Watering Frequency

Water is one of the main components to a lush and healthy lawn. Water helps to germinate the initial seeds as well as giving life to a new lawn and maintaining the life of an aging lawn.

It is important to keep in mind that the amount of water required by the lawn is accumulated not just through water – but natural rainfall as well. Most healthy lawns need no more than an inch of water per week (including rainfall) to remain healthy, and well moisturized.

There are certain times of the day that are beneficial to water the lawn. These times are between four and eight in the morning as well as eight to twelve at night. At these times the sun is set and therefore will not scorch the lawn before the moisture has a chance to absorb into the soil. Watering at these times will lose less water to evaporation and allow the water to absorb where it belongs – deep into the soil.

Watering early in the day allows the water to dry as well as reaching the roots. Some experts recommend the early morning watering as opposed to the nightly so the grass will have a period of time to dry rather than remaining wet all night.

New sod requires specific and consistent watering. This should be done at least four times daily and not in the direct sunlight. The sod requires water to germinate the seeds – as the seeds will not germinate or attach if they are not constantly moistened. It is critical that new sod be watered with this method or the sod will not have a chance to germinate in the soil and will die. The intense watering schedule should continue until the sod has completed adhered within the soil and lain roots. This could take up to two summers if planted in late August or September. Sod should be watered immediately after installation – and should be thoroughly soaked. Only after the seeds have fully implanted themselves in the soil should the water be applied deeply and infrequently as a normal lawn would.

It is important to remember that while laying sod the soil should never become completely drought. This will ensure that the seeds do not germinate and the sod will have gone to waste. The sod will become unusable after becoming dry.

Over watering a lawn can leave it vulnerable to disease and an increased amount of weeds through the grass. Watering too much can cause the roots to grow near the surface causing thatch and other lawn problems.

There are specific times of the year when the lawn requires little or no watering. During the spring is one of these times. Spring is time when the air is full of moisture and the rain is plentiful. Watering a lawn in the spring will lead to an overflow of water.

Signs that the lawn requires additional water are footprints, and patterns from the lawn mower that do not immediately take shape to the way it was prior or if there is excessive browning occurring throughout the lawn. A lawn is an ecosystem – and most ecosystems cannot live without water.

Sprinklers are optimal to use as it is difficult to monitor the amount of water that has flowed to the lawn. Sprinklers come with a timing mechanism that allows for perfection.

The benefits of hand watering are a deeper and more intimate gauge of how the lawn is absorbing the water. Hand watering is thought to be more of a detailed process and is favoured by many gardeners.

Regardless of whether you choose to hand water, or use sprinklers it is important to determine that the moisture reaches all parts of the lawn – and into the lawn. During hot periods it is important to water more frequently. If possible, early in the morning when the most amount of water will reach deep to the roots where it is required.

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