Timing Matters

The Time of Day that you Water your Lawn Makes a Difference

When it comes to maintaining a green and lush lawn, there are a lot of things to consider. Fertilizer. Grass type. Weather conditions. And of course, our favorite topic – WATER.

Watering your lawn may seem simple, but there are several factors to consider. The two most widely discussed factors are how much water your lawn needs and what time of the day is the best time to run your irrigation system and give your lawn a drink.

The time of day that you run your irrigation system makes a huge impact on the health of your yard. You have probably walked around your neighborhood and noticed neighbor’s sprinkler systems running at all different times throughout the day. Which begs the question, who is right?

Overall, the best time of day to water your grass is in the early morning hours. Of course, this changes slightly with the change of seasons, but in general your grass will be happiest when it gets a drink between the hours of 2AM and 7AM.

Why water your grass in the early morning?

• The middle of the day is the hottest (and windiest) part of the day. This can cause the water to evaporate before it even has the chance to reach the roots of your grass or plants.
• Watering early gives your lawn time to dry. If your lawn is still wet when the sun goes down, it can lead to excess moisture that causes fungus.
• The Law: Depending on where you live, your water purveyor or municipality sets watering restrictions during high water demand months. If you water during the middle of the day – you will pay! These fines are steep, so be sure to schedule your irrigation system to run in the early morning hours.

If you’ve seen Mrs. Jones’ sprinklers running from down the street during your lunch break it is safe to say she is watering at the wrong time. The odd thing about running your sprinkler system during the optimal time is that most people will never actually see their sprinklers in action. That’s right - if you’re watering at the correct time, your lawn is drinking while you’re sleeping.

This causes many people to worry whether or not their lawn actually got watered during the night or not. 

What is a good way to tell? 

• If you have a smart controller: Simply review your app on your phone for the last run date and time. At Conserva Irrigation, our personal favorite, the Hunter Hydrawise controller, this feature can be found on the home screen under Watering Schedule.

• If you do not have a smart controller: A catch can test! Yep, that’s right, the good old fashion way of telling whether or not water is falling on those precious blades of grass. For this, we usually suggest placing empty tuna cans in your yard, but any shallow can will work. The cans will collect the irrigation water giving you evidence that your yard was watered.

In the end, the time of day that you water your grass is a key component to a healthy lawn. Need more tips on keeping a green and healthy lawn? Contact your local Conserva Irrigation today.