How much should I water my lawn?
Deep and infrequent beats daily sprinkling. A simple can test, the signs of thirst and ways to need less water.
Most established lawns do well with deep watering once or twice a week in warm weather, rather than a short sprinkle every day. The goal is to wet the root zone, then let the surface dry out.
A simple test
Set a few straight-sided cans around the sprinkler area and time how long it takes to fill them to about an inch. That’s roughly one deep watering. Adjust for rain and your local guidance.
Signs it’s time
- Footprints stay pressed into the grass
- The lawn turns a dull blue-gray
- Blades start to fold or curl
Best practice
- Water early in the morning to cut evaporation
- Skip watering after good rain
- Follow any local watering restrictions
- Let the lawn go dormant in drought if allowed; many grasses recover
Spend less water
Taller mowing, clippings left in place and better soil all help the lawn hold moisture. Areas that never thrive may suit a drought-tolerant groundcover better.
More on water-wise yards in the low-waste yard plan.
Low-waste lawn care: keep clippings, save water, skip the bags