With summer on its way and warmer temperatures making a comeback, you may wonder about the best time to water your lawn and how much. You want a lush, green lawn all summer, and with Utah’s hot and dry conditions, choosing the right time to water your lawn is essential.
Continue reading to learn when the best time is to water your lawn, how much, and how often, depending on the month.
Best Time to Water by Month
Watering your lawn changes with each month in the summer. For example, early summer (June) still sees temps in the ’80s, but by the middle of August, temps can reach upwards of 100 degrees. This drastic increase in temps makes it necessary to water your lawn more often. Watering a lawn every day for 10 to 15 minutes isn’t going to cut it in the hot summer months. Your lawn’s root system needs to grow at least three to four inches deep to remain healthy for summer.
It also depends on your soil since that has a big impact on watering. For instance, if you have clay soil, you will need to water less than if you have sandy soil since one particle of sand is around 500 times larger than an ounce cup of sand, hence the more surface area a soil has, the more water clings to it; this decreases drainage and increasing the ability of water holding. Here is a month-by-month water guide for June, July, and August.
June
Start out with watering your lawn three days a week or every other day for 30 minutes. If you have a rotating sprinkler, water 45 minutes. Before 8 AM is best or after 8 PM. Check your lawn regularly. If you see mushrooms or fluorescent green, you’re watering too much. Back off to about 5 to 10 minutes per day — less if your area receives rain that week.
Tip: Clay soil needs 4 days between watering, loamy, 3, and sandy, 2 days in June.
July
Beginning in the middle of July, temps can reach the 90s; but because of the monsoon season that usually begins in July, there are typically more rainstorms, so you may not need to water as much. Still, it’s best to water three times a week, and set watering time to achieve at least ½ to ¾ inch of water per station per day. For pop up spray heads, aim for around 25-35 minutes per area. If you have a rotating sprinkler, average about 40 to 60 minutes each area.
Tip: Clay needs 3 days between watering, loamy, 2, and sandy, 2 days in July.
August
This month, you can expect several days of temps in the 100s, so your lawn watering needs to be adjusted for the uptick in temperatures. Just as in July, water at least three days a week, upwards of an hour with each station. If you have a large lawn, you may need more than one set of sprinklers to ensure your entire lawn gets the proper amount of water it needs to be healthy. Keep in mind, windy days will dry out your lawn quicker than calm winds, so consider that when adjusting watering times.
Tip: Clay needs 3 days between watering, loamy 3, and sandy, 2 in August.
Need New Sod?
If you’ve just moved into a new home or planning on it this summer and need new sod, give us a call here at Monarch Sod to learn about our services. We are located in Lehi and serve Utah and Salt Lake Counties. For a quick quote, fill out our form here.
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