Watering your grass seems like an easy way to give your lawn exactly what it needs but are you watering at the right time? Is watering your grass at night good for your grass, or could you be setting it up for disaster? Have a look at this article to see why watering your lawn at night is a myth and when you should water instead.
Is it okay to water my grass at night?
For most people, nighttime is the best time for watering because it’s an off-peak time for their energy billing. Watering your grass at night usually means the water rates will be much lower than they are in the daytime. But is this really good for your lawn? Let’s figure out what your lawn needs to thrive so we can determine if watering it at nighttime is best or if you should stick to watering during the day.
Your grass needs water, sunlight, and sometimes some extra nutrients, depending on the lawn, in order for it to grow well. This all depends on the type of grass you have and the existing conditions of your yard. If your grass is doing well, then you don’t need to worry about changing your regular maintenance routine, and adjusting the timing of your watering might be a recipe for disaster.
Watering your lawn at night means you are overloading it with excessive amounts that it might be able to absorb properly. A soggy lawn is hard to fix, and it can even cause mold that is spread through the rest of your lawn. Watering your lawn in the daytime means that the excess water can quickly be evaporated by the hot sun, so you don’t need to worry if the lawn gets a little bit too much.
Should I water my lawn at night in a different season?
Unfortunately, there is no good season to water your grass at night. Each one has its own downsides that make it hard for your grass. Let’s take a look at each season and see why watering your lawn at night might not be the best idea.
Spring
Spring is a notoriously wet season for most of Canada, and we already talked about how a soggy lawn can be challenging to deal with. If you have too much water, you will need to aerate your lawn or find a way to divert the water somewhere else, or you will end up with a property that is full of mud. Spring temperatures aren’t enough to damage the lawn, but the excess water will wash away valuable nutrients that your lawn needs to thrive.
Summer
Summer is the only season where you can get away with watering your lawn during the evening hours because it’s still slightly warmer outside, but you should still avoid it. Many days are very warm at night but harshly cold at night, and the sudden shock of the cold water isn’t good for your lawn. It needs to have a gradual temperature change, or it will be confused about the seasons, and it might start to go into the same hibernation state that it does during the winter months.
Fall
This is the worst month to start watering your grass in the evening, as the cold temperatures may cause your lawn to freeze. Frost naturally occurs when the atmosphere is too full of water but not full enough to snow. If you choose to water your lawn while the temperatures are dipping into freezing, then you are just creating an ice rink that won’t allow any nutrients down below.
Fall is a great time to consider things like overseeding or repairing any issues that have been caused by too much traffic. You should be watering your lawn in the fall up until the point where the ground in your area starts to freeze. Frozen ground is a sign that the soil is not going to handle any more water this year. You can aerate the area to let it breathe while loading it up with grass seed and fertilizer to make sure it comes back healthy in the summertime.
Winter
For the majority of the country, winter is pretty much a no-go when it comes to lawn care because the whole thing is covered in snow. If your lawn happens to be exposed in the colder months, then don’t worry about maintaining it. Lawn experts recommend you take this time to prepare for spring by purchasing all of your fertilizer, seed, and equipment, so you are ready to go.
Is it okay to water my grass at night if I have no other option?
If you must water your grass at night, look at installing an irrigation system that will allow the water to mimic rain so that your lawn doesn’t get too disturbed. These systems are fantastic for people who want to keep their lawn healthy with minimal effort, and it’s an excellent way to keep your lawn in shape all year round. Running your system at night isn’t ideal, but it’s the easiest way to reduce your watering bill a bit while keeping your lawn green and fresh.
Are there any other good reasons to consider an irrigation system?
Irrigation systems are perfect for anyone who wants their lawn to be evenly watered every time, and it’s ideal for those who aren’t available to water at suitable times in the day. There are a few peak times in the day when your lawn will handle being watered (we’ll talk about that in a minute), and if you can’t be there, then you can use the timer option on your system, so it gets the perfect amount at the right time.
Irrigation systems are also a perfect idea for anyone who wants to reduce the amount of water they are using to keep their yard hydrated. These systems use the perfect amount of water, and many high-end versions can even adjust themselves to current weather conditions, so you don’t have to worry about excessive watering during a rainstorm. You can also use an irrigation system to fertilize your lawn easily by adding a liquid fertilizer to your system.
There are so many different reasons why an irrigation system can help your lawn, and the ability to be programmed is one of the biggest ones. There are so many downsides to watering your lawn at night, so having a system that can automatically water at the best time of the day will help your lawn quality out quite a bit. This way, you never have to worry about your lawn getting the care it needs when you are away from your home.
When should you water your lawn?
If you want to make sure your lawn is in prime condition to absorb the water you are giving it, you should water it the morning before 10 am. At this point in the day, your lawn is at its driest, so the water is most likely to be absorbed all the way. You also don’t have to worry about too warm or cold temperatures, and the wind is much less likely to be an issue.
If you can’t fit in a lawn watering at that time, then shoot for watering your lawn in the evening anywhere between 4 and 6 pm. At this point in the day, the yard is usually relatively dry, and you don’t have to deal with any extremely high temperatures.
You should also make sure you are only watering your lawn when it needs to be watered. An excellent way to test is by staking the ground with a regular-sized screwdriver. If it’s hard to get through the grass, then you will need to keep watering, so it penetrates down into the roots. Depending on your climate, you will likely have to water once a day or once every other day to make sure it has enough hydration.
The “watering your grass at night” myth likely comes from the idea that your lawn will be undisturbed and dry after a long day in the sun. This makes sense, but it doesn’t take into account many different things like low temperatures and nighttime critters. Watering at night can also be harmful in the colder months, so it’s definitely a myth.
There are so many things you need to know about taking care of your lawn, and it’s a good idea to get past some of those lawn care myths so you have some knowledge on your side. If you have any questions about your lawn care, then ask a local irrigation or landscaping expert, and they will be able to help you figure out the answers and dispel any myths you have.
