Having your sprinkler set to run in the early morning ensures that your grass has time to absorb the water before the heatwave starting around noon.
The ideal time to water, therefore, is early in the morning between 4 am and 8 am. Your lawn will have time to absorb the moisture deep down to promote root growth, but will not be too damp by dark that it encourages fungus and other problems. The number of hours of continuous wetness should be kept to a minimum.
Watering in the morning also helps your lawn stay cooler throughout the hottest parts of the day, decreasing the amount of heat stress for the turf. If you are unable to water in the mornings, early evening (between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM) is the next best time.
1. Water Thoroughly: Rotor zones should run for about 30-40 minutes per zone and spray zones 10-15 minutes per zone. 2.
Aerate to increase infiltration. 6. Water in the early morning (4am to 10am). This allows the grass blades to dry, making them less susceptible to foliar diseases.
A common rule that is followed for obstructions within 18 inches of the sprinkler deflector is the “three times rule”. This requires sprinklers to be positioned away from obstructions a minimum or three times the maximum dimension of the obstruction.
In particularly hot, dry climates, you may need to water your lawn more frequently, and it may be necessary to water during the late afternoon or early evening as well. However, it's important to avoid watering your lawn late at night, as this can increase the risk of fungal growth and other problems.
If your sprinkler output is 1½ inches per week, your sprinklers should run for only ⅓ hour or 20 minutes that week (½ divided by 1½). On a twice-weekly watering schedule, run your sprinklers 10 minutes each time.
Water Wisely
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.
Most lawns need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week—either from rain or watering—to soak the soil that deeply. That amount of water can either be applied during a single watering or divided into two waterings during the week.
But life happens and sooner or later the running sprinkler is forgotten – even overnight! Not only does this waste water, it's also tough on the water bill – and can cause irreparable lawn and plant damage. In fact, over-watering can cause just as many problems as under-watering.
Avoid watering grass on a hot afternoon when it's 95 degrees or higher. The best time to water grass is at dawn or in the early evening. Water deeply three times a week instead of a little water daily. Test whether your sprinkler system is watering your lawn evenly.
Typically, most lawn irrigation periods during the summer should last between 25–30 minutes each. This amount of time depends on a lot of different factors though. As previously stated, each irrigation system or sprinkler can deliver different amounts of water and it's important to hit that 1 inch per week requirement.
Nothing should be in that area between the bottom of the sprinkler heads and the imaginary horizontal plane parallel to the ceiling that is 18 inches below. This is done to allow an even and unobstructed spray pattern from the sprinklers when triggered to extinguish the fire.
You should run your sprinkler system for as long as it takes to apply a half inch of water to your lawn. You will need to water for at least 10 minutes per week for most systems. Measure your sprinkler system's output to ensure you're not using too much water or underwatering.
For established plants in the ground, once a week is ideal. If you water more than that, roots don't extend properly, and you end up with plants that really need watering daily. So, you use more water, and get less healthy plants. For new plants in the ground, whose roots aren't yet deep enough, daily may be necessary.
Watering every day is not advised. It should be done 2 to 3 times per week only to prevent a shallow root system. If possible, water during the early morning hours to ensure that the lawn dries entirely before nightfall. However, watering at any time of the day is better than not watering at all.
Between irrigation and natural rainfall, your grass should receive between 1 and 1.5 inches of water each week during the summer. Water deeply every other day for the best results.
Watering the grass every single day for 15 minutes.
This turns grass into a shallow-rooted, water-guzzling lawn needing its daily gulp just to soldier on. Instead of watering shallowly every day for 15 minutes, water deeply once a week for an hour or so (or however long it takes to apply an inch of water).
Sprinklers generally cover up wider ground and spread out water at a slow yet steady pace, which makes all the soil moisturized evenly and soaked underground. A watering hose takes time to cover space and can clutter the soil if there's too much water.
Best time of day to water the lawn
Always water your lawn in the early morning, between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. In the morning, temperatures are still cool, and your grass will have time to absorb the water before it evaporates under the hot sun of midday. Don't water your lawn at night or in the evening.
Watering early in the morning between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. is the most efficient way to water the lawn. Why is early morning the best time to water grass? The sun's rays are not at their strongest yet, and the wind tends to be at its calmest. This way, you lose much less water due to evaporation from the sun and wind.
The best time of day to water a lawn is early morning, between 4:00 and 8:00 a.m. The cooler temperatures and minimal wind allow water to soak deeply into the soil without much evaporation. Also, during this window, there's not as much demand for water on municipal systems, which can impact pressure.