In hot weather, you want to be sure to water your lawn as often as possible. This article discusses the best time to water your lawn in hot weather to help you decide whether it is best to water at all. Watering your lawn twice or three times a week is often the best schedule under most normal circumstances. However, this is only effective if you understand how much water to release and how long to water during hot weather.
Cool-season grass varieties can survive extended periods of dry weather without watering. They will need to be watered when temperatures rise above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, cool-season turf typically does not need to be watered all throughout the summer. If you do not need to water them until mid to late afternoon, then you should plan on moderate watering throughout the week. This is generally the best time to water your lawn in hot weather, because it allows the soil to become warm before the first freeze of the day.
When to water your lawn in hot weather depends on a few factors. If you live in an area where temperatures rise quickly, such as the Pacific Northwest or the southeastern United States, early morning is your best time to water your lawn. Cool-season turf grows best in early morning hours and through the afternoon heat. This allows them to absorb the moisture from the sun more readily.
In hot weather, it is often best to water your lawn less frequently. If you allow your lawn to become dry, it will become susceptible to drought. Drought can lead to weak grass and leaf wilting. On the other hand, if you water your lawn every two weeks or less, you will be watering it too much and could cause it to become burned.
The amount of moisture evaporating out of your soil also affects how often you should water your lawn in hot weather. Cool season grasses, such as bluegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, St. Augustine grass, and Bermuda grass, thrive best with one inch of water per week. If you water these cool season grasses excessively, they may turn brown, black, or browned in places. In addition, if you do not water these grasses early in the morning, they will become waxy, slimy, and heavy, which will make them unable to withstand the heat. In order for your grass to grow healthily, it needs to be watered early in the morning.
Another factor that affects when you should water your lawn is rainfall. If you have a lot of rainfall, your grass will need more water. If you have little rainfall, your grass will need a bit less water. If you live in an area where the weather is very hot, you should water your lawn as soon as you see the first sign of sun. Cool season grasses, such as bluegrass, St. Augustine grass, and Bermuda grass, do best in the mornings.
A third consideration involves the type of soil you have. If your soil has limestone or dolomite clays, you should avoid watering your lawn in hot weather because this will make it wilt. These types of plans can rot if it gets too much water. You should water your lawn only when it appears dry or if it is raining. Cool season grasses such as Bermuda grass and St. Augustine grass do best in the afternoon.
Your climate and soil are only part of the factors that determine when you should water a lawn in hot weather. You need to also consider how much water you need to use. If you water your lawn too frequently, it will end up looking poor. This happens because water needs to evaporate to become cool. Cool season grasses, such as Bermuda grass, thrive when they get about an inch of water a week, but they do better with water spraying about once per week.
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