Turf Grass Watering Tips

Knowing when to water your lawn in dry conditions can be difficult. Let’s look at some steps to take out some of the difficulty. Apply enough water to wet the soil to a depth of at least six inches. Here are some tips.

The first is to set out 5-6 open-top cans randomly on the lawn (tuna and cat food cans work the best because they have short sides). Turn the sprinkler head on for 30 minutes. Measure and record the depth of water caught in each can, add and average.

For example: 0.5”, 0.4”, 0.6”, 0.4”, 0.6” = 2.5” / 5 cans = 0.5, or ½-inch of water in 30 minutes.

Next, use a garden spade to determine how deep the soil was wet during the 30 minute watering. Measure the depth of the wet soil. Let’s say in 30 minutes you put on ½-inch of water at a 3-inch depth, so to reach 6 inches you need to water a full inch, or one hour.

Always monitor your lawn. When stress symptoms from drought show up, repeat the procedure above.

Remember to check your irrigation timers and continue this cycle until enough water has been applied to wet the soil six inches. Do not overwater as this can create disease, especially in humid conditions.

Gary Cross is Texas AgriLife
Extension Ag and Natural
Resource agent in Hale County.
gary.cross@ag.tamu.edu