How To Water Your Florida Lawn

Florida weather makes lawn-care a year-round chore, and for many people getting the lawn to look great can feel daunting. How much water does your lawn need? How often should you water your Florida lawn? Here’s everything you need to know.

How many times a week should you water your Florida lawn?

Living in Florida will affect your lawn watering schedule. This is mainly because of our rainfall: we get an average of around 50 inches a year. This means that, in a good year, we might get away with turning off our sprinklers most of the season.

If you do need to supplement rainfall with sprinklers, it’s always best to water deeply. This just means watering less often but for a slightly longer period of time.

PRO TIP: Try to avoid watering every day for short periods of time. Watering too frequently but not deeply enough will only promote shallow roots, making your lawn weaker.

Generally speaking, Florida lawns benefit from deep watering 2 to 3 times a week. This will ensure your grass grows a deep root system, making it stronger against environmental pressures.

Of course, the exact watering schedule will also depend on the grass species in your lawn, the sand percentage on the soil and the amount of shade your yard gets.

PRO TIP: Although most Florida soils tend to be sandy, beachside properties usually have a significantly higher sand proportion in the soil composition. If that’s your case, your lawn will probably need to be irrigated more frequently: sandy soils don’t hold onto water and dry out much faster.

However, regardless of your planned schedule, you need to keep an eye out on your lawn. If you see the grass is stressed, it likely needs some extra water.

Signs that your lawn needs watering

Some lawn types are easy to figure out, while other grasses give more subtle signs when they need extra water. Here are some basic signs that your lawn needs more water:

• Footprints and tracks show easily: If your grass stays down after being walked on, it’s a sign the plants are stressed and probably need a bit more water. A healthy lawn springs back quickly after being stepped on.

• The color isn’t uniform: Depending on the type of grass, your lawn will have different shades of green. However, if you have patches with different colors, it’s a sure sign something is going on. Generally speaking, a grayish or yellowish tint on your lawn means the grass isn’t getting everything it needs.



• Your grass is curling: This is one of the first signs of dehydration. If your grass blades are folded in half (lengthwise), it means the plants are trying to keep as much water as possible.

PRO TIP: Try the screwdriver test to check if your lawn is moist enough. Take a regular 6” screwdriver and try to push it into the soil. If you can’t get it to the hilt or it’s very difficult, your lawn probably needs to be watered more often.

Lawn watering in Florida: Summer vs winter schedule

Since we don’t get too cold in winter, it might be tempting to stick to the same watering schedule year-round. However, Florida lawns do need a slightly different schedule depending on the season.

In the summer, the extreme heat will dry out your grass faster, which can stress the plants and cause yellowing. We recommend deep watering two to three times a week in the summer. During particularly dry months, a daily, very short sprinkle can also help cool the roots of your turf.

On the flip side, the lower temperatures of winter mean you need to water your lawn less often. If you water too much, it can promote weed growth, weaken your turf and make your grass more prone to stress come summer. In winter, water your lawn once a week: this will keep your grass healthy without overdoing it.

What time of day is best to water your lawn?

The timing of your lawn irrigation is key, especially in hot areas like Florida.

As a general rule of thumb, watering early in the morning is the best option: it lowers evaporation and lets your lawn get a deep soak without it getting wet for too long. In Florida, setting your sprinklers to run around 6AM is optimal. An early-morning soak lets the grass dry up before the day is up and prevents fungal diseases.

PRO TIP: Don’t water your lawn at night: it will lead to yellowing and foster diseases. We recommend setting up an irrigation timer to avoid having to get up early in the morning.

How much water does my lawn need in Florida?

According to the University of Florida’s extension office, generally speaking a lawn needs a bit more than a gallon of water per 10 square feet per week.

Of course, this needs to be adjusted depending on the grasses you have planted. Some species benefit from being slightly dry in-between waterings and are more prone to root rot if left too wet. On the flip side, grasses with a shallow root system will need more frequent watering.

The goal when watering your lawn is efficiency. You need to water deeply while minimizing evaporation, making sure sprinklers hit the entire lawn evenly.

PRO TIP: Don’t know if your sprinklers evenly cover your lawn? Here’s an easy test: place small containers all over your lawn before your sprinklers go off. After watering, check all containers. They should have roughly the same amount of water and, if not, you can adjust the position of the sprinklers accordingly.

Final thoughts

A good watering schedule will make your lawn look great and save you money in the long run. By following some simple best practices, keeping your lawn healthy and attractive shouldn’t be too hard. However, if you need to troubleshoot problem areas or really don’t know how to set up your system, getting the help of a professional is a great way to start. If you have questions, give our experts at Crystal Cut Lawn Care a call: we’d be more than happy to help 352-675-2523 .