Watering your Lawn in Extreme Heat

With such an extreme heat wave hitting the area your crisp, green lawn can turn into a brittle, brown mess fast. The key to keeping grass from suffering a quick death in hot temperatures is simple - water, water, water. 

WHEN

With temperatures in the high 90s and even low 100s a majority of the water used to satisfy your lawn can evaporate quickly if you don’t water at the correct time of day; this can lead to a high water bill for water your grass is not even “drinking”. Be sure to water your lawn early in the morning, generally between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., or when the temperature is below 75 degrees. With such an intense heat wave, this may mean you will need to get up even earlier to water your lawn. 

Watering your lawn in the morning is suggested by lawn care professionals because morning is the time when evaporation is low due to the cooler temperature. Also, the water will not deviate from the area it is sprayed because wind is less frequent during morning hours. 

While one may think that watering at night is acceptable because of the lower temperature, in actuality it can be extremely hazardous to your lawn. The grass does not absorb water quickly in the evening because the temperatures continue to drop, causing the water to remain stagnant on the surface of the lawn. This still water can cause fungal activity and disease to grow and spread. 

HOW OFTEN

It is important to water the grass for the right amount of time, too. If you water for less than twenty minutes in each area, your grass is not getting the amount of water it needs. Deep watering, where the water reaches down to the roots, is recommended in order for your lawn to keep healthy. If your lawn has large patches of moss or thatch underneath areas of your grass it is important to water even longer because this thick material must be soaked entirely before any water will be able to trickle down to the grass roots.

HOW MUCH

In times of extreme heat, it is vital to water your lawn for about 30 to 45 minutes daily. Once the temperatures drop below ninety, you can cut back to watering three to four times a week, until that blissful thunderstorm comes and quenches your lawn's thirst!