The Best Time to Water Grass In Florida May Surprise You

Posted on November 12, 2025

Uncover the Lawn Watering Tips You Should Know

Sure, watering the grass in your yard isn’t rocket science, but it’s not exactly as simple as grabbing the hose and spraying for a few minutes, either. Not if you want a green, healthy yard, anyway.

Your watering routine should work with your grass type, soil, location, and more. The professionals at Luv-A-Lawn are here to share what works, including the best time to water grass in Florida.

How Often Should Florida Homeowners Water?

It varies, but here is the surprise: deep, infrequent watering works best. Don’t give your lawn a light sprinkle every day. Instead, water deeply 2 to 3 times per week. It pushes roots to grow deeper, making your lawn healthier.

You’ll have to be flexible, though. Rain, drought, and local water rules can force you to change your schedule in a hurry. Watch the weather. Watch your lawn.

Too Much Water

You may think more water equals a better lawn. It doesn’t. Too much creates puddles, mushrooms, discolored grass, squishy turf, and runoff.

Not Enough Water

Healthy grass looks vibrant. Thirsty grass doesn’t. It shifts from bright green to dull green or gray. The blades curl. It won’t bounce back after you walk on it–you’ll see your footprints in the yard. When you water too little, your lawn just looks exhausted.

Season by Season Watering

Spring

Rain usually comes with spring. You may only want to water if it hasn’t rained in over 5 days. Check for new growth. That’s how you can know it’s getting back into its cycle.
As the weather warms up, your lawn goes from dormancy into growth mode. It’s time to adjust your sprinkler schedule based on local weather and what your lawn needs.

Summer

Watch for heat stress. Long stretches of hot weather can make the soil hard or crusty, blocking water from soaking in. Some areas get too wet while others don’t get enough as water runs off.
If you notice sogginess or runoff, you may need to aerate or call someone to handle compaction issues.
Longer days, hotter temperatures, and less rain mean your lawn requires more water now than at any other time. Heat and increased evaporation mean you should water early and deep.

Fall

Evaporation slows down as temperatures cool. Your lawn requires less water. Cooler weather, shorter days, plus more rain let you cut back on how often your sprinklers run.
Check the forecast. But also check your lawn. In fall, that’s your best guide.

Winter

In colder areas, you will likely need to winterize your sprinkler system. Drain off as much water as you can. Insulate any pipes that are exposed to prevent freeze damage.
Yes, water in winter, too…but only if temperatures remain above 40°F. In most southern locations, you’ll want to water periodically during warm, dry spells.

Seriously, When’s the Best Time to Water?

Timing is everything. Some times of the day are advantageous. Others aren’t.

The best time to water grass? Early morning, between 5 and 10 a.m. Once the sun comes up, plants start pulling water from the soil. You want water ready when your grass needs it most.

There are other reasons too. Wind is usually calmer in the morning. Your grass loses less moisture to evaporation. And water pressure is better, so your sprinklers cover more ground.

Early evening (between 4 and 6 p.m.) works, too. But consider it your backup time. There is some risk of fungal problems when you water late.

Here’s why: As temps fall overnight, dew forms on everything. If there’s too much moisture for plants to absorb, your grass becomes more vulnerable to disease, fungus, and pests.

Whatever you do, skip midday watering, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You’re basically throwing money away. Higher temps mean faster evaporation and less water actually reaching your grass.

Common Watering Mistakes In Florida

Not taking into consideration the type of grass, soil, or the season is like blinding yourself to your lawn’s actual needs. Listen and adjust your routine.
Poor coverage is usually due to misplaced sprinkler heads, poor design, or broken parts. When some areas are dry while others are really flooded, something’s wrong with your system. A pro can find and fix coverage problems so every part of your lawn gets the right amount of water.
Breaking local water rules can get you fined, so check what your city allows.
Too much water makes shallow roots and weak grass.
Watering at the wrong time wastes water and invites disease. Morning is best. Midday is worst.

3 Ways to Check If You’re Watering Right

Screwdriver

After you’ve watered, take a screwdriver and push it into the soil. It should easily slide in 6 to 8 inches. If it doesn’t, then water isn’t going deep enough.

Flow Rate/Timer

If you like math, calculate your sprinkler’s GPM and match it with your lawn’s square footage. If you like a challenge, you can measure how many seconds it takes to fill up something of known volume, like a bucket, with your sprinkler on full pressure, and use this formula: (Number of Gallons / Seconds) x 60 = GPM.

Tuna Can

Set empty tuna cans, or something similar, around your lawn. Run the sprinklers. When you have about 1 inch of water in the cans, you have watered enough. This also shows if coverage is even.

How Soil Changes Watering

Water will stay in the clay soil longer. This means you will water your plants less often but must go slower to allow it to soak in without running off. Clay does not absorb quickly, so you have to be patient with it.

The opposite happens with sandy soil. It drains really fast. You’ll need to water more frequently but less at a time.

Loamy soil is ideal. If this is your soil type, consider yourself lucky. You get good drainage and water retention. What this means is that you can mostly follow normal watering guidelines without constant adjustments.

What’s the Preferred Way to Water?

Never Overwater or Underwater Again

How long? How often? How deep? Most southern lawns are adequately watered with 1 to 2 inches of water a week—rain and sprinklers combined. But do not just wet the surface. Water needs to reach 6-8 inches into the soil where roots live.

Shallow watering makes for shallow roots. Those can’t reach water during dry spells. Deep watering makes the roots strong. The result? A tougher lawn.

How do you hit the right amount? Use cycle and soak. Instead of running your sprinklers once for a long time, run each zone for 15-20 minutes. Right after that first round, run the system again. That creates the “soak” effect.

It works because soil absorbs that first round of water, gets a short break, then can take on more in the second round. This builds deeper roots and saves water that would otherwise run off.

Think About Your Grass Type

Warm-season grasses are both helpful and demanding. Bermuda, St. Augustine, zoysia, and other southern grasses handle extreme heat and drought. That’s exactly why they need less frequent watering than northern grasses.

The cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass are different. They will require more water because they’re not engineered for triple-digit summer heat.

FAQs for Lawn Watering

How do I water during restrictions?

Focus on deep, infrequent waterings on your allowed days. Make every watering count by allowing water to soak into the ground deeply.

Can I skip watering if it rains?

Yes. Check your rain gauge to see how much fell, then adjust. If you got a good soaking, let your sprinklers rest.

What is the best sprinkler system for my lawn size?

The best system is the one that’s designed specifically for your property. It gives better coverage, runs more efficiently, adapts to the unique features of your landscape, and improves overall lawn health. One-size-fits-all rarely works for irrigation.

How do I know if I am overwatering or underwatering my plants?

Too much causes yellow or brown patches, bare spots, and mushrooms. Too little makes grass grayish and it does not spring back after you have walked on it.

What are the signs of drought stress?

Lingering footprints, droopy blades that fold or curl, and a blue-gray color are all signals that your grass is stressed and will soon need water.

Does It Matter IF You Have a New or Established Lawn?

New Lawn

New grass needs more attention. Give it a strong start by misting 1 or 2 times a day until germination starts. Depending on the type of grass, that’s usually within 10 days.

When your new grass hits about 3 inches tall, cut back to twice a week. You’re gradually preparing it for a normal watering schedule.

Established Lawn

This is easier. Just follow that 1 to 2 inches per week cycle and soak routine. The goal is to get the roots deep, and this happens by watering less frequently. In fact, your well-established lawn is one that prefers a hands-off approach.

Ways to Save Water

Use drip irrigation in gardens, pots, and selected landscape areas. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots, reducing evaporation and waste.
If you have compacted soil or heavy clay, aerate your lawn. It helps water soak in better.
Put a rain sensor in your sprinkler system. It will turn everything off automatically when it rains.Upgrade to smart controllers that utilize real-time weather data to run your sprinkler system. They give your lawn exactly what it needs and waste less.
Apply mulch around the lawn edges and trees. It prevents water evaporation by retaining moisture.
If you’re starting from scratch or overseeding, choose drought-tolerant grass types. Some varieties handle dry conditions better.

Trust the Experts Today!

Now you know when to water grass…and a lot more! Hopefully you’ve also realized that the best time to call us for lawn care, pest control, and more is as soon as possible. Every yard is different, so contact your local pest control experts at Luv-A-Lawn to get the best care for your lawn. We proudly serve several Florida cities and the surrounding communities, ensuring high-quality lawn care and pest control services across the region: