Watering Your Lawn in Summer
During the summer, your lawn is the staple of your garden – you want your grass to look healthy, strong and, of course, a lush green colour.
As a natural living plant, your turf can only thrive if cared for properly and one of the most important parts of lawn care is watering correctly.
Your turf will need different amounts of water throughout the year and, to make sure you’re not entering the summer with dry and patchy turf, here are our top tips for watering your lawn during hot weather.
How to Water
A common misconception about watering your lawn is that you must do it for a certain amount of time for it to be effective, when in fact it’s the way in which you water that affects how healthy your turf becomes.
Using a Hose:
Lawns of varying sizes will of course need different amounts of water to ensure they’re getting an even coverage.
We recommend using a hose for large areas as this allows you to water deeply and thoroughly, ensuring that the ground below the grass is fully soaked. Watering lightly so that only the blades get coated does not encourage the root systems to grow deeper into the soil towards the moisture which can improve the stability and durability of your turf over time.
Sprinkler Systems:
Sprinkler systems are great for minimal effort when watering, but you should ensure that you’re adjusting your sprinkler heads to cover all areas of the lawn. You may notice dry or patchy areas where the water isn’t reaching which is a sign that the direction of the water needs to be adjusted.
You should also run the sprinkler for long enough so that it has time to sufficiently soak the area and seep down into the ground below. Automated / timed systems are a great solution for ensuring proper coverage with minimal maintenance.
Overwatering:
Another common misconception is that you might easily overwater your lawn. This is actually quite difficult to do, especially in dry / hot weather as the water often gets evaporated from the lawn quickly.
However, if you’re finding that after watering there are boggy areas where water has pooled, this is a sign that the grass is getting more water than it needs and to wait until the area dries up before watering again.
When to Water
Throughout the Day:
The best time of day to water your lawn is in the morning or at night before the sun is directly overhead. This gives the lawn time to soak up any moisture before the sun begins to evaporate it.
In hotter temperatures, your grass will need watering twice a day minimum with maybe a few top up watering sessions throughout the day to keep it hydrated. Try to avoid the hottest points of the day so that the lawn can effectively retain the moisture.
Regular watering keeps your turf actively growing and encourages the grass roots to grow deeply into the ground. An under-watered lawn is easy to spot as the grass will appear dry, brown and patchy. The soil may also look dry, crumbly or light in colour. This is a sure sign that you should give your lawn some water.
In periods of heavy rainfall you will not need to water as much.
Seasonally:
Different seasons have different watering schedules on account of the changing weather and climate. In summer, you should be watering regularly to ensure your lawn is getting enough moisture, though it’s important to remember that this schedule may need to change throughout the year:
Summer:
-Water 2-3 times a day.
-Soil should be consistently moist.
-The hotter, dryer and windier the weather, the more water it will need.
Autumn:
-Water 1-2 times a week.
-Soil should be thoroughly moist when watered and then left to dry.
-Reduce watering as the temperature falls and rainfall increases.
Winter:
-Water every 2-4 weeks.
-Soil should be kept moist but not soggy.
-Do not water in freezing conditions.
Spring:
-Water 2-3 times per week.
-Soil should be consistently moist.
-As the grass grows, water more frequently.
Watering your lawn correctly during the summer is crucial for maintaining its health and aesthetic appeal, though it does heavily depend on your local climate and weather so you should always base your watering schedule on the immediate needs of your grass.
Tailoring your watering schedule reduces water wastage and allows you to enjoy a beautiful, healthy lawn all summer long.
Author Bio
Chrissie Handley is a lawn care specialist working for Online Turf – a family-owned farm and e-commerce company with over a decade’s experience selling garden turf and providing tailored gardening knowledge.
With extensive expertise in laying turf, lawn maintenance and seasonal gardening advice, Chrissie is dedicated to helping gardening enthusiasts achieve lush, healthy lawns year-round.
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