Key Points
Water your lawn in the early morning or evening to avoid evaporation, disease, and wasted water.
Tailor your watering routine to grass type, soil condition, and local weather instead of a set schedule.
Poor watering can weaken your lawn’s roots, making it more vulnerable to stress and pests.
Once you’ve planted your grass and watched it grow into a beautiful lawn, the next step is figuring out the best way to maintain your lawn. Watering is a key component of this, which means lawn watering mistakes are also one of the most common headaches.
We turned to two of our favorite lawn care experts to ask about the most common mistakes they’ve seen when it comes to watering lawns—and how to fix these issues for a healthy lawn all summer long.
Meet the Experts
Teri Valenzuela is the natural science manager at Sunday, a lawn care and gardening brand.
Watering at the Wrong Time of Day
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Believe it or not, Teri Valenzuela of Sunday says there is a wrong time of day for watering your lawn. Make sure you’re watering in the early morning or early evening, never during the mid-day sun.
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Adjusting your watering schedule can have an immediate positive effect. If you water in the afternoon, Valenzuela says you risk of disease while also wasting precious water resources due to evaporation. This, as well as watering too late at night, can also lead to over-watering.
“Don’t ignore signs of over-watering, like squishy ground after walking on the lawn,” Valenzuela says.
Watering for the Wrong Type of Grass
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According to landscape architect Cate Singleton, another common issue she sees is home gardeners who use a one-size-fits-all policy when it comes to watering their lawns, gardens, and landscaping features.
“[It’s important to] understand the water requirements for the type of grass or plants you have,” she says. “This will help dictate how often and how much water they need.”
Ignoring Local Weather Patterns 
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While watering your lawn everyday on a schedule might be helpful for your own peace of mind, it might not be best for your lawn. Valenzuela says the cadence of watering is important.
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“Let natural rainfall water your lawn, and when it doesn’t supplement, water one to three times per week for thirty minutes each watering session,” she says.
On the other hand, if you’re lacking in natural rainfall, Valenzuela notes your grass will, of course, require more watering. There are other ways to keep an eye on things—if you’re wondering if it’s time to give your lawn a soak, Singleton says this old-fashioned method works like a charm.
“Stick your finger down into the soil a few inches and if it’s dry to the touch, roll out the hose,” Singleton says.
Watering Too Shallow
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Another common issue Valenzuela notes is not watering your lawn deeply enough. This encourages weak roots and limits growth.
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“Watering too shallow means your water isn’t moving deep enough and [this makes] your grass susceptible to injury, disease, and pests,” she says.
Deeper watering can also mean more infrequent watering. Water about one-third to one-half of an inch per watering session about one to three times per week, depending on natural rainfall, Valenzuela suggests. The goal is to make sure your lawn stays hydrated while also limiting wasted water.
Poorly Placed Sprinklers
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One major issue Singleton has noticed is something she calls overspray, when the spray heads of your irrigation system are poorly positioned, creating excess overspray onto driveways, streets, and pathways.
“Not only will overspray hike up your utility bill, but it is also directly routing our resources into the sewer system,” she says.
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That’s why it’s important to check your irrigation systems regularly to ensure spray heads are angled to hit the lawn.
Read the original article on The Spruce
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