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Let’s talk about how to water your lawn in the summer heat!
Last year, we published this homemade lawn food. It is one of the most viewed posts ever on Chemistry Cachet. One day it even had 20,000 views in a few hours!
I really enjoy hearing how readers love it. One reader shared his before & after on instagram last week too 🙂 Use the #chemistrycachet to share your success stories with anything on our website!
Watering is another crucial part of lawn care. I’ve been researching for awhile all the best tips for watering in the summer heat. Our summer has already been miserable with 100 degree weather since May. It’s been hard on the grass!
How To Water Your Lawn in The Summer Heat
Don’t water everyday.
Watering everyday makes grass roots shallow. The more shallow your grass roots are, the less hearty it will be in hot weather. Instead water about two times per week for longer periods of time. The local lawn companies I have spoke with around my area (North Central Texas) recommend about 20-30 minutes per watering cycle twice a week.
We usually have water restrictions by the time July roles around, so we are down to one day a week watering. I increase the water time to about 45-50 minutes when this happens. The pictures above are my lawn in August of last year when we had to water once per week. Still green!
Water less on areas with runoff or clay soil.
We have a large hill in the front yard with red clay underneath the grass (picture above), so it only needs about 10 minutes of water before it starts to run off. Be sure to check your area for runoff or different types of soil to avoid wasting water!
Water in the morning!
Watering in the morning is the best time because the temperatures are the lowest this time of day. Even in the evenings, the wind can be stronger and the temperatures are much warmer which can cause more evaporation. Last night around 9:00pm at my house it was till 96 degrees!
Mornings are the coolest part of the day, so make sure to get all your watering done as early as possible.
Use the right type of sprinkler.
We have a sprinkler system, but we don’t use it because it doesn’t distribute water well, and it waste too much also. I spoke with a lawn guy about my front yard area, and he recommended a regular sprinkler to attach to the rubber hose. It is just a basic one that sprays all at once instead of turning to different areas. This is a great sprinkler option! It waters lower, so less evaporation can occur.
If you do use a sprinkler system, make sure everything is angled very low so water gets on the grass before it starts evaporating.
Check for leaks.
If you have a link in your hose or sprinkler, less water will come out and it will waste water where it probably doesn’t need to go. Always check for leaks to ensure the water comes out efficiently and correctly.
Use a soaker hose
This is probably the best thing to do for water conservation in the extreme heat! When it is 100+ degrees and it hasn’t rained for months, it can be hard to keep the lawn alive without a really high water bill. If you are on water restrictions, you don’t have an option anyways. Using a soaker hose is a great option. The cost to run it is low, and it allows almost no evaporation. I start using these in the middle of the summer to give the yard a good soak! This is also great for flower beds and house foundations! I love these flat ones.
Mow higher
This isn’t a watering tip, but it does help the watering situation in the summer. Make sure you don’t mow the grass too short in the summer! It will make grass have a harder time surviving, and this makes watering more difficult too!
For newer lawns…
If your grass is newer, it will need more water until it is established. Following these practices above can make sure the root system gets established properly though.
And after the summer heat, make sure you check out the best lawn care tips for your fall lawn!! It will help your lawn look even better when spring roles around.
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Alexis is an investigative chemist sharing her expertise in cleaning, skincare, gardening, and home hacks. She personally tests out products like the best skincare products or home products then shares not only the science behind how it works, but also her personal results. She is the mom of two living in Texas with her husband. Find her on Instagram for fantastic videos, tips, and behind the scenes.
Great watering tips… I don’t have much of a lawn anymore – thank you drought – but try to follow your suggestions for what’s left of the green stuff and my plants. Longer and deeper watering is the way to go. I prefer morning watering too. Thanks Alexis!
Drought is so hard on things! My poor side yard has suffered from all the drought and heat too. Thanks Laurie!
Thanks for all your tips! Any advice on neutralizing pet urine to keep from having to “repair” spots in the grass?
That is a tough one to deal with! The only thing that has helped me over the years is to heavily water areas my dog uses all the time. I also aerate the ground in those most commonly used urine areas. Other than that, my vet once suggested a probiotic or pill to give my dog when his urine was heavy in nitrogen. I never tried it, but I know people who have with success.
when there’s a water restriction you water twice as long? Ass.
Huh? Lol when there is a water restriction, you follow the guidelines 🙂