When this happens, the grass can turn brown and brittle, making it much harder for the lawn to recover as temperatures continue to rise across the UK heading into summer. Lamara McBride from The Lawn Pack explained that there is a simple gardening method to help grass roots stay hydrated for longer: changing the time of day you water your lawn. She said: “Timing matters. The best time to water your lawn is early morning. This allows water to soak into the soil before heat causes evaporation.”
Why water lawns in the morning?
Gardeners often make the mistake of watering their lawns in the afternoon, but by then, it is less effective at keeping the grass hydrated, so it is more likely to dry out.
Afternoons are the hottest time of day, when the sun is at its highest, and the heat causes water to evaporate before it can soak into the soil.
This means that hardly any water will reach the roots, which makes it more likely that they will shrivel and cause the grass to become incredibly stressed as it struggles to grow.
It is not recommended to water in the evenings after the sun goes down because the water cannot evaporate at all, meaning it will simply stay clinging to the grass overnight.
Keeping plants wet for long periods of time increases the risk of moss, fungal diseases and creates the perfect environment for pests like slugs to settle in your garden.
Watering a lawn in the morning, when the temperature is cooler, but the sun is out, helps more moisture reach the ground and gives the grass time to dry out after soaking.
Lawns that are watered at the right time will also be able to handle the heat better as it gets warmer in the afternoon, and are less likely to become stressed.
What time should you water a lawn?
It is best to water a lawn early in the morning between 6am and 10am, as it gives the roots time to take in as much water as possible before noon, when the sun reaches its highest point.
However, if your lawn does turn brown at the moment, then do not worry too much, as the grass goes dormant as a natural defence mechanism to protect itself during dry spells.
Late May to early June is still cool enough for lawns to recover, so watering the grass deeply every few days before 10am can help restore a lush, emerald-green lawn in time for summer.
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