Watering

When should I water my lawn?

The best time to water your lawn is in the morning, however evening watering is also an option.

Why?

Afternoon watering increases evaporation caused by the sun.  Also in the afternoon, the wind is generally stronger and will more easily disrupt the watering pattern causing poor coverage.

Evening watering usually leaves the blades of turf wet overnight, which can promote disease growth.  However, proper fertilizing, mowing and aeration do more to prevent disease than switching away from evening watering.  Also, there is no way to prevent evening precipitation, which can leave the lawn in the same state of dampness overnight.  These reasons combined with today's busy schedules means evening water is a good time to water the lawn.

How much do I need to water?

Lawns in Winnipeg require a minimum of 1 1/2 inches of water per week.  Usually mother nature doesn't provide us with enough moisture, so we have to supplement rainfall with our sprinklers.

Watering deeply once or twice per week is better than light daily watering.  Deep waterings promote a deeper, healthier root system.

How can I measure how much I've watered?

The easiest way to know how long it takes to get 1 1/2 inches of water to your lawn is to put a rain gauge in your sprinkler area.  If you do not have a rain gauge a coffee mug would do just fine.