The best watering routine for your Utah lawn is to water early in the morning, 2 to 3 times a week, for 15 to 30 minutes, starting in early to mid-spring and continuing until mid to late fall. This approach minimizes moisture loss from evaporation and ensures water reaches the roots effectively.
A proper watering schedule keeps your lawn healthy by encouraging deep root growth and conserving water in the long run.
The best watering times
The best time to water your Utah lawn is early in the morning. The cooler morning air allows water to soak into the soil more effectively. This is why it’s advised to always avoid midday watering, as much of the water will evaporate before reaching roots.
When to water can depend on your local regulations. Generally, it’s recommended to water by 10 a.m., but in some regions, you may have to do it even earlier. We cover Utah’s legal restrictions below.
If morning watering isn’t possible, you can also water your lawn from late afternoon to early evening. Again, check local regulations for specific time restrictions. However, don’t leave watering until too late in the evening, it’s like an open invitation for lawn diseases and weeds.
How much water your lawn needs
Your lawn typically needs one to two inches of water per week, including rainwater. Aim for deep and infrequent watering rather than shallow, frequent sessions to encourage strong roots and drought resistance.
Drought-tolerant grasses commonly found in Utah, like Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue (a type of fine fescue), are particularly resilient and survive dry periods better than other grasses. By understanding your lawn’s water needs and choosing the right grass, you can have a healthy lawn with minimal watering.
How often to water your lawn
Water your lawn two to three times a week. However, some regions of Utah have legal guidelines or restrictions on watering frequency. For instance, Salt Lake City recommends watering no more than twice a week, while Park City legally permits watering only every other day, based on your house number.
The duration of each watering session will depend on your watering method and your lawn’s specific needs. These guidelines help conserve water and keep your lawn healthy.
How long to water each section
As a guideline, if you hand water your lawn, each section should take 25 to 30 minutes. However, rotating irrigation heads take around 25 minutes per section, and fixed irrigation heads only need about 15 minutes per section.
To get a more precise measure of how long you need to irrigate, you can test your sprinkler’s output per 15 minutes. For that, simply place tuna cans within the sprinkler’s range and run the system for 15 minutes. Then, measure the water collected in the cans with a ruler.
When to start watering
Generally, you’ll need to start watering in early- to mid-spring. But you don’t need to worry about watering your lawn too early in the year; melted snow will handle the job for you. In fact, you should be careful not to overwater your lawn as it can harm your lawn and the environment.
A good rule of thumb is to start watering once the temperatures hit 60 degrees or higher. Timing varies by region – in cooler areas like Salt Lake City hits 60 degrees early in April, while the warmer Monticello reaches this temperature by mid-March.
Remember, these periods are just guidelines. The best way to check if your lawn needs watering is to poke your soil with a screwdriver. If you feel resistance, your soil is dry and needs more water.
When to stop watering your lawn
Stop watering when temperatures consistently drop below freezing in mid-to-late fall. Your grass will go dormant during the winter, so it won’t need water. And there’s no point in watering frozen soil.
In general, this temperature drop occurs around the end of October in Utah, but it differs by region. For instance, you can expect frost as early as mid-October to early November in cooler areas like Salt Lake City. In warmer regions like Monticello, the first frost usually arrives between late October and late November.
Be aware of Utah’s legal restrictions
Utah is the second-driest state, making water conservation a need. As mentioned above, overwatering is not just unwise for your lawn, but also bad for the environment. So to manage water resources, some parts of the state have various legal restrictions on water usage while others provide guidelines that, while not enforceable, are highly recommended.
Laws and guidelines vary by region. For example, Millcreek has a set of legal restrictions like keeping grass 2 to 3 inches tall and watering before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Salt Lake City has no legal restrictions, but the guideline is to water no more than twice a week.
In Sandy City, afternoon watering is recommended between 4 and 6 p.m., while in Saratoga Springs, you must avoid watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Avoid legal trouble and make the best of your lawn. If you’re taking care of your lawn yourself, research your local laws and guidelines.
Call a lawn care pro
Local pros not only know about the best practices to take care of your lawn, but they also know about your local regulations. Calling a pro saves you time and makes things easy.
Main Image Credit: takoburito | Adobe Stock Free | License
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