For most people, watering the lawn is a simple weekly task. If you are a homeowner who likes to give specific attention to your yard, you might ask yourself: How long should I water my lawn? After all, there’s a lot of conflicting information out there, and all the data can be confusing. If you have asked yourself this question, the experts at Jamison Pest and Lawn are here to help you!
In the following blog, we will answer this question and also share with you some tips on how you can best maintain your lawn.
How Long Should You Water Your Lawn?
Without wasting much time, let us dive into the question right away. First, you should know that the motive of this question can vary from person to person.
If you’re wondering how often to water your lawn, the answer is: it depends.
According to the various experts in the lawn care and maintenance industry, you need to water your lawn for at least 25-30 minutes. Your garden needs to be watered until it reaches 1 to 1.5 inches of water, which typically only takes once or twice a week.
However, this is not a golden rule for watering lawns. The actual duration and frequency of watering will depend on several factors, including the type of grass you have, the soil type, and the moisture content in your yard. Below we will look at these factors more closely.
Factors Affecting Watering Your Lawn
Not all homes in Tennessee are the same, and this is also true of your landscaping. Below are some factors that affect how long you should water your lawn.
Type Of The Grass
How often you water your lawn depends on the grass type you have in your yard. Some varieties of grass are drought-resistant, so they will not require you to water them excessively. Other types will require more frequent attention. The type of grass is determined by the grass blades (the green part) and not just the roots or trunk. There are two broad categories: warm-season grass and cool season grasses
Cool-season Grasses:
- Cool-season grasses include the likes of fescues, ryegrasses, and bluegrasses.
- These are typically planted in the autumn or spring and thrive in temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- This type of grass requires more frequent watering than warm-season varieties.
Warm Season Grasses:
- Warm-season grasses include varieties such as Zoysia japonica and Bermuda grass.
- These tolerate high heat and thrive in warmer temperatures (75F To 95F)
- They need more frequent watering than cool-season types during periods of drought or extreme heat.
Size Of The Lawn
The square footage of the lawn is one of the crucial factors that can affect how much you need to water the lawn. As you might expect, the larger your lawn is, the more water it will need. If you have a large yard (in terms of square footage), then your sprinkler system will need to be larger and more powerful in order to cover the entire area. For small yards and front lawns, you can usually get away with simply watering with a hose or sprinkler heads.
Type Of The Lawn
The age and type of lawn that you have will determine how long you need to water your lawn. For example, if you have just planted the grass in the backyard, then the water requirements will be different than a situation in which you have established your entire lawn for quite some time.
Newly seeded lawns or newly planted grass seed will require more upkeep. Therefore, you need to water the grass more frequently if it has recently been planted. A new lawn will need to be watered so that up to 2 inches of soil remains full of moisture. It is important that you are careful, as you will not want to overwater your lawn and have the soil turn soggy. As the grass starts growing, you can reduce the frequency of watering your yard.
On the other hand, for an established lawn, you will need to keep the first 7-8 inches moist. Therefore you need to water at least about one inch of soil every week.
Sprinkler System You Have
In-ground sprinkler systems are an effective alternative to the regular (manual) watering system. With the help of a sprinkler, the water is timely sprayed all over the lawn so that you do not have to worry about watering. There are many types of sprinkler systems available.
- Oscillating Sprinklers
- Impact Sprinklers
- Rotary Sprinklers
- Pulsating sprinklers
Some other factors include the natural rainfall frequency or the type of weather you are experiencing (hot or cold weather)
When Is The Best Time To Water Your Lawn?
The best time to water your lawn is during the morning, preferably the early morning. Watering the lawn between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. is effective because this is when the soil retains moisture most effectively. In the mornings, the temperatures are cooler, and the water will not evaporate as fast as it would later in the day. This is the time when your grass will not be under stress from extreme temperatures and will have adequate moisture.
Lawn Maintenance Tips To Improve Your Property
Lawn maintenance is a tough job, and letting things go is easy until you end up with a big problem. Don’t worry…We’ve got your back! Proper maintenance is essential to keeping your yard looking fantastic.
Here are a few methods or tips you can use to keep your yard looking at its best:
- Mow the lawn regularly to give your lawn a healthy look and improve curb appeal
- Conduct a soil test to know more about the quality of the soil. This will help you to know what you can do to improve your soil and your lawn.
- Fertilize your lawn regularly.
- Use lawn aeration services.
If you want to learn more about keeping a healthy lawn or other tips about lawn care, you can check out our blog on Spring Lawn Care.
Looking For Lawn Care Services In Tennessee? Jamison Pest and Lawn Can Help!
Watering your lawn is essential to keep your grass looking healthy. However, it is not the only thing you need to do. If you want the best for your yard, call the experts at Jamison Pest and Lawn. Whether you’re looking to get rid of unwanted pests or just to keep your lawn healthy and green, we have the solution.
Our team has years of experience, and we are dedicated to offering the best lawn care services in Tennessee possible. We take pride in our work, and you can trust that we’ll be there when you need us the most. So don’t delay—call Jamison Pest and Lawn today at (901)-452-1505
