Deep watering in the morning

Deep and infrequent

Grass roots grow where the water is. A short sprinkle every day wets only the top centimeter, so roots stay shallow and the lawn browns the moment you miss a day. A thorough soak every few days wets the soil 10–15 cm (4–6 in) down and draws the roots after it, which makes the lawn far more drought tolerant.

How much

An established lawn in summer needs roughly 2.5 cm (1 in) of water a week, rain included, split over two or three waterings. To find out how long your sprinkler takes, set a few straight-sided cans or jars on the lawn and time how long it takes to collect 1 cm. On clay soil, water in two shorter sessions an hour apart so it soaks in instead of running off.

When

Early morning, ideally between about 4 and 7 a.m. Less water evaporates, the wind is calm, and the grass dries off during the day. Watering in the evening leaves the leaves wet all night, which is exactly what fungal disease needs.

Signs the lawn needs water

• The grass turns a dull gray-blue.
• Footprints stay visible instead of springing back.
• Leaf blades fold or curl.

In a long drought, cool-season grass may go dormant and brown. It usually recovers when rain returns; if you start watering, keep going rather than letting it go dormant again. Mow higher and less often in dry spells; see mowing height in summer.