Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on LawnStarter.
You may think frequent irrigation is the key to a lush lawn, but knowing when to stop watering your lawn is just as crucial.
Going overboard with your watering or watering at inappropriate times can do more harm than good, turning your lawn into a real eyesore and disrupting its growth cycle.
Knowing when to decrease or stop irrigation will benefit your lawn in the long run. Here are situations when it’s best to stop watering your lawn.
1. It’s Rainy Season (or You’re Just Getting a Lot of Rain)
If you live in a rainy area, you’ll want to shut off your irrigation system once it starts raining regularly. Combining irrigation with rainfall can drown your lawn, attract weeds, diseases, and pests, and make your soil soft and spongy.
That said, you should monitor the amount of rainfall you’re getting in the area. You can do this by purchasing a rain gauge or building your own if you enjoy more hands-on projects. Alternatively, check a reliable weather app you trust.
If the tendency is to have short storms, you’ll still need to use your sprinklers. Rain tends to be sporadic, which means it alone won’t give your grass the hydration it needs to thrive.
In contrast, your gauge may indicate that your grass is getting its recommended dose of moisture just from rainfall.
During a longer stretch of rain, take a break and resume watering once the ground has dried. Use your gauge to measure the amount of water your grass is getting. It may be that no additional irrigation is necessary throughout the week.
2. You’re Struggling With a Fungal or Pest Problem
At some point, you may encounter diseases or pests in your lawn. If that happens, watering your grass may exacerbate the problem rather than solve it. Why?
Fungi thrive and spread in moist environments. If your lawn is overrun by disease, a better idea is to reduce watering frequency or eliminate it altogether until you solve the problem.
Another step you can take is to ensure proper drainage to eliminate excessive moisture. This can be done by:
- Improving your soil’s structure by incorporating organic matter such as compost or mulch into your lawn care routine.
- Using core aeration to reduce soil compaction and improve nutrient, air, and water flow.
- Installing French drains to direct excess water away from your lawn.
- Avoiding overwatering and water your lawn deeply but infrequently. This encourages healthy root growth and reduces soil surface moisture, which can cause fungal growth.
- Keeping your yard free of debris, dense vegetation, and overhanging branches to boost air circulation.
Moist Soil Can Attract Pests
Similarly, moist soil can attract a wide range of pests you just don’t want in your lawn. These include:
- Grubs
- Mosquitoes
- Fleas
- Termites
- Carpenter ants
- Cutworms
- Sod webworms
- Chinch bugs
- Mole crickets
To tackle the problem, irrigate less frequently or stop altogether until you can employ appropriate pest control measures. Ensure you accurately identify the problem pest and assess the extent of the infestation.
You may even have to contact a professional pest control company for guidance or services.
3. Local Watering Restrictions
In the scorching summer months, local watering regulations can throw a wrench in your well-established lawn care routine.
To conserve water, prevent water shortages, and keep things as eco-friendly as possible, municipal authorities may activate the following measures:
- Frequency restrictions
- Time of day restrictions
- Duration restrictions
- Complete bans for a set period of time in extreme cases
- Required compliance with smart irrigation systems that use weather and soil conditions to determine the perfect amount of water your lawn needs. They can be programmed to turn on and off as needed to optimize water usage.
What to Do During Watering Restrictions
During this time, there are steps you can take to do your part and support the environment:
- Follow the regulations set by your local authorities, as they’re put in place for a reason.
- When watering is allowed, make the most of it and water efficiently. A good idea is to invest in a drip irrigation system that directs water directly to the grass root zone to limit water waste.
- Introduce native plants or drought-tolerant grass in your landscape as a way to conserve water and do your part in protecting the environment. This type of vegetation is adapted to the local climate and requires less water to survive and thrive.
- Collect rainwater in a barrel or any other container that can provide access to water during restrictive periods.
- If you have limited access to water, focus on priority areas such as new grass, trees, or shrubs. These require more moisture to establish healthy roots and grow strong.
4. Seasonal Changes and Temperature Drops
When colder weather sets in and temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you can think about putting away your garden hose or shutting off your sprinkler system — just take it slowly.
As the days get shorter and there’s less sunlight, your grass will hold onto more moisture due to a lack of evaporation. Continue to water a few times a week until temperatures drop and stay low consistently.
Once the ground freezes, stop watering your lawn, as the barrier formed by the ice will prevent moisture from reaching the roots of the grass anymore.
If you live in an area with mild or temperate weather, you may have to continue watering your lawn throughout the year without substantial breaks.
Your grass will continue to grow and skip dormancy, which means that watering will remain just as important despite the season.
When Is Watering Necessary?
Many core lawn care tasks require water to be carried out successfully. Make sure to consider the needs of your grass and changing weather conditions as you check these chores off your list.
Aeration
If you’re struggling with soil compaction, poor drainage, or too much thatch, core aeration can help alleviate the problem.
For a successful process, wait to aerate when the soil is moist, either from rainfall the day before or irrigation.
Don’t aerate overly dry soil, as it will be difficult to penetrate.
The same goes for soaked soil. When the ground is too wet, any holes you make will collapse, causing further compaction.
Fertilization
When fertilizing your lawn, you must water it to help the nutrients penetrate the soil and reach the roots. Follow the guidelines on the label to get the best results.
Try to time it so there’s no rain after fertilizing, or else you risk having everything washed away before getting absorbed into the soil.
Overseeding or Reseeding
Seeds need water to germinate and establish. Whether overseeding to thicken up an existing lawn or reseeding to reset your lawn, water your new grass every day until it’s established.
After that, gradually reduce the frequency as the seedlings mature and grow into full-blown grass.
Herbicides
If weeds are popping up and ruining your lawn care game, it may be time to pull out the herbicide guns.
Whether you apply a post-emergent herbicide to treat weeds that have already germinated and emerged or a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weeds from ever sprouting, post-application watering is a step you can’t skip.
Follow the directions on the label, as the time frames for watering can vary depending on the product.
For example, you may have to wait between 30 minutes and eight hours to water in your herbicide. It’s also important to follow the recommended application rates.
Pest and Disease Control
In many cases, pest and disease control goes hand in hand with lawn watering. Some treatments may require immediate watering to activate the product and ensure soil penetration, while others recommend waiting for a set period (mentioned on the product label).
Watering can also prevent runoff into nearby bodies of water and limit the environmental impact if you’re using chemical-based treatments.
How Much Should You Water Your Lawn?
For a healthy lawn, water established grass two to three times a week for 30 minutes each time.
Remember: Cool-season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, perennial ryegrass) require about 1.5 inches of water, whereas with warm-season grass (Zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass, Bermudagrass), you can get away with providing between 0.5 inch and 1 inch of water.
In a newly seeded lawn, the top 1.5 inches of soil should be kept moist for between five and 10 days, which is how long the germination period typically lasts.
Water your new grass seeds once or twice daily with a gentle spray or mist to prevent displacing the seeds and flooding your lawn. Use a light touch and stay consistent in your watering.
It’s essential to water your lawn less often but for longer periods. This method encourages the grass roots to search for moisture, resulting in a robust and deep root system. Watering too often for short periods promotes weak, shallow roots that can’t withstand drought.
Pro tip: The best time to water your grass is between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. This is when wind and evaporation are less likely, allowing the water to penetrate the soil and reach the roots. It also gives the excess water left on the foliage time to dry quickly, which reduces the risk of fungal disease.
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