Whether you have freshly laid turf, or have a mature lawn that you want to keep looking as healthy as possible, then there are times of the day that you need to avoid watering your grass. As a professional gardener, I am always being asked for the best time to water the grass, so it’s great to share it with everyone here!

When to avoid watering your grass

You will often read on other sites that it’s worst to water your grass during the middle of the day whilst the sun is at its hottest. This is due to the theory that the water will burn the grass and turn it Yellow, with the water acting as a magnifying glass, much like glass. But this just isn’t the case. If your grass turns Yellow, it’s not due to being burnt, but actually due to not receiving enough water, similar to a drought. The real problem with watering your lawn during the middle of the day is that the water will evaporate much more quickly compared to watering early Morning or late evening, and therefore not enough water getting to the roots. If you wanted to water your grass throughout the middle of a hot day, then you will need to water more frequently, resulting in a higher water bill too! If it looks as though your grass blades are starting to turn yellow, then water immediately to avoid patches and disease.

Although watering in the middle of a hot day not ideal, it’s not as bad as watering late evening, although advised by other websites. This is because it will encourage the growth of moss since it needs moisture to spread. You will often notice that gardens that suffer from moss are most affected in the shady areas, such as under a tree, beside a large hedge or building etc., due to the water not being able to evaporate. Watering late evening may seem like a good idea, but with no sun light due, your lawn will stay damper for longer! Remember, it’s a good idea for the grass, but a bad idea for the moss!

What is the best time to water my grass?

The best time to water your grass is early Morning, before 10AM. Humidity in the air will be low, meaning that the water will soak down to the roots, but will evaporate quickly enough as to not encourage the growth of moss and other diseases. If you are worried throughout the day, especially if very hot, then providing some extra water will cause no harm, and will in fact further reduce the risk of disease.

How often should I water my grass?

Your grass will adapt to the change in climate, with deep roots forming in the hotter months. It is therefore important to give plenty of water, reaching 6 inches deep into the ground. This may sound like a lot, but remember, if you are watering in the Morning, it won’t take to evaporate. It is advised to water your lawn 2 to 3 times a week.

If you water your grass more than 2-3 times a week, this can encourage the growth of moss and other diseases. If you are someone that waters their grass on a daily basis then it’s time to stop! Lots of water, less frequently, will encourage your grass roots to dig deeper, making much stronger healthier grass as well as reduce the risk of diseases. You can always use a long screwdriver and mark 6 inches from the tip to the base and push this into the ground. If you are watering your lawn correctly, you should be able to push it all the way in. If you can’t, then you need to start watering for a longer period of time!

How often do I need to water freshly laid turf?

If you have new turf laid in your garden, then you will need to change the frequency in which you water to encourage the roots to grow as quickly as possible into the ground beneath. For the first 1-2 weeks, you need to water your new lawn twice a day. From the first week or 2 onward, it’s best to reduce this to 2-3 times a week as this will encourage deep root growth compared to watering daily, encouraging your grass to grow healthy and strong.

If I’ve missed anything and have any questions with regards to your lawn, then please comment below as I would love to help! I am always looking for new ideas to write about, and your comment just might be my next post! Please like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date on the latest gardening news, information, how to’s, advice and everything else garden related! I’m a professional gardener by trade, and love to write about it!