When should you start watering your lawn in Utah?

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The weather is getting warmer, the cherry blossoms have bloomed and the snow is melting away, meaning it’s that time of year when Utahns are starting to think about their lawns.

So when should you start watering your lawn for the summer? The answer is not anytime soon, unless you’re in the southwest corner of the Beehive State. It’s best to start watering your lawn when days are consecutively hot and dry.

The Utah Department of Natural Resources’ Weekly Watering Guide says the majority of the state doesn’t need to be watering their lawns this early in the spring season. The only place where lawns could use a little bit of water is Washington County — but only once per week.

Students walk out of Utah middle school to protest ‘furries’

Sandy City officials said that while residents might be eager to start watering their lawns on the first sunny day, they’re better off waiting until later in the year.

“The snowmelt here in Utah should keep your soil well-hydrated for the first couple weeks of spring. During this period when grasses are just coming out of dormancy, overwatering can do more harm than good,” Sandy City wrote in a city blog.

Lawns can tolerate a lot of water before they start showing signs of stress, according to Utah’s Division of Water Resources. Because of this, people tend to overwater their lawns and in the process, waste water and damage their lawns.

How much water does your lawn need?

Lawns don’t need that much water to stay healthy and green. According to Sandy City, a good deep watering just once a week will be good enough to keep the soil hydrated and maintain a beautiful lawn that will make your neighbors green with envy.

Typically, most lawns only need about one to two inches of water per week, whether that’s from your sprinklers or rain. Sandy City said that water can either be applied during a single watering or divided up into a few different watering sessions throughout the week. Either way, lawns only need to be watered once every three or four days to stay healthy.

If you’re following the Weekly Watering Guide, it assumes you’re using a half-inch of water each time you water. So for Washington County, where only one irrigation event is needed, residents only need to use half an inch per week.

When is the best time to water?

Naturally, to get the most out of your water, you’ll want to water your lawn at the best time. If you water too late in the day, most of it will evaporate before it can properly be absorbed into the soil and grass.

Sandy City officials say the best time to water your lawn is before 10 a.m. when the air is still cooler and the winds are a bit calmer.

“If you must water in the evening, try between 4 p.m and 6 p.m., which should give the grass blades time to dry before nightfall,” City officials said. “The later you water, the greater chance of disease becoming prevalent in your lawn.”

How much water has my lawn received?

Curious how much water your lawn has already received? The Utah Division of Water Resources provides regularly updated statistics on water throughout the state. For example, as of Friday, April 19, Ogden received just under an inch of rain in the last seven days while Moab recorded over 1.5 inches.

Alternatively, Utahns who live in the Salt Lake City area, including Cottonwood Heights, Millcreek, Holladay and Sandy, or in the Iron and San Juan Counties, can sign up for free water checks. The water checks will analyze the efficiency of your automatic sprinklers at your home or business and check the health of your grass and soil. The process only takes about an hour and can help provide insights on how to get the most out of your water and lawn, without breaking the bank.

If you want to do a Water Check but don’t live in the serviced areas, the Utah State University Extension can help you learn how to do it yourself for free.

Are there other ways to conserve water?

If you’re looking for other ways to lower your water bill and help conserve some precious water, the Division of Water Resources has you covered.

With programs such localscaping, you can replace your lawn with a yard of plants that take into account Utah’s unique climate. There are also smart controllers for sprinklers that can help monitor watering time and water use whenever you water your lawn.

The best part? Utah may even help you pay for any upgrades.

There are several programs and rebates available for Utahns to be more water-wise while maintaining a lawn they can be proud of.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.