Lawn Watering

But for such relaxation, the lawn must be well-maintained. The main condition for keeping it green and healthy is timely and correct watering. Lawns planted with grass in city parks or on suburban plots require regular irrigation.

Goals and Objectives of Lawn Watering

• Replenishing soil moisture deficit.

During dry periods and summer heat, groundwater and infrequent rain cannot adequately saturate the soil with moisture. While park lawns with tall, strong grass partially shade the root system and protect it from drying out, thin, short-cut grasses in flowerbeds and parterres are exposed to direct sunlight and can quickly die from dehydration. Newly seeded lawns are especially sensitive to watering, as seedlings are about to emerge.

• Accelerating green mass growth.

Water enables the transport of all essential nutrients required for normal plant development.

• Improving lawn resistance to diseases and preventing invasion by weeds.

Optimal Time for Lawn Watering

The key rule to follow strictly: never water the lawn under intense midday sun. Water droplets on leaves and grass can cause serious sunburn — the lens effect will occur.

But evening watering is not ideal either. Grass may not dry out overnight, creating a direct path to fungal diseases. The best time for irrigation is early morning (before 10:00) or late afternoon (after 16:00).

In the first case, grass will dry before noon; in the second, it will dry during the evening and night. Soil should dry between waterings to allow root access to air. Oxygen deficiency weakens the lawn.

Water Volume and Frequency

Do not apply a one-size-fits-all approach. Water needs vary per lawn, depending on climate, location, soil type, and grass species.

In humid regions, growing a lush green lawn is much easier than in dry steppe areas, where watering volumes must be significantly higher. For average conditions in central Russia, seasonal water consumption for a thin lawn ranges from 0.2 to 0.4 m³ per m², depending on weather and shading.

Silty soils (chernozems, gray forest soils) require generous watering — about 10 liters per m² — with even, slow saturation to full absorption. Do not allow puddles to form.

To check if you're overwatering, insert a screwdriver or stick 15–20 cm into the soil. A clean hole without water indicates proper watering. If the hole fills with water, overwatering has occurred.

Mature lawns do not need frequent watering. Once a week is sufficient, or every three days during heatwaves. Otherwise, overwatering may cause root rot. The moist layer should be 15–20 cm deep.

Light watering leads to shallow root development, yellowing, and drying of grass, and promotes weed growth. Therefore, the ideal is a balanced middle ground.

On newly seeded lawns, where seedlings have not yet emerged, soil must remain constantly moist. Water daily, in the morning and evening, otherwise evaporating moisture may harm seeds.

Additional watering is needed after mowing, weeding, and during periods of active growth and tillering.

Watering Techniques

Lawn watering can be done in two ways:

• Surface watering. Can be done manually using watering cans or hoses with sprinklers (nozzles attached to the hose end), or via automatic irrigation systems.
• Subsurface watering. This method is preferable. Water is directed straight to plant roots, reducing consumption. It can be used even on complex terrain (steep slopes, terraces) and runs continuously without risk of scorching.

Watering Devices

• For small lawns

If the lawn is small, the best option is a drip irrigation system — a hose with small holes through which water drips slowly. Advantages: slow water delivery, low consumption. Disadvantages: uneven coverage, need for replacement every few years.

You can also use a manual sprinkler (nozzle on a hose). Its advantage: adjustable spray. Disadvantages: uneven water distribution and time-consuming use.

• For medium-sized lawns

For medium-sized lawns, sprinklers are best. Choose a model based on lawn shape.

For rectangular lawns, use a swinging nozzle; for circular lawns, a rotating sprinkler. On uneven terrain, the swinging type must be moved frequently. The rotating type may not adequately water corner areas.

If water pressure is good, a pulsating sprinkler is convenient. It operates in circular or segmented patterns.

• For large lawns

For large lawns, a pop-up sprinkler is optimal. Requires underground piping and retractable heads. Key features: high pressure, low spray, minimal evaporation. Expensive and complex to install.

There are also surface-mounted models (stationary), which are cheaper but make mowing and walking on the lawn more difficult.

How Automatic Irrigation Works and Its Benefits

Manual watering demands significant physical effort. Even using a hose, you can get tired. Using watering cans is even more exhausting — time and energy are wasted.

Fortunately, automatic irrigation systems are now widely available, with a broad range of options and prices. Previously, only city parks used automatic irrigation. Now, every homeowner can install one on their property.

Benefits of automatic irrigation are clear:

• Time savings,
• No need for human presence during operation,
• Efficient water use and reduced costs,
• Integration with rain sensors.

Typically, these systems use sprinklers installed on the lawn that spray water droplets. Rotating heads cover a circular area, driven by water pressure. Special nozzles (included) allow adjusting the shape and size of the irrigated zone. Rotation can always be disabled if needed.

Based on lawn shape, optimal settings can be chosen. After programming the watering schedule, you can go away for several days — the system will activate and deactivate automatically. A rain sensor will adjust the program — no watering if rain has fallen.

Program watering for times of low water demand (e.g., in suburban areas with centralized supply), when water pressure is highest. This saves electricity, reduces pump workload, and extends equipment life. All pipes are underground; only vertical sprinklers are visible, so lawn appearance remains unaffected.

Automatic watering frees homeowners from tedious tasks and ensures plants receive water evenly and regularly. The topsoil never dries out, maintaining moisture around grass roots.