When’s the Best Time to Water Grass?

a water sprinkler watering a lawn

The best time to water grass is in the morning before 10 am. At this time the air temperature is cooler, the sun is not yet high in the sky, and winds tend to be calmer. This allows time for the water to soak into the soil and be absorbed by the grass without being evaporated. Below we cover everything you need to know about when’s the best time to water grass.


Water Needs to Soak Into the Soil

Watering early in the morning has two advantages. It allows plenty of time for the water to soak deep into the soil before it begins to evaporate in the midday sun. And, it allows the grass time to dry and helps prevent fungal infection – more on this below.

Water Deeply & Infrequently

To keep your grass healthy and well watered you should aim to water anytime between 4 am and 10 am in the morning. You should also water deeply and less frequently. This means you should add plenty of water less frequently rather than watering a little more regularly. Deep infrequent watering encourages grass roots to grow deeply in search of water.

How to Avoid Grass Fungal Disease

Watering in the morning also allows time for the grass blades to dry during the day. This helps prevent fungal infections that can damage the grass. Watering grass in the evening or at night is not a good idea.

This does not allow enough time for the grass to dry. Air temperature begins to drop in the evening and if the grass is wet it may remain wet throughout the night until the next day. And, wet grass can lead to nasty fungal diseases.


When’s the Second Best Time to Water Grass?

watering grass using a garden hose

If you can’t water your lawn before 10 am, when is the next best time to water? The next best time to water is between 4 pm and 6 pm. This avoids the hottest part of the day when most of the water will be lost to evaporation. And, it allows time for the grass to dry before night kicks in. Don’t water your grass after 6 pm as this will not allow enough time for the grass blades to dry and leave them prone to infection and disease.


How Much Water Should You Use?

Most lawns need about 1.0 to 1.5 inches of water per week. The best approach is to apply the water in either one or two sessions over the course of the week. Watering any more regularly than this stunts the growth of the grass roots as they do not have to dig deep into the soil in search of water.

lady making a hand gesture and smiling

How Do You Know When to Stop?

How do you know when you’ve applied enough water? Let’s face it, you will not be able to measure out 1.0-1.5 inches of water as you water your lawn. So, an easy of knowing if the grass has received enough moisture is to test the soil it is growing in.

Get a dry stick and push it into the soil until it is at least 8 inches deep. Then slowly withdraw it and measure the depth of moisture on the stick. If the stick shows signs of moisture between 6-8 inches of depth – you’ve added enough water and it’s time to stop.


How Many Times per Week Should You Water?

The best approach is to water your grass – once or twice per week. Infrequent deep watering is better for the grass than regular shallow watering. By watering the grass less regularly you encourage the roots to grow deep into the soil in search of water.

sprinklers watering grass

This results in stronger, healthier grass. Regular shallow may appear more caring but it can stunt the development of the grass. For best results, add plenty of water once or twice every week – early in the morning.


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What’s the Best Time to Water Grass in the Summer?

The best time to water grass in the summer is between 4 am and 10 am. This gives the water time to soak into the soil and become available to the roots of the grass. You should avoid watering grass after 10 am during the summer as this will be the start of the hottest time of the day.

summer garden

When the air temperature rises and the sun is high in the sky evaporation becomes an issue. Under these conditions, a lot of the water is lost to evaporation as it rises into the air as water vapor. It just doesn’t get a chance to soak down into the soil.

If you are unable to water your lawn before 10 am during summer months, wait until after 4 pm. This is when the day begins to cool down and the sun lowers in the sky. There is a window between 4 pm and 6 pm you should aim for to water your lawn. However, if you miss this window wait until the next day. Do not water grass after 6 pm.


How Do You Know If Your Lawn Is Getting Enough Water?

What are the telltale signs that a lawn is not getting enough water? When covering ‘when’s the best time to water grass’ – we need to be able to tell if grass is getting enough water.  The good news is, it doesn’t take an experienced gardener to figure out if a lawn is not getting enough.

water with bubbles

There are some very simple signs you should look out for that will tell you your grass is feeling thirsty.  First up, has the lawn lost some of its lush green color? If the grass turns a less vibrant shade of green this is a clear sign the lawn is in need of some water. Another indicator is curled-up grass blades.

When grass blades become dehydrated they begin to curl up and have a dry and husky appearance.  And, a final sign that grass urgently needs water is if it loses its springy nature. If you walk across the grass and it doesn’t bounce back into position as you lift your foot then you need to get the hose or the sprinkler out – it needs watering.


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WHAT IS TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS IN WATER?

glass of ionized alkaline water

What is total dissolved solids in water? Total Dissolved Solids is a measure of all the dissolved organic and inorganic matter in a water sample. It is often called TDS and is measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L). TDS measures anything that is dissolved in water that is not a water molecule.


TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS MEANING

What does Total Dissolved Solids mean? TDS is a measure of all the dissolved contaminants in water that are not water molecules.  TDS includes all organic and inorganic dissolved contaminants including metals, salts, minerals, and ions. It is a parameter regularly used to measure the purity of drinking water.

lasy drinking a glass of water

Water collects and dissolves particles as it passes through streams, wells, and rivers. This is a perfectly natural process. Examples include the absorption of minerals such as calcium and magnesium as it passes through rocks.

Dissolved solids also make their way into the water supply through unnatural methods – such as pollution. Runoff from fertilizers used in agriculture and chemical waste from industry results in contaminants making their way into the water supply.


WHAT TDS SHOULD BE IN DRINKING WATER?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the recommended secondary standard for Total Dissolved Solids in drinking water is 500 mg/L. The National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (NSDWRs) can be viewed – over here.

tds in drinking water

A TDS reading of greater than 1,000 mg/L is considered unsafe. And values above 2,000 mg/L indicate that the water filtration system being employed has failed.

The following TDS readings can be used as a general guideline:

Below 300 mg/L – LOW TDS READING

Low TDS reading. Water may lack mineral content. Very low TDS levels can lead to bad-tasting water due to the low mineral content.

300-500 mg/L – IDEAL TDS READING

This is the optimal TDS level. Drinking water within this range has a good balance of mineral content and low TDS levels. Water in this range tastes good.

501-1,000 mg/L – HIGH

Anything above the 500 reading is on the high side. But the closer to 501, the better. As you approach 1,000 you are reaching water with high levels of TDS. The water should be filtered to remove contaminants and return the value to 500.

1,001-2,000 mg/L – BAD WATER

Any water with a TDS value between 1,001 and 2,000 should be considered contaminated and unsafe to drink. You should not consume water at this level.

2,000 mg/L or above – VERY HIGH, DO NOT DRINK

Any water with a TDS of above 2,000 is considered unsafe to drink. It is an indication that the water is polluted and the water filtration system has failed.


HOW IS TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS MEASURED?

How can you measure the TDS of your home water supply? There are two methods. Firstly, you can take a water sample and send it off to a water testing laboratory for professional analysis. This is the most accurate way to measure TDS but can be expensive.

woman testing water in a lab

The second method is to test a water sample yourself at home. To do this you will need to purchase a TDS meter and perform an analysis as per the instructions provided.

TDS meters are easy to use. All you need to do is – collect a sample of water in a clean glass. Then, immerse the TDS meter sensor in the water sample and wait for the reading to appear on the screen.

Finally, compare the reading on the meter with the TDS guide values described above. Anything close to 500 mg/L means your water has an optimal level of TDS.


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WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS IN WATER?

What makes up TDS? The most common substances that make up total dissolved solids are calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, fluoride, chloride, aluminum, iron, zinc, bicarbonates, copper, sulfates, and nitrates.

water testing in lab

Most TDS in drinking water is made up of common salts, such as sodium and calcium-based ions. The remaining molecules fall into the categories of minerals, metals, and organic matter.

It is perfectly normal for water to contain TDS. These molecules make their way into water naturally as it passes through the earth and brushes up against rocks.

SALTS

Yes, there’s salt in fresh water!  Water absorbs salt molecules naturally as it passes through the earth, rivers, and streams.

They can also make their way into the water supply as a result of human pollution. Run-off from agriculture and industrial activities results in high salt levels in the water table.

MINERALS

Water absorbs minerals naturally as it passes over mineral-rich rocks. Water absorbs tiny mineral molecules as it makes contact with these natural structures. Minerals improve the taste of water and are good for our health at the right levels.

METALS

Metals make their way into water as the direct result of human activities and pollution. Agriculture, industrial activities, mining, and automobiles are all major sources of metal pollution of water. Also, old pipes made from lead can contribute to high levels of metal TDS.

ORGANIC MATTER

Organic matter such as microbes and algae make their way into water as it passes through the environment. These organic contaminants should be removed at water treatment facilities before the water is piped through for consumption.


HOW CAN I REMOVE TDS FROM MY WATER?

How is TDS removed from water? You can remove total dissolved solids from your water supply using water filtration. The best methods are reverse osmosis, distillation, and deionization.

REVERSE OSMOSIS

Reverse osmosis is a highly effective method for reducing the TDS levels in water. It removes between 92-98% of all total dissolved solids in water.

An RO (reverse osmosis) filtration system passes water through multiple filters. The final filter in the process is a high-efficiency RO membrane. This filter has tiny pores that allow water molecules to pass through but block almost all other contaminants.

You can install a reverse osmosis water filtration system beneath your kitchen sink.  Take a look at the best Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filters 2024.

DISTILLATION

Distillation involves the heating of water so that it turns to steam. The steam is then collected and cooled so that it turns back to water again.

Water has a lower boiling point than the boiling point of the dissolved solids. This means the total dissolved solids are left behind as the water is converted to steam.

The steam is cooled using a condenser and turned back to water. The majority of impurities are left behind in the heating chamber.

Impurities that manage to escape with the steam are collected in a small carbon filter that the steam passes through as it leaves the boiling chamber. It is an effective method of water filtration but is slow and expensive.

DEIONIZATION

Deionization is an effective way of removing total dissolved solids from water. This method filters water by passing it through resin-based filters.

The form of filtration used is called an ion-exchange water filter. The water is passed through both a positively and negatively charged resin bed filter. However, it is only effective for the removal of ionic substances.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

water in a glass with ice

WHERE DO TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS COME FROM?

As water passes through the environment it absorbs particles naturally that it comes into contact with. This includes organic and inorganic dissolved solids such as metals, salts, minerals, and ions. It is a naturally occurring process that occurs as water passes through the earth’s crust, rivers, and streams.

WHY IS TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS IMPORTANT?

Total dissolved solids gives a quick reading of the total organic and inorganic matter present in a water sample. It indicates the level of contamination of water. Further analysis can then be performed to determine what dissolved solids are present.

WHAT IS AN ACCEPTABLE TDS IN POOL WATER?

TDS in pool water is around the 250 ppm mark. In general, levels above 1500 ppm are unacceptable.


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