Watering
How to Water Your Lawn the Right Way
Watering deep and infrequently builds deeper roots and saves water. Here's the early-morning watering schedule we recommend for Utah lawns — plus a simple trick to avoid runoff.
May 1, 2026 · 4 min read
Water is essential to all plant life — but how you water matters just as much as how much. The goal is a deep, healthy root system, not a shallow lawn that depends on daily sprinkling.
Deep and infrequent beats short and often
The best watering is deep and thorough. To water deeply, irrigate early in the morning, about 30 minutes, twice a week. Watering this way encourages your grass to grow deeper roots — which makes the whole lawn more resilient and more drought tolerant over time.
A few principles to keep in mind:
- Rainwater is the best water for plants. (Pray for rain!)
- People who water by hand with a garden hose tend to use less water than those who rely on an automatic timer — because they pay attention to what the lawn actually needs.
- If you do use a timer or clock, adjust it with the seasons for the best water economy. A summer schedule is not a spring schedule.
Avoid runoff: split your watering
If water runs off your lawn before it soaks in, you’re wasting it. The fix is simple — break one long watering into shorter cycles.
Instead of one 30-minute session, try three 10-minute cycles in the early morning (for example, 4am, 5am, and 6am during the summer). Each short burst soaks in before the next begins.
The payoff: less water, deeper roots
Here’s why deep, infrequent watering wins:
- 10 minutes × 7 days = 70 minutes per week
- 30 minutes × twice a week = 60 minutes per week — and you’ve encouraged the grass to grow deeper roots.
Less total water, and a stronger lawn. That’s the TOR Turf way.
Just installed new sod? Water it thoroughly right away to settle it and kick-start root growth, then ease into this deep-and-infrequent schedule as it establishes.
Frequently asked questions
- How often should I water my lawn?
- Water deeply and thoroughly about twice a week rather than a little every day. Deep, infrequent watering encourages deeper roots and a healthier, more drought-resistant lawn.
- What time of day is best to water grass?
- Early morning is best. Watering before the heat of the day reduces evaporation and helps prevent fungus that thrives on overnight moisture.
- How do I avoid water runoff when watering?
- Break a single long watering into shorter cycles. Instead of 30 minutes at once, run three 10-minute cycles (for example at 4am, 5am, and 6am) so the water soaks in instead of running off.