You know that the lush lawn of your dreams requires proper watering, but how much water your lawn needs changes throughout the year as the temperatures and precipitation change. The right amount of water in mid-spring may be too little in summer yet too much for fall. So learning how to tell if you need to water your lawn is critical to maintaining healthy grass year-round.
Water shortages from heat stress, drought, or underwatering can cause many issues for your lawn, including disease, insect infestation, weed infestation, and overall poor health. Watering deeply is the solution to most of these grass issues. But what does a heat-stressed or underwatered lawn look like? How can you tell if you need to water your lawn? Let's explore six key signs that your grass needs more water so you can confidently adjust your watering to meet your lawn's changing needs all year long.
Sign 1: Watch for Wilting
In a healthy lawn, grass stands straight and tall, supported by well-hydrated cells that form the blades. One of the first signs of dehydration is when the grass wilts, sagging in different directions instead of standing straight up. A wilting lawn is a sign the grass needs more water.
Sign 2: Recognize Color Changes
Healthy grass is rich, vibrant green. Sufficient water is critical for chlorophyll production, which gives grass its green color and is crucial for photosynthesis, which allows grass to produce energy from sunlight. Without enough water, chlorophyll production lags and the lawn's color fades. The once-vibrant green becomes a dull, muted shade. As the drought conditions intensify, the lawn may appear slightly gray, blue, or even purple before becoming a dry yellow or tan color.
Pro Tip: Using polarized sunglasses to inspect your lawn can help you spot early signs of this color change before the damage is permanent. Recognizing a change in your lawn's color is the first way to tell that you need to water your lawn.
Sign 3: Look for Footprints
When you walk on a healthy, robust lawn, you should notice that any "footprints" you leave should go away in a few moments. The grass blades should be resilient and able to stand back up. However, during times of heat stress or lack of water, the elasticity that allows grass leaves to bounce back slowly evaporates as the grass becomes dehydrated. If your footprints last on your lawn for minutes to hours, it's a clear indication of heat stress and a sign that it's time to water the lawn.
Sign 4: Check for Soil Gaps Around the Perimeter
Did you know that the soil of your lawn actually shrinks when it's dry, just like the way a dry sponge does? Spot this telltale sign by walking along the perimeter of your lawn, particularly where it meets hardscape, like your sidewalk and driveway. A clear gap between the soil and concrete is a sign your lawn is experiencing heat stress. It's time to water.
Sign 5: Examine the Edges of Your Lawn
Clean edging around your lawn looks sharp, but it also serves as a great indicator of drought and heat stress. During periods of low rainfall or high heat, the soil along the edging can become dry, changing to a lighter color. This is a clear sign the grass needs more water.
Sign 6: Perform the Screwdriver Test
Dry soil is hard. So, an easy way to determine if your lawn is too dry is to take a screwdriver with about a 6-inch shaft and push it into the soil. If you can easily insert the screwdriver, your lawn is well hydrated. But if the soil is too hard to push it in easily—or at all—it's a sign your grass needs more water.
4 Pro Tips for Effective Watering
Of course, there's more to watering your grass than learning how to tell if you need to water your lawn. Follow our grass-watering tips for a healthy lawn:
- Tip 1: Water in the Morning: Water by 10 am to minimize evaporation and allow the grass to fully dry by nightfall.
- Tip 2: Water Deeply but Infrequently: Encourage deeper root growth by watering deeply a couple of times per week rather than a little every day.
- Tip 3: Provide an Inch Per Week: Provide a total of one inch of water per week, including rainfall. You can use a rain gauge (or even a tuna can!) to measure.
- Tip 4: Monitor Soil Moisture: Periodically do the screwdriver test to ensure the soil is watered to a depth of size inches.
Get Expert Lawn Care Support
The grass experts at Lawn Pride are here to help you enjoy the lawn of your dreams. Sometimes, all you need is education, like explaining how to tell if you need to water your lawn. We're happy to provide expert lawn tips and tell you about the best practices for lawn maintenance.
If you prefer to engage one or more of our comprehensive lawn services, just contact your local Lawn Pride. You can count on exceptional service because the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ backs everything we do! Let's make your lawn the pride of the neighborhood!
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your home and property. Lawn Pride is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of this blog content or your actions. For the most accurate guidance, contact your local Lawn Pride franchise for a comprehensive, on-site assessment.