Good or Bad: Watering Grass At Night Myth

Many lawn owners water their lawn when they have time, often with a water hose and not sprinklers, making it some sort of therapy.

However, many people also wonder if there is a grass watering time that is better than the rest and if yes, what time is that.

Published: October 21, 2022.

When to Water the Grass

When watering the grass, the water/moisture must reach some 6 inches (~15 cm) into the soil - this is generally how deep grassroots reach. So, how much water should be used, how often should grass be watered, how should grass be watered and when:

• If the grass is watered in the afternoon, during the summer heat, plenty of water will simply evaporate and not get into the soil, increasing the water bills.
• If the grass is watered during the night, plenty of water will get into the soil, and not much water will be lost due to the sun's heat, which is great regarding the water bills. However, such practice increases the moisture level around grass blades and, in combination with darkness, promotes mildew and fungus growth.
• If the water is watered early in the morning, the grass is still cold, and the moisture loss due to evaporation is low. But, the sun will soon dry the grass blades and prevent the fungus and mildew from growing and spreading around.

So, the best time to water your grass is early in the morning, for example, between 5 and 8 AM.

How To Water the Grass: Sprinklers vs. Water Hose

Taking shoes off and watering the grass with a hose in one hand and a drink in another hand is a popular relaxation method for many people during summer.

However, no matter how careful You are, watering the grass with a water hose may lead to overwatered areas and to areas that are too dry. And such watering can lead to both brown and yellow spots on the lawn, which nobody likes to see.

On the other hand, thanks to advancements in technology, an automatic sprinkler system based on the timer and humidity sensors may keep the lawn properly watered and still save plenty of water. And with WiFi and/or Bluetooth connectivity, such a system can send reports about consumed water, lawn humidity, and similar.

So, if You have a small lawn, watering it with a water hose can be a relaxing task, but for anything larger, automation of such task can save time, money, and your own effort.

How Often to Water the Lawn

This is perhaps the most difficult question of all since lawns differ in soil composition, local rain and temperature, grass variety, position, etc.

So, some lawns must be watered practically every day, while some can be watered once a week, or they don't have to be watered at all during the rain season.

If You are unsure about this, the best course of action is to take a showel and dig some 6-7 inches deep and check the moisture in the soil - if it is dry, it must be watered; if not, wait for a day or two and check again.

How Much Water is Needed When Watering the Lawn

When watering the lawn, water must reach a depth of 6-7 inches (15-18 cm). Depending on the soil type and grass condition, that is usually around 1-inch (~25 mm; 25 liters per square meter) of water for every single watering.

Note: when watering the lawn, it is important to thoroughly water the grassroots (down to 6 inches, 7 inches at most), and it is better to do it properly once than to do it several times with an insufficient amount of water.

Also, as the water enters the soil, it forces the air out. And as it evaporates or as the plants use it, fresh air enters the root area, keeping the roots healthier.

Long Story Short: The best time to water the lawn is early in the morning, preferably using the sprinkler system with a timer combined with several moisture sensors dug in the soil.

But, for smaller lawns, a water hose is still very often the most popular way of watering the grass...