How Often to Water the Lawn in the Summer?

We had a presentation at a business meeting from a landscaper, and he recommended 2 cycles of 5 minutes each early in the morning. a couple times a week. The first cycle wets the ground and soaks in - by the time the sprinklers cycle through all the zones, the water has soaked in and is ready for the next cycle. This way, the water doesn't puddle on top. I noticed our lawn looks much healthier this year and I think we're actually watering less than we did last year.

We don't have a sprinkler system, so we water our St. Augustine once a week. Watering thoroughly encourages the grass roots to grow deeper, so that it can withstand longer periods of time between watering. Another tip: do not mow the grass too short. Leaving the grass a little bit longer protects the ground and helps to keep the grass from drying out as quickly.

I think it will depend on what type of grass you have, how long it has been in place and how often it was watered in the past, and how long it has been between storms.

We don't have sprinklers and we water once a week for about 10 minutes.

I planted St. Augustine a few years ago to fill in ivy I tore out in the front yard (left over from previous owners). I watered a few times a week after it was first planted, for the first two summers but then backed off to watering once a week. We are still watering once a week, even in this heat, and the grass looks great. My understanding is less watering allows for deeper roots which in turn means the lawn will need less water in the future. If the roots are shallow, you will need to water more frequently.

I let the kids run through the sprinkler a couple evenings a week - kills two birds with one stone. :)

Proper watering is equally important to maintain the foundation of your house in the terrible Texas heat and prevent seriously expensive repairs. Less frequent, deeper watering is highly recommended for lawns in this area to develop deeper root systems. I'd check with Calloways or another nursery and maybe even get your soil tested so you'll know what you're dealing with and the care needed to maintain your lawn (and foundation). Best of luck to you!

We water for about 5 minutes every morning around 5 (we have an automated sprinkler system). I think it needs more, but DH says that's all it needs - except the hydrangeas and he's not wasting water on needy flowers LOL