Avoid Overwatering

• Many gardeners tend to overwater their lawns, which can cause significant harm to the grass. Too much moisture creates various problems, such as an increased susceptibility to insects and diseases, an undesirable shallow network of roots and a decreased resistance to outside stresses, like drought. Overwatering might also cause your lawn to grow more rapidly than you want, forcing you to mow more frequently. A good way to avoid adding too much water is to let the condition of the grass signal when you need to apply moisture.
  
  

Signs

• The moisture needs of lawns vary, depending on factors such as the species of the grass, the type of soil and the local climate, which makes giving a hard and fast rule about the frequency of watering impossible. Watch for signs that indicate your grass needs moisture. Leaf blades that fold up, the grass turning blue-gray and footprint impressions that remain in the lawn after someone has walked across it, all point to a lawn stressed from a lack of water.
  
  

Depth

• When it's time to water, ensure that you soak the roots to a depth of about 5 inches. The amount of moisture needed to achieve this varies, based on the type of soil. For instance, 1/2 inch of water might wet a sandy soil sufficiently, but for a clay soil, more moisture might be required. Avoid watering beyond the recommended 5-inch depth as the moisture will simply go to waste, advises the University of Minnesota.
  
  

Tips

• Water early in the morning; before 8 a.m., if possible. Watering at the these hours decreases the chances of the grass losing moisture to evaporation. Avoid watering in the late afternoon or evening, since moisture will remain on the grass overnight, which can encourage disease. Mowing at at higher cut levels reduces the amount of water your lawn needs. Set up your sprinkler system to distribute moisture evenly over the lawn. Avoid allowing puddles to develop on the grass. Any turf damaged by insects or disease might need more water than usual.