The sun is shining from the sky, it is hot and the lawn could definitely use some water: many a gardener prefers to use the garden hose at lunchtime to do something supposedly good for the lawn with the cooling water. However, watering the lawn in the sun can have unpleasant consequences.
Is it bad to water your lawn when the sun is shining?
Lawns should not be watered in the sun as the burning glass effect can cause burns on the blades of grass. It is best to water in the early morning hours before 6:00 a.m. or in the evening in an emergency to avoid damage and unnecessary evaporation.
Brown glass effect – nonsense or not?
In general, it is advised not to water garden plants or lawns in bright sunshine. One reason for this recommendation is the so-called burning glass effect, in which the countless water droplets on the sensitive blades of grass act like burning glasses and cause burns. The result is unsightly brown or yellow spots in the lawn. Don't be confused by claims to the contrary: watering at the wrong time has also resulted in unsightly leaf spots on many other plants in the garden.
The right time to water the lawn
There is also another reason why you should not water the lawn in the sun: This also warms the ground and also ensures that the irrigation water evaporates faster than it can seep into the soil and reach the roots can reach. Therefore, you should only use the garden hose when the sun is still weak or can no longer be seen at all. The best time is in the early hours of the morning, preferably before six in the morning, when the earth has already been moistened by dew drops and has cooled down a bit overnight. In exceptional cases, you can also water in the evening, but this should be avoided if possible: evening watering ensures a longer period of moisture during the night, which on the one hand attracts voracious snails and on the other hand is the cause of fungal diseases.
What else you should consider when watering the lawn
So that your lawn does not suffer from a lack of water during the hot and dry summer months, you should, in addition to the right time, also follow the following tips for watering:
- if possible, do not water with cold water
- collected rainwater warmed from the sun is ideal
- Watering thoroughly once or twice a week
- Perfect is about 15 to 20 liters of water per square meter of lawn
Tip
Before watering, you should do a test to avoid overwatering and thus permanent waterlogging: Step on the lawn in several places. Then observe the blades of grass: If they stand up again quickly, there is still enough moisture and watering is not necessary.
