Believe it or not, for the greenest, healthiest lawn yet, when you water your lawn actually matters. There are okay times to water the lawn, and there are also bad times to water your lawn. But if you want the greenest lawn on the block, you need to know the best time of day to water the lawn. Don’t water again until you read this information!

When Not To Water The Lawn

If you’re currently watering your lawn in the middle of the day, in the hot sunshine, stop. That is actually the worst time of day to water the lawn! The lawn will get some water, but the bulk of it is going to evaporate in the heat without reaching the roots. Water that doesn’t reach the roots of the lawn is just wasted. And that equals wasted money too.

It’s also good to note that many cities now prohibit watering your lawn during certain times, and this is why. It is wasteful.

A much better time of day to water the lawn is before 10:00 AM, or after 6:00 PM. The sun may still be up, but it definitely isn’t in its zenith. The water that goes to your lawn stands a much better chance of doing the lawn the good it needs. If you water by hand, make sure you allow enough time after getting up in the morning, or before going to bed at night to water before 10:00 or after 6:00.

The Best Time Of Day To Water The Lawn

The very best time of day to water the lawn is very late at night, or early in the morning before the sun comes up.

This is where a sprinkler timer comes in incredibly handy! Because who really wants to stay up until the wee hours to water the lawn? Not me! A sprinkler timer lets you set it, and forget it. My sprinkler timer is set to start watering about 4:00 in the morning, and that gives it enough time to complete the cycle as the sun comes up. Why is this the best time of day to water the lawn? Because there is NO sun to contend with, and it is also the coolest part of the day. Virtually all the water you put down will benefit the lawn, with nothing wasted.

For additional tips on lawn care, see how easy it is to green up your lawn.