While you can certainly water your lawn anytime of the year, there are times of the day when the amount of moisture your grass needs is most critical. Excess moisture sits on your lawn overnight, breeding bacterial and fungal diseases. You don’t want to end up with yard fungus. Instead, water your lawn during the warmest part of the day, when the grass will be more absorbent and healthier.
The Time of the Year is Important
The warmest months of the year are summer and fall in Florida, and while the rest of the year is drier, Florida has a rainy season from June to October. The rain keeps your grass moist and will keep it from turning brown or patchy. Springtime in Florida is drier than summer, but there are still some showers throughout the month of April. Even those brief spells of rain can help your lawn during these tough times.
Watering your lawn more than one inch a week can drown it, depriving it of oxygen and making it susceptible to disease. Instead, water your lawn only once a week, ideally three days apart. You can time your watering to coincide with rainy days and spring rains. Watering every day is too frequent and once a week is rarely enough. But depending on the type of soil you have, you can adjust your watering schedule to water your lawn properly.
During the warmest months, the best time to water your lawn is early morning, between six and 10 am. Morning sun is low and cool, allowing the water to reach the roots. Watering in the afternoon or evening if evaporation is wasteful and increases the risk of lawn disease. Using water wisely can also save you money and help the environment. If you water your lawn before 9am, you will cut down on the risk of fines and sanitary concerns.
What about Summer Lawn Watering in Port St Lucie?
Summer is the hottest time of year for watering lawns. During this time, lawns need one to two inches of water every week. The temperature will determine how often you need to water your lawn, but in general, you should water your lawn every three to four days. For lawns in warm weather, this can be as little as one inch every three to four days. On the other hand, lawns in southern regions need more than one inch every two days.
In addition to a lawn’s need for water, the type of grass will also influence the amount of water it needs. Knowing the type of grass will make setting a schedule a lot easier. Knowing your lawn’s type will help you keep it healthy and beautiful. And it won’t hurt you to follow guidelines on watering and fertilizing. However, the correct amount of water is crucial in keeping it healthy.
In the spring and fall, your lawn needs fertilizer. You can buy organic fertilizer or compost in those months. During the rainy season, it needs less water than in summer and fall. If you notice mushrooms growing on your lawn, you may have overwatered it. If this happens, decrease your watering until the mushrooms disappear. You may also want to consider fertilizer if it’s dry.
In general, the best time to water your lawn is when the soil is evenly moist. It is recommended to apply about one inch of water per zone to your lawn to ensure adequate moisture. Applying more water than necessary can cause the grass to develop shallow root systems. Watering your lawn only once a week can have disastrous results on its health. It also encourages a shallow root system, which is less drought-tolerant.
If you’re having problems determining the ideal time to water your lawn, try a simple container test. Fill a water container with a handful of soil, and then measure the amount of time it takes to fill it. If it takes you more than 15 minutes to fill it up, then it’s time to adjust your watering schedule and days. When you find the right time, your lawn will be lush and healthy.
In the fall, lawns need less water than they need in the summer. While you should continue to water your lawn twice a week during the warmest part of the year, you should reduce the frequency of watering to once a week as temperatures begin to fall. A simple watering schedule is to apply one inch of water per week when the leaf blades have a folded in half position or a blue tint. If drought isn’t yet evident, you should wait until the following spring before applying another one-inch-deep watering.
