprinkler system to ensure every area of your lawn will be covered by water.
- Place water gauges at different points on your lawn to ensure your property gets 1 to 1.5 inches of water.
- Turn on the water, and set your timer for 25–30 minutes.
- When the time is up, check the water gauges to ensure they’re filled with water to the mark.
- If they are, turn off the tap. If not, continue watering until it fills the gauge.
- Once your lawn is properly hydrated, store your sprinkler and repeat the same routine for your following watering schedule.
With all that said, now you know how often to water lawn in summer.
Let’s head toward the bottom line of this article.
The Bottom Line!
Indeed, it would be best to increase your watering frequency in the summer as it will keep your lawn vibrant and lush throughout the season, but that doesn’t mean you should do it every day. One to three times a week should be a good number to start, but you should also consider factors like the amount of light your yard receives and the type of soil they’re planted on.
Once you have your routine down, you’ll see your turf flourish!
Good luck!