Do I need to water my lawn?
No. In our area, a well-maintained lawn can be left unwatered during the summer months without damaging the grass. The lawn won’t die, it’ll just go dormant (think of it as taking a long summer nap). Your green lawn will return quickly when the rainy season starts.
How much should I water my lawn?
If you do plan to irrigate this summer, it’s a good idea to first measure your sprinkler’s output. Then, make it easy on yourself and let the experts tell you how much to water. Sign up for the free Weekly Watering Numberand get an email or text that tells you the amount of water (in inches) your lawn will need each week. Our friends at the Regional Water Providers Consortium publish the weekly watering number every Thursday from April through September.
In addition to watering advice, you’ll get tips on how to keep your yard thriving and conserve water throughout the summer.
Mow more, water less
You can also save water by mowing frequently, about once a week. Mowing a little each time can encourage robust root development. And stronger roots mean your lawn will need less water and maintenance to look great.
While the ideal mowing height depends on what kind of grass you have, a good rule of thumb is to always maintain two-thirds of the original height of the lawn.
Looking for more in-depth information on lawns or lawn alternatives?
Check out these resources on lawns, lawn alternatives, and hardscapes:
- Planting & Maintaining Your Lawn (PDF) brochure
- Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance website
- Regional Water Providers Consortium blog post about lawns
- 7 Steps for Creating a Waterwise Landscape (PDF)
- Waterwise plant guide (PDF)
Outdoor water-saving tips and rebates!
From landscape maintenance to irrigation, get more outdoor water-saving tips and learn about our outdoor rebates.