While it is a good idea to keep the soil under your grass moist right through late fall, it is even more important for Northerners to resist the temptation to stop watering the lawn in early fall. So adjusting your sprinkler system is not only important for the long term sustainability of our planet, but also for many communities in the short run as well. of precipitation per week. Mild temperatures are not scorching our plants. Plants receiving reflected heat from buildings, walls and fences are more subject to damage. So unless your area experiences a lack of rain for two or three consecutive weeks, watering the grass in winter may not be necessary. Horticulturist Karen Beaty from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plucks a few for big and small gardens to feed us, the birds, and beneficial pollinators. Also, less water evaporates from the grass and soil during cool weather. Most of the time we don’t need to water in winter, but if things are really dry, once a month should take care of it. In warmer climates the grass will continue growing throughout winter. Some water is a good thing to do to ensure a healthy return in spring. There are some fescue and hybrid bermuda grasses that will stay green all winter long, providing it does not freeze. Avoid the heat of the day to minimise water loss to evaporation. Typically, fescue does best … Over time, fungus, mold, … You may be tempted to just leave the sprinklers running—grass needs water, right? The main difference is that as the weather cools off, you may notice that the lawn will go into dormancy, which means that the growing season will come to an end. Logic tells us that as cooler weather sets in during the winter, grasses require far less water than during the summer months. Do not protect plants with plastic! Whilst it still needs some water, you can virtually halve your water usage by laying turf in winter and still maintain a healthy lawn come spring. If it’s mild, then you can keep at it depending on the rainfall in your region. Because your grass has different hydration needs in the winter, you’ll need to adjust the settings on your sprinkler system. Usually rainfall is enough to see us through. If you have additional questions about watering grass in winter, contact our Certified Turfgrass Professionals at 770.832.8608 or info@NGTurf.com, An industry leader throughout the Southeast, providing premium grass varieties backed by superior service and a one-year warranty. Best time of day to water is early morning or evening. Even in winter, it’s best to leave our grass tall. So, do you water grass in the winter? Walk across your lawn and see how long it takes for the grass to bounce back. Researching Solutions to Fight Dollar Spot. If winters are mild, but not hot, grass plants transpire less and the soil holds moisture longer. Throughout the warm months of the year, fescue lawns require a substantial amount of water to stay healthy and withstand the high temperatures. No doubt, you can find a more exciting way to spend your money than spending it on unnecessary watering. Lawn Health. Winter Watering in Phoenix and the Desert Southwest requires much less watering once temperatures cool down in November. For new St. Augustine grass, the time of year will determine how long you need to water. An efficient irrigation system does not saturate the soil, wets only the root zone, and doesn’t allow water to run off. However there are times that watering your grass can be an advantage such in extreme drought conditions, to allow fast recover from damage or renovations to the grass. Deeply water new plants; keep new seedlings moist but not drenched. A simple check is the footprint test. Turf type tall fescue is a cool season grass, which means that it struggles in the heat. You may be tempted to just leave the sprinklers running—grass needs water, right? If your grass stays green during the winter months then it will need to be watered. Make sure you’re not overwatering in winter … If you cut your lawn severely last fall or mow it in winter so that top growth is very short, it will dry out faster. Lawns in Florida need less water during winter than during the rest of the year. The grass is dormant, but the roots are growing slightly. Over time, fungus, mold, root rot and other serious issues can stem from overwatering a lawn. St. Bermuda grass, however, sometimes needs up to 1.5 inches. The Science of Grass in Winter. Most sources agree that in South Carolina, some irrigation should be applied during spells of warmer and dryer temperature, and this should provide for that automatically. Stop watering your winter lawn in mid-April, when the temperatures begin to rise. You need to stay minimal irrigation going all winter long unless your space gets a minimum of one inch. Watering St. Augustine Grass in Texas. If possible, switch over to manual. Grasses, even cool season varieties, need far less water during cooler months. Adjusting or winterizing the sprinklers is probably not on your to-do list, but for your lawn’s sake, it should be. Stop watering at the end of September or October, if your area gets most of the snowfall in the winter season. If your lawn is receiving more than one inch of precipitation, then you stop watering the garden. All plants, including grass, lose less moisture to evaporation in moderate temperatures than they do when the weather is hot. The best test is to stick a spade down a few inches to see if there’s any … Should You Stop Watering Your Grass? Carefully time afternoon watering so grass blades don’t remain moist overnight, which minimizes the threat of fungal diseases. Grass height and frequency of mowing also have a significant effect on lawn health. In terms of the amount of water applied each time to your lawn, watering in winter is not much different from watering any other time of the year. The whole idea of the watering schedule is to keep the seed moist for 2-3 weeks … Heavy clay soil holds water much longer than sandy soil. Mother Nature will likely keep your grass sufficiently hydrated. If your grass … This will allow the rye grass to die out. For the first three and last three months of the year, five hours every 10 days will normally do the trick. Water during the warmer part of the day during winter months to prevent water from freezing on your landscape. In the winter months, Arizona may experience days of heavy rainfall. If the lawn is overwatered, then there is a risk of fungal diseases. Moist overnight, which means that it struggles in the winter may have to be watered to. 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