Lawn Watering Schedules and Best Practices
Watering your lawn seems simple, but how, when, and how much you water are the most critical factors for developing a deep, drought-resistant root system. In fact, most common lawn problems, including shallow roots, many weed infestations, and fungal diseases, are the direct result of poor watering habits.
This guide will focus specifically on the best way to water your lawn. Watering is a key pillar of a complete lawn health plan. To see how it works together with mowing, fertilizing, and more, be sure to visit our main Lawn Care 101: Your Ultimate Guide to a Lush, Healthy Yard.
The Golden Rule: Water Deeply and Infrequently
This is the most important concept in lawn watering.
WRONG Way (Light and Frequent): Watering for 10-15 minutes every day. This creates a "shallow" watering pattern. The water only penetrates the top inch or two of soil, which trains the grass roots to stay near the surface. These shallow roots are weak, highly dependent on the next watering, and are the first to die off during a hot, dry summer.
RIGHT Way (Deep and Infrequent): Watering for a long, deep session just one or two times per week. This soaks the soil, allowing water to penetrate 6 to 8 inches down. This forces the grass roots to grow deeper to find the water, creating a strong, dense, and resilient root system that can survive (and even thrive) during a drought.
The Best Time of Day to Water
The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning, between 4:00 AM and 9:00 AM.
The reasoning is simple:
Less Evaporation: The air is cool, and the sun is low, so more water gets to the soil instead of evaporating.
Less Wind: There is typically less wind in the morning, which means your sprinklers will provide more even coverage.
Prevents Disease: This is a crucial one for Central Virginia. Watering in the morning gives the grass blades all day to dry off.
AVOID watering at night. Watering in the evening or overnight leaves the grass blades wet for 8-12 hours. This creates the perfect, humid environment for fungal diseases like Brown Patch and Dollar Spot to explode across your lawn.
How Much Water Does Your Lawn Need?
Most lawns need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, including rainfall.
The challenge is, how do you know how long it takes your sprinkler to put down 1 inch of water? You can use the "Tuna Can Test."
Place 3-5 empty, flat-bottomed containers (like tuna cans or cat food cans) in different zones of your sprinkler's reach.
Turn on your sprinkler and set a timer.
Time how long it takes for the cans to collect 1 inch of water.
That amount of time (e.g., 45 minutes) is how long you need to run that sprinkler zone.
Now, instead of guessing, you know that running your sprinkler for 45 minutes, two times per week, will deliver the 2 inches of water your lawn needs.
A Special Tip for Central Virginia's Clay Soil
Our region is known for its heavy clay soil. Clay soil is dense and absorbs water very slowly.
If you try to water for 1 inch all at once (e.g., 45 minutes straight), you will probably see water running off your lawn and into the street after 20 minutes. This is a huge waste of water and means the water isn't getting deep.
Solution: The "Cycle and Soak" Method
Instead of watering for 45 minutes straight, break it up:
Water for 20 minutes.
Turn off the water and let it soak in for 30-60 minutes.
Water again for another 25 minutes.
This "soak" period allows the water to penetrate the dense clay, so the second watering session can soak in even deeper instead of running off.
Let the Pros Handle It
Figuring out the perfect watering schedule for your specific lawn, soil, and sprinkler system can be tricky. Over-watering can lead to disease and runoff, while under-watering can stress your lawn and invite weeds.
If you're in the Central Virginia area and want to take the guesswork out of lawn care, Mr. B's Lawn & Garden Care is here to help. We can assess your lawn's specific needs and provide professional services that keep it healthy all year long.