Here’s When to Stop Watering Your Lawn in the Fall

If you’re wondering when to stop watering your grass, you’re in the right place. Certain types of grass require more care than others, so it’s worth researching when to pull back the watering hose. If you need help determining the best watering schedule for your yard, consider working with a lawn care service to provide expert opinions and services. Let’s dig into when to stop watering your grass.

When Do You Stop Watering the Grass?

You should stop watering the grass in the fall when daytime temperatures consistently drop below 50 degrees F or nighttime temperatures consistently drop below 30 degrees F, which is often between October and late November, depending on your climate.

When you should stop watering your grass depends on many factors, including your home’s location and the type of grass that makes up your lawn. While each person’s lawn needs will differ, these are common situations where you can stop watering your grass. 

When the Ground Freezes

If you live in a cold climate, you should expect to stop watering your lawn when the ground freezes. When the ground freezes, it acts as a barrier that stops water from getting to the roots of your grass. Lawns in these environments typically become dormant during this time and don’t require irrigation. 

When It Rains

Grass typically only requires around one inch of water each week to remain healthy. You’ll want to turn your lawn irrigation system off when your area is expecting showers that amount to at least one inch per week. If you live in a rainy climate, it’s likely that you’ll only ever need to water your grass in periods of drought. 

When You Have Established Plants

Certain types of grass are more drought tolerant than others, and once they’re established they don’t need to be watered daily or else they’ll get waterlogged. That said, other grass types require more water than average, particularly ornamental variations. 

What Happens If You Overwater (or Under-Water) Your Grass?

Striking the right balance between overwatering and under-watering your grass is crucial to keeping it healthy. Both extremes can cause harm to your lawn, some of which will be difficult to reverse.

Overwatering Your Grass

• More weeds: Weeds like crabgrass, nutsedge, and bluegrass can be caused by overwatering. Once these weeds arrive in your lawn, they can be difficult to remove.  

• Fungus: Overwatered lawns are ideal growing conditions for mushrooms and other fungus. 

• Pests: Pest problems are common in overwatered lawns, which are the perfect breeding ground for many insects. An overirrigated lawn can expect bugs like grubs, mole crickets, spittlebugs, and springtails. 

• Soft ground: If your lawn feels spongy or soggy when you walk on it, it’s likely overwatered. This scenario can result in water-logged roots that could kill your plants. 

Under-Watering Your Grass

• Shallow root systems: If you don’t water your lawn enough, its root system will be shallow and unable to take advantage of the moisture held in deeper soil. This situation will lead to the need for more frequent watering. 

• Discoloration: Under watering can cause your lawn to become stressed and less tolerant of heat, causing yellow and brown discoloration. 

• Slow growth: Grass needs to be watered deeply to grow vigorously. If you’re under watering, your lawn's growth is likely to be slower than normal.

• Weak spring back: Under watered grass doesn’t spring back to the touch as easily as well-watered grass. This scenario can cause visible footprints to appear when your lawn is walked across which might become permanent. 

Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Lawn

A well-maintained lawn can add value to your property and even purify the air you breathe. To keep yours lush and green, maintain your lawn using these lawn maintenance tips: 

• Mow your lawn: Mowing your lawn can help deter weeds, keep diseases away, and help your grass grow healthier. To best maintain a healthy lawn, you should use a mulching mower, breaking down the grass clippings into small pieces and returning their nutrients to your lawn. 

• Water the right amount: Lawns need a good drenching of at least 1 inch of water each week to thrive. Be sure to water your lawn, especially when it doesn’t rain, to ensure it is getting enough water. 

• Fertilize as needed: If your lawn isn’t healthy, giving it nutrients in the form of fertilizer can help it grow stronger. Lawn fertilizers can come in the form of organic matter or synthetic fertilizer. 

• Manage weeds carefully: Although some weed growth is healthy for your lawn, excess weed growth can use the water and nutrients your grass needs to stay strong. You should manage your weeds using methods such as hand-pulling and digging out weeds, plus safe chemical methods if necessary. 

• Monitor pest activity: Pests can cause lasting damage to your lawn but you can get them under control more quickly if you spot them early on. Early signs of pest activity include patches of dead grass, dirt mounds, and burrows.