The Guide to Watering Your Lawn in Sun or Shade

There are a lot of factors that play into the health and appearance of your lawn, but one of the most important to understand is how sun exposure affects grass. Most people’s lawns have some combination of full sun, partial sun, and/or shade, and those areas may need different care to keep them looking their best. The amount of sun each zone gets determines everything from soil temperature to watering, so keep reading for some lawn watering tips from Simply Green. 

How to Water Grass in Sun vs. Shade

It can take a lot of water to keep your grass looking lush and green, so it’s important to optimize your watering strategy. Here in Georgia, it can get quite hot by 10 in the morning, and the intense heat and sun can evaporate water from your irrigation system before it even reaches your grass! Avoid wasting all of that water (and money) by watering grass early in the morning.  Whether sunny or shady, early morning watering maximizes absorption and minimizes evaporation. 

Watering in the evening is not only less efficient, but can also put your lawn at risk for fungal turf diseases. Watering late in the day doesn’t give your grass enough time to dry out before nightfall, and sitting wet all night creates a welcoming environment for disease.

How to Water Grass in Sun

While both sunny and shady areas benefit from early morning watering, they will need to be watered with different frequencies. Areas of your lawn that receive bright sunlight absorb moisture more quickly and that grass is going to grow faster. To compensate, you will need to water these areas about an inch more per week than grass in shady areas of your yard. 

How to Water Grass in Shade

While shady areas need to be watered less frequently, they still need watering. If the grass is located under the canopy of a tree, even seemingly heavy rainfall may not reach the grass roots, so you’ll need to give it a drink every now and then. 

To ensure your lawn is getting the right amount of water in both sunny and shady areas, you should get into a base schedule of deep watering twice a week for your whole lawn. You can then add additional watering days just for the sunny areas as needed. 

How to Save Water Without Sacrificing Your Lawn

Knowing when and how to water your lawn goes a long way, but it’s not the only thing you can do to conserve water and save on your water bill. We can reduce your outdoor watering by up to 50% and help you achieve a stronger, healthier lawn with Hydretain. 

Hydretain is a biodegradable, environmentally friendly lawn treatment that improves watering efficiency using liquid humectants and hygroscopic compounds. We’re thrilled to offer Hydretain application in Atlanta and surrounding areas, so call us at 770-923-0387 for an estimate!