The 1 Major Mistake You’re Making with Your Grass This Summer, According to Pros

While April showers give way to May flowers, another perk is that the pop-up storms of spring help grass to be healthy and green. However, now that summer has hit and temperatures are soaring, you might find that your rainy days are few and far between. While you may count this a blessing for your summer plans, the lack of hydration can take a toll on your grass. 

Of course, one solution is to wait it out as your grass slowly turns brown and crunchy, only to regain its lush hue after the next rainstorm. Another option many homeowners prefer is to water the lawn to keep its lively color and silky feel on bare feet. But there’s one thing that the experts caution: overwatering your yard can be just as dangerous as keeping it dry. 

Craig Elworthy, the founder of the DIY lawn care company Lawnbright, sees this as a fairly common problem. “The single largest mistake I see people make is irrigation,” he says. “Most of the issues around irrigation boil down to watering too often and at the wrong time of day.” Instead of haphazardly turning your sprinklers on and off, have a method to determine how often and how much can help save your yard. 

Instead of leaving things to chance, Elworthy says you should water your grass at most once or twice a week.

“Watering too often encourages roots to stay shallow, near the surface,” he adds. Instead of giving roots a chance to delve deep in search of water, watering too often makes the plant depend on an external water source, which sounds fine — until there’s a lack of hydration.

Why do longer roots matter? According to Elworthy, “You want the roots driving deep in search of water, which helps your lawn withstand the sun’s warming effect on the top layer of the soil.”

He recommends watering deeply and infrequently, limiting the plant’s intake to once or twice weekly. To ensure the water goes deep, place at least one-third to one-half inch of water on the lawn in any given session. 

When searching for efficiency in watering — water bills can soar when sprinklers are in use — a smart system can be the key to keeping costs and water waste down. The EPA estimates that evaporation, runoff, misdirected sprinklers, and wind all contribute to water waste, which can be counteracted with a more intuitive device. Shane Dyer, the CEO of Irrigreen, says that smart water systems “take into account weather data, develop custom watering schedules, or even digitally map the yard to ensure even watering.” 

Not only does the amount of water and frequency matter, but the time of day you choose to water is also essential. Elworthy suggests watering in the morning, just before dawn. If you’re not an early bird, set your irrigation on a timer so that the chore can self-complete before you rise. “Doing this before dawn ensures all of the water gets down into the root zone without the sun evaporating off,” he adds.

A morning watering also allows the leaf blades to dry entirely and ensures the plant isn’t sitting in stagnant water. Just like placing an indoor plant in a pot without holes, you can create an overly humid environment for the roots, causing unwanted root rot. “If grass stays wet overnight in hot, humid conditions, it can invite fungus and disease,” says Elworthy.

If you’re ready to give up your grass entirely, check out these grass-free lawn alternatives.