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How To Tell If Grass Is Overwatered: 6 Obvious Signs To Watch Out For

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As a passionate lawn lover, you naturally want to ensure that your grass has plenty of everything it requires to thrive, be it a great maintenance routine, regular food, or, most importantly, sufficient amounts of water.

The truth is, however, most beginner lawn lovers might unintentionally overdo their watering routine, which is what inspired me to create this detailed guide on how to tell if grass is overwatered.

When you overwater your grass, it actually does more harm than good, and as you transition from cold seasons to warmer months, chances of watering your grass increase exponentially.

How To Tell If Grass Is Overwatered
Is this fungus or just overwatering from too much rain? – via Reddit

How To Tell If Grass Is Overwatered

So, what are the hallmarks of grass that has been overwatered? I have put together a list of several telltale signs you should always watch out for.

Squishy Soil

If your grass feels squishy and soft hours after you have watered it, it may be a great idea to start cutting back on the amount of water you’re feeding it.

Mold and Fungus

Overwatered and soggy soil is a paradise for both rot and fungus. With that in mind, if you notice that your lawn has started showing signs of blight, rot, or mold, it is highly likely a sign that you’ve been giving it way too much moisture or have been watering at the wrong times of the day.

Remember, the best time of the day to water your lawn is early in the morning, immediately before the sun starts getting high overhead. This is essential as it helps protect your grass from intense sunlight during the hottest parts of the day.

The second best time you should be watering your grass is late in the afternoon. However, do not water the plant too late in the afternoon, as you do not want all that water to sit on your grass throughout the night.

How To Tell If Grass Is Overwatered 2
Overwatered – How to fix – via Reddit

Lots of Weed

If you notice a dramatic uptick in the number of weeds growing in your turf, that could be a sign that you’ve been overwatering your grass. Lots of weed species survive best in overly wet soil, which implies that while your grass is struggling to survive and stay alive in the soggy soil, these weeds will happily take over.

To ensure weed doesn’t grow or take over your lawn, you’re advised to water your lawn more deeply and do the watering in fewer sessions. Note, though, that this will depend on the season and climate where you have planted your grass. The warmer the region or season, the more you will need to water it.

Wilted Grass

Let me present you with a paradox. When you overwater your lawn, do not be surprised when the grass starts to wilt. It might sound strange, but the science behind this is quite simple and has been repeatedly proven.

See, grass needs specific oxygen levels for healthy, normal growth, and the intake of oxygen is usually affected if the grass remains in waterlogged soil too long. The waterlogging essentially drowns the grassroots, causing the plant to die and wilt.

To avoid wilted grass on your lawn, let your lawn tell you when it needs more water. Usually, grass trying to communicate that it’s under-watered will start by curling its blades. Remember, blades of healthy grass should always stand erect.

Another simple way to tell if your lawn is dehydrated is to walk across it. If you notice that you’re leaving a footprint behind with every step you take on the grass, it’s a telltale sign that the grass needs more water.

Water is Running Off

This is, without a doubt, one of the most obvious things you can watch out for to know when you’re overwatering your grass. Whenever you notice water on your lawn running off into different garden parts or perhaps flowing out into the streets, you’re overwatering your property by a stretch.

Basically, it signifies that you have waterlogged the soil so much that it could not absorb any more water. Continuing to water your grass after this happens not only puts your grass’ roots at risk of root rot, but you’ll also be wasting water and pushing up the dollar figures on your next water bill.

Bugs

Grass that has been overwatered tends to be the perfect place for insects to start breeding. The first sign that insects have infested your grass due to your overwatering expeditions will be bare patches of grass on your lawn.

If you also have excessive thatch, it might also offer a place for the bugs to hide and breed. With that in mind, your first course of action should be to cut back on your watering efforts. After you’ve gotten rid of excess thatch and your lawn has recovered from overwatering, pick a pesticide based on the kind of bugs you’ve found on your grass.

If you’re in doubt about anything, please consult professionals for proper pest control lest you worsen the problem or even lose your grass altogether.


Final Thoughts

Keeping your grass looking its best should not be a chore. That said, I understand that it can get overwhelming when multiple symptoms start popping up overnight out of the blue. If any of the signs sound like those I’ve shared in the guide above, then chances are you’ve been overwatering your grass.

Remember, generally speaking, grass is more likely to be killed by overwatering than underwatering. As such, you ought to establish an excellent watering routine that’ll facilitate a healthy and deeply rooted lawn. Healthy lawns can also better fight off diseases and cope with environmental stresses if the need arises.

If you’ve tried everything, but your grass’ health keeps declining, I suggest you contact a professional. The professional will investigate the grass as well as the soil you’ve planted it on and give you personalized advice on things you can do to get your lawn back to its vibrant color.