The colder weather does not evaporate moisture from the lawn as quickly as it does in the warmer weather. Most lawn experts recommend watering your grass until the soil or ground temperature reaches the 40-degree Fahrenheit mark. It is true, less water is required and needed when the temperature drops.
When temperatures are below 40 degrees, you may want to wait until mid-day to water, still allowing time for water to soak in before nighttime freezing. If it has just rained, or it is expected to rain, don't water. Grass grows more slowly during the colder months, requiring less watering and mowing.
Fall means cooler temperatures, which is great for lawns. However, you'll still want to water your grass until freezing temperatures arrive. When it's freezing outside, water won't penetrate the frozen ground, so avoid watering when the temperature is 30 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
If it is not going to rain before the freezing temperatures arrive, you should water plants thoroughly. This is because moist ground stays warmer than dry ground. Watering the night before the freeze arrives will insulate the root structure of the grass and plants, decreasing the potential for cold injury.
Don't water everyday.
The more shallow your grass roots are, the less hearty it will be in hot weather. Instead water about two times per week for longer periods of time.
It is often recommended that you water your lawn early in the morning, as early as 4 am and no later than 10 am. During extreme heat, watering should be done no later than 7 am.
Watering on a hot summer afternoon is a horrible idea. The liquid will evaporate too quickly and may not reach your grass's roots, so heat and irrigation shouldn't go together. Instead, the best time to water grass during summer is in the morning.
Running the sprinkler system when it is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below is cause for concern. Let's take a look below at the best ways to protect your sprinkler system in the winter months.
Thoroughly Water plants if it's not going to rain before the freezing temperatures arrive. It may sound illogical. However, a moist ground stays warmer than dry soil. Watering the night before the freeze comes will insulate the root structure of the grass and plants and decreases the potential for cold injury.
Farmers spray water before an overnight freeze because water produces latent heat when it freezes. The sprayed water on the surface of the plant will be converted to ice, and the heat trapped in it will insulate the plant from the cold environment.
Watering after fertilizing washes the fertilizer off of the grass blades and into the soil, where it can get to work nourishing your lawn. It's also important because if fertilizer sits too long without being watered in, it can burn the grass.
Water in the early morning – between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Midday watering leads to wasteful evaporation, while nighttime watering causes droplets to cling to grass overnight, increasing the chance of lawn diseases.
Water at the right time.
Water only when temps rise above 45 degrees or above before a freeze. Be sure your irrigation control or timer is turned off when a freeze is expected. Irrigate earlier in the day when plants are more likely to absorb water. Water when there hasn't been a recent rain, snow or sleet.
Grass generally stops growing once temperatures drop to below the range of 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit or reach above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Since soil takes longer than air to lose and retain heat, it will take a period of a least a few days for a temperature change to impact the growth of grass.
The colder weather does not evaporate moisture from the lawn as quickly as it does in the warmer weather. Most lawn experts recommend watering your grass until the soil or ground temperature reaches the 40-degree Fahrenheit mark.
Most oscillating sprinklers will put off about one inch of water an hour. That would mean that you would need to water your lawn for one hour, once a week (twice weekly in periods of extreme drought). For less established lawns, you may need to increase the frequency as your lawn's root system becomes more robust.
If there are mild breezes at night, they will mix the warmed atmospheric air with the cooler air near the soil, making frost unlikely. A still, windless night allows cool air to pool near the ground, making frost possible. Strong, gusty winds at night can sweep away the warm air, increasing the likeliness of frost.
The best time to water your garden in summer is from 6 am to 10 am—before the heat of the day sets in, giving your plants plenty of time to drink up and any moisture on the leaves to dry off before nightfall. What is this? If watering in the morning isn't possible, the next best time is from 4 pm to 7 pm.
While you may be eager to get your lawn back to its pristine green state, it is important to remember that temperatures at and below 32 degrees Fahrenheit put your sprinkler system at risk of freezing.
Normally, this is not a problem because the main shut-off, zone valves and heads are below ground and stay relatively insulated. However, if the temperatures do dip down into the 20's, or temperatures remain below 32 degrees for an extended period of time, your irrigation system can be damaged.
Heat from a fire will cause the liquid to expand, once the pressure gets too high the bulb will burst and the water in the system will be released. The liquid in the sprinkler head comes in a variety of colors, which indicates the temperature required to activate the head: Orange – 135° F. Red – 155° F.
Water Wisely
Many of us water too often and too long. Most lawns need to be watered no more than three days a week in the spring as well as in the summer and two days a week in the fall. This watering schedule is recommended under normal water supply conditions.
Is it Worth Watering Brown Grass? Yes, it is worth it to water your brown grass. If the grass is dormant, then watering it regularly and properly may revive it. This is why it is important to know if the grass is dormant or just dead.