It’s easy to go a bit water crazy in the summer, dashing out to water our lawns at the hint of a brown blade or two.
But would our lawns care if we took some time off to hit the beach or play some golf?
How important is watering turf in the summer?
Put down the sprinkler and let’s take a look.
Just because your grass is turning brown doesn’t mean it’s dead.
Grass has a lifecycle, and that includes going dormant when water is scarce.
The grass blades might turn brown, but the plant is still alive. It’s just conserving water so it can survive the drought.
Here in our area, we have a mixed bag of turf types, mostly fescue and perennial rye grass.
Neither are drought tolerant, so they need water to stay healthy. But not constant water.
There are definite benefits to watering during hot weather, especially on high-visibility lawns.
If you keep your lawn irrigated, you’ll likely see:
So yes — watering can help. But don’t assume every blade of grass on your property needs it.
If you stop watering in the summer heat, it’s not the end of the world.
Your lawn won’t stay that bright springtime green all summer. But how green do you really need it?
Once grass is established, it adapts to its environment. It knows the seasons and changes how much energy it puts out.
When it turns brown, that means it’s putting its efforts into strengthening its root system, as opposed to greening up its leafy blades.
When you dash in to “rescue” your lawn with water, you’re suddenly raising its expectations. It realizes it’s going to get water, so it starts depending on it.
Now you have to keep it up.
You’ve kind of created a monster.
Leave it alone, and it will live its normal life cycle, shutting down a bit when it gets hot and dry, and bouncing back if you follow good maintenance practices. (More about that in a minute.)
Most commercial properties don’t have full irrigation systems — and that’s okay. It just means being smart about watering strategies.
Watering turf in summer heat? Consider these tips:
Here at Level Green, we do the maintenance at many HOA properties, and while our crews are on site mowing and weeding, we see lots of homeowners pouring on the water.
If you’re hand watering, you’re likely wasting a lot of time and water.
Chances are, if you’re watering grass in summer heat, you’re watering too much.
Too much water encourages a variety of lawn fungus diseases this time of year.
The truth? Your lawn probably doesn’t need as much water as you think. It’s OK — even smart — to cut back.
The time to think about watering turf in summer heat is actually way before summer — in the previous fall.
That’s when you establish the healthy lawn maintenance habits that help your lawn get through a summer without watering.
Aeration and overseeding set up your lawn for future success. Fall fertilizing gives your lawn a big nutrition boost as it heads into winter.
All these help your lawn establish a healthy root system, so it can endure a dry spell in the summer.
There’s enough rain in the spring to green up your grass nicely.
If you tended to its needs in the fall, your lawn will be healthy enough now to crowd out any weeds trying to take hold.
That, combined with proper mowing height, should set it up nicely for whatever summer dishes out. Which brings us to....
Most people mow their lawns too short. These aren’t golf courses. Give your blades a break.
Level Green Landscaping crews mow at a height between 3.5 and 4 inches. The height is tailored to the type of grass in this area — tall fescue. (Note the word “tall.”)
Here’s why mowing taller helps:
Lower mowing might look tidy in the short term, but it’s harder on the turf in the long run.
If you decide to water your lawn in the summer, follow these tips:
There’s only so much clean water on the planet.
How about cutting back a bit?
Especially in urban environments, you could be washing out fertilizer and chemicals meant to stay in one place.
If you apply fertilizer then water too much, it will run off. Instead of benefitting your yard, it will run into the closest tributary and cause water pollution.
Change your maintenance routine to adapt to the natural life cycle of your grass.
Just think about all the fun stuff you can do instead of obsessively watering your lawn.
Have questions about how much water your turf really needs? Or how to keep commercial lawns thriving during a DC summer without wasting water?
We can help — with proactive strategies, seasonal planning, and smart irrigation support.
Contact us at 202-544-0968. You can also request a free consultation online for a virtual meeting.
We proudly serve:
…all across Maryland, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia.
Let’s build a healthy, sustainable lawn care plan — no sprinkler obsession required.