When To Water Your Lawn For Maximum Hydration And Health
While regular mowing and fertilising are essential, achieving and maintaining that perfect green lawn requires a little bit of extra care and attention when it comes to proper watering.
So, let's take a look at some lawn watering basics and how you can get your lawn looking lush and green all year round.
Understanding Lawn Watering Needs
Proper watering is essential for maintaining a healthy and vibrant lawn. When watering your lawn there are a number of factors that need to be addressed, these include but are not limited to the following – see more on each factor below.
Current Dehydration Levels. How dehydrated is your lawn?
Length Of Time. How long to water your lawn and how much water is needed?
Frequency And Amount. How often you should water your lawn?
Time Of Day. When you water your lawn.
Location Specific Elements. The different types of grass, soil and terrain.
Local Weather Conditions. The amount of rainfall, sunshine and average temperatures.
1.Common Signs Of Lawn Dehydration
Not sure if your lawn needs more water? Here are the 3 top signs your lawn is dehydrated.
Changes In Colour. If the lawn starts to look patchy and parts are changing to lighter green, yellow or brown then water is definitely lacking. It also pays to check all areas of the lawn are getting the same amount of water.
Wilting And Curling. The leaf blades of the grass are curling and shrivelling up. Not a good sign – your grass is dying!
Footprints. If your footprints remain longer on the grass after walking across your lawn this can be a sign the grass needs more hydration as it is not rebounding as quickly as it would if its leaves/blades were full of water.
2. How Long Should You Water Your Lawn?
Timing your watering sessions correctly and following best practices for lawn hydration ensures less water wastage and more consistent coverage, allowing your grass to thrive year-round. One of the most important things to remember when deciding on how long to water is that brief watering (for short periods) will only encourage shallow roots, which over the longer term means the grass isn’t as robust and doesn’t get access to valuable nutrients available deeper in the soil.
Grass that has been watered for shorter periods over its lifetime is going to be more susceptible to pest damage, disease and the invasion of weeds. This is why it is recommended you water your lawns for about 30 minutes at a time (longer if you live in particularly dry areas). A good visual indicator is that if you start to see significant pooling of water, then turn the sprinkler off!
3. How Often To Water Your Lawn
For best results, your lawn should be watered approximately three times per week over the summer months and once a week during winter (depending on local temperatures and rainfall). Watering daily will likely result in a shallow root system – which as discussed above, we do not want to encourage. Plus, it is also unrealistic as most people don’t have the time or inclination, and most importantly, it can waste precious water.
While shallow root systems dry out fast, weakening your lawn, watering less frequently and for more extended periods encourages the grass roots to grow deeper, building resilience and disease resistance.
4. Best Time Of Day To Water Your Lawn
When is the best time of day to water your lawn? You might be surprised to know that watering your lawn at the right time can mean the difference between a healthy, happy lawn and a problematic green space in the future. Here are our top tips for when to water your lawn.
Aim For Early Morning! Watering in the early morning (6am to 10am) is widely accepted as the best time of day to water your lawn. Temperatures are cool enough to prevent evaporation, winds are calm, and the sun's intensity is still relatively low. Watering in the morning allows the grass to dry quickly, reducing the risk of fungal diseases that thrive in damp conditions while also ensuring your lawn is well prepared to withstand the heat of the day.
Always Avoid Midday Watering. Watering during the hottest part of the day (typically between 11am and 3pm) should be avoided whenever possible. High temperatures and intense sunlight naturally lead to much more rapid evaporation, so water will be lost into the air before even reaching the roots.
If Possible Avoid Early Evening Watering. Anytime between 5 pm to 7pm is acceptable as the sun is less intense, reducing evaporation. However, be careful not to water too late at night as water droplets (moisture) can cling to the grass blades overnight, aiding in the promotion of fungal growth.
5. The Impact Of Local Weather Conditions
Local climate and weather conditions play a big part in the amount of additional water your lawn is going to need. Warmer dryer parts of the world will obviously need more water than naturally wetter areas.
If you live in an area where there is high or low rainfall, humid conditions, dry hot days, or other determining factors, you will obviously need to adjust your watering to suit. Similarly, if you get a week of extremely hot days, you may need to add some extra watering into your routine.
Likewise, if you have a few days of rain in a row, you won’t need to water your lawn during that time or for a few days after. Cooler regions will also find lawns can be watered as little as once every two or three weeks during the winter months when there is naturally less evaporation and a higher chance of regular rainfall.
6. What About Different Grass And Soil Types?
Different grass and soil compositions play a significant role in determining how much and how often your lawn needs watering. Generally, cooler grass types (such as rye, fine fescue, bluegrass and tall fescue) require watering two or three times a week.
Meanwhile, warmer season grass (like kikuyu and couch) requires much less irrigation per week (1 to 3cm) as these species are more drought tolerant. Monitoring your lawn's moisture levels will aid in making the right decision and altering irrigation as required.
Best Lawn Irrigation Systems
When it comes to looking after your lawn, no two lawns are identical, which is why considering your irrigation options is a good idea. For most people, the go-to watering device is the good old sprinkler. Sprinklers come in many shapes and sizes so it is easy to find something that suits your lawn’s size and shape. Here are the basic types of sprinklers available in NZ and what kinds of lawns they are most suited to.
Oscillating Sprinklers. Featuring a tube-like shape with stabilisers, these sprinklers oscillate back and forth over a rectangular coverage area, offering fairly even coverage and gentle watering. Oscillating sprinklers are great for larger areas where coverage is a priority, they aren’t ideal for windy areas as the water spray is projected quite high and subject to wind blow.
Impact Sprinklers. Operating on an impulse or pulsating principle, these sprinklers rotate in a circle, squirting out a single jet of water that is periodically interrupted by a flow breaker. Impact sprinklers are often used for large lawns as they are wind-resistant and have adjustable flow rates.
Circular Or Rotating Sprinklers. Dispersing water in a circular pattern, spinning sprinklers work with one or more ‘arms’ while fixed circular sprinklers provide an adjustable spray pattern. Both of these types of sprinklers are best for medium to small-sized lawns, gardens, and oddly shaped or narrow areas - plus they are great for kids to play in over the summer!
In-ground Sprinkler Systems. Connected to the water mains and installed beneath the lawn’s surface with strategically placed nozzles, in-ground sprinkler systems offer the best and most consistent coverage while also offering a set-and-forget advantage. Using timers, your fully automated irrigation system can be preset to water your lawn when you choose and for how long you choose, with little intervention required.
Soaker Hoses. Soaker hoses are an excellent choice for lawns and gardens; they lay along the top of the ground, dripping water slowly into the surrounding soil. The low flow rate and localised coverage provide efficient use of water over longer periods (especially in hot, windy areas).
Travelling Sprinklers. Appearing in various forms (sometimes like little tractors), travelling sprinklers move by themselves across your lawn in a preset pattern, dragging the hose behind them. Travelling sprinklers are great for large areas and typically feature automatic shutoff valves for when they complete their mission.
5 Top Tips For Efficient Lawn Watering To Take Away
Watering your lawn efficiently isn’t just about remembering to water it. Your lawn is just like your garden it requires some care and attention every now and then to keep it looking at its best. Here are 4 of our top tips to take away when watering your lawn.
Deep, Infrequent Watering Is Best. Aim for longer watering sessions less often rather than frequent shallow watering. This encourages deeper root growth, resilience and drought resistance.
Use A Soaker Hose Or Drip Irrigation. These methods better deliver water directly to the soil, minimising water loss due to evaporation and runoff. If the budget allows, set-and-forget automated irrigation offers the best results as you can set the timer to do the watering for you!
Monitor Soil Moisture. Paying more attention to signs of dehydration stress, such as wilting or discolouration and adjusting your watering schedule accordingly is the best way to maintain the health of your lawn (every lawn is different!).
Keep Local Water Restrictions In Mind. Always be mindful of any water restrictions or guidelines imposed by your local Council, especially during dry periods or drought conditions.
Ask For Advice! If you are struggling with lawn and garden care, why not get in touch with your local lawn repair and maintenance experts, they will be able to offer helpful advice and services that will make the job much easier!
Giving your lawn the water it needs at the right time will reward you with a beautiful, resilient landscape to enjoy for years to come. Need more advice on lawn and garden care in Blenheim? Schedule a free consultation with the Creating Homes team today!