When your grass gets dehydrated, it will reveal several signs your lawn needs watering. For example, a dehydrated lawn can fade in color, or footprints may show longer than usual.
On average, turfgrass needs one inch of water per week. Is your lawn getting enough? Each grass type has its own watering requirements, which can vary depending on your climate and soil type.
Without sufficient water, your lawn is more susceptible to negative effects like fungus and weeds. It’s vital to recognize when your lawn needs water in order to preserve your grass’ health and appearance.
1. Brown Patches
An indicator your lawn needs water when it develops brown or yellow patches. These patches are the result of your grass drying out and going dormant as a defense mechanism to preserve itself when moisture is scarce.
However, we can’t always jump to conclusions. Discolored patches on your lawn can have many other causes. For example, brown patch disease creates discolored patches very similar to dehydration.
2. Dry Soil
Another sign your lawn is dehydrated is dry soil. If the soil is dry, then so is the grass.
There are a couple of different ways you can tell if your soil is dry. The first and easiest is to take a handful of topsoil and examine it. Is the soil color light? Does it crumble in your hand? If the answer is yes, your lawn needs water.
Another way to test the dryness of your soil is to take a screwdriver, or similar instrument, and push it into the soil. If you can do so easily, your soil is not dry. Dry soil is very hard and tough to dig into.
Finally, if your soil is too dry, you may notice a prominent gap between your soil and the sidewalk or your garden beds. This is caused by the soil shrinking from lack of moisture.
3. Wilting
A very good indicator that your lawn needs water is your grass wilting. All plants wilt when dehydrated, and grass is no different. Wilting can take a few different forms, but all of them are indicative of insufficient water. Look for your grass bending, curling, or folding in half.
Wilting is grass’ attempt to conserve water when drought stressed by reducing the surface area that’s exposed to sunlight. The less direct sunlight your grass blades are exposed to, the less water evaporates. If your grass is wilting, give it water right away.
4. Slow Growth
Another sign that your lawn needs water is slow growth. It may take some time to notice your grass’ growth slowing, but it’s still a reliable indicator. Water is essential for growth, so when grass doesn’t get sufficient hydration, its growth slows down.
Pay attention to your grass and remember when you cut it last. If the grass isn’t as long as it should be, look for other signs of dehydration like wilting or dry soil. You likely need to water your lawn as soon as you can.
5. Fading Color
Just like discolored spots, discoloration across the lawn as a whole can signal dehydration. A dehydrated lawn will become dull, and then turn a blue-gray color. The fading color is a sign of reduced chlorophyll, of which water is an essential ingredient.
Fading color can have other causes. Lack of nutrients such as iron or nitrogen can cause grass’ color to dull, as can overexposure to direct sunlight. If you notice that your grass’ color is fading, look for other signs of dehydration. Dry soil and lingering footprints are good indicators when combined with faded color. If you notice them together, your lawn needs water.
For more information on maintaining your lawn’s color, read How to Achieve a Dark Green Lawn (7 Steps)
6. Lingering Footprints
Finally, a great indicator that your lawn needs water is footprints. Take a walk across your lawn and watch the footprints you leave behind. If your lawn is hydrated, those footprints will disappear quickly. If they don’t, you need to water your grass. Dehydration takes away your grass’ natural elasticity, which allows it to quickly bounce back after foot traffic.
FAQ About Watering The Lawn
What time of day is best to water the lawn?
Early morning is the best time of day to water your grass. Watering during the afternoon leads to evaporation and wasted water. In contrast, the water won’t evaporate enough if you water in late afternoon or evening, and the excess water can lead to harmful effects like fungus.
For more information, read our article on the Best Time to Water Your Grass.
Does grass need water every day?
No. Your lawn doesn’t need to be watered every day, and can in fact suffer from it. Short, frequent watering leads to shallow root growth. If you want your lawn’s roots to grow strong and to improve the health of your lawn as a whole, give it deeper, less frequent waterings.
For more information, read here: How Often Should I Water My Lawn?
Can your lawn get too much water?
Yes. You can absolutely give your lawn too much water. Excess watering will flood the soil and make the lawn more susceptible to diseases, fungus, and pests. Your lawn also won’t be able to absorb nutrients if it receives too much water.
Find Your Lawn Pro Today
Water is an essential part of lawn care. If you notice your lawn is getting dehydrated, give it a drink ASAP. If you need lawn help, contact lawn care pros near you who can tackle your lawn care chores, from mowing to aeration.
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