When the heat ramps up, your lawn craves water more than ever, especially if you’ve just recently overseeded or laid down fresh sod. But just because a thirsty lawn can quickly turn brown and patchy if not tended to, that doesn’t mean you should soak it every day. You must maintain balance when watering your lawn during the summer months. So, how do you know when your lawn has had enough water?
You first need to understand how much water your sprinkler system is actually putting out. And there’s a surprisingly simple tool to help you figure that out: tuna cans. That’s right — those small, flat cans aren’t just for taking up space in your recycling bin anymore. They can help you establish the perfect watering schedule.
Below, we’ll explore how to conduct the tuna can test for your lawn so you can keep your grass green and healthy all summer long.
Conducting the Tuna Can Lawn Test
Are you wondering if your lawn is getting enough water? While you can sometimes evaluate the color and brittleness of the grass to determine if it’s being properly watered, this observation doesn’t always give you the full picture. It also doesn’t help you understand if you’re running your sprinkler system too long or not long enough. Luckily, the tuna can lawn test can shed light on the issue.
To begin the test, gather several empty tuna cans. Next, spread the cans evenly across your lawn, with some close to the sprinkler heads and others a few feet away. If there are specific areas of your lawn that you suspect are being underwatered, be sure to place tuna cans there as well.
Once your cans are in place, turn on your sprinkler system and let it run for 15 to 20 minutes. Afterward, check the depth of water in each can using a ruler. Ideally, you want about an inch of water per week for most lawns. The tuna can test helps you determine how long your sprinklers need to run to reach that benchmark. For example, if your cans show only a half-inch of water after 20 minutes, you’ll know you need to increase your watering time to 40 minutes to achieve optimal hydration.
As you take measurements, make sure you compare the results across the different cans. Are some barely wet while others are nearly overflowing? That’s a sign your system may be watering unevenly. With this knowledge, you can adjust your sprinkler heads or manually water specific areas to even things out.
How Many Times Should I Water My Lawn Per Week in the Summer?
As we mentioned earlier, most lawns benefit from about one inch to one-and-a-half inches of water per week during the summer. This can usually be broken into one or two watering sessions. This watering schedule — rather than a little bit every day — encourages deeper root growth and helps your lawn become more drought-resistant.
The tuna can lawn test gives you a clear idea of how long it takes to run your sprinklers to reach that sweet spot and can help you structure your weekly watering schedule with confidence. Just remember that if you water your lawn twice a week, you will want to take the total time it takes to achieve one inch of water in the tuna can and divide it by two. That’s how long each watering session should take.
For example, if it takes 40 minutes to fill a tuna can with an inch of water, you will want to run your sprinkler system for 40 minutes once a week or for 20 minutes twice a week.
What Time of Day Should I Water My Lawn During the Summer?
The best time of day to water your lawn during the summer is early in the morning, ideally between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. During this window, temperatures are cooler, and there’s usually less wind, which means more water reaches the soil instead of evaporating into the air. Morning watering also gives your grass time to dry out over the course of the day, reducing the risk of disease and fungal growth.
What Happens If I Overwater My Lawn?
Overwatering can lead to a host of issues that compromise your lawn’s health and appearance. For starters, it encourages shallow root systems. When grass roots get used to water being readily available near the surface, they stop reaching deeper into the soil. This makes your lawn more vulnerable to drought and stress. It also means your grass won’t be as resilient when the weather turns harsh or unpredictable.
Too much moisture also invites unwanted pests and diseases. Fungal infections like dollar spot or brown patch thrive in overly wet conditions, and waterlogged soil promotes mold growth, leading to unsightly dead zones across your yard. To avoid these problems, perform the tuna can test and get a clear idea of how much water is actually being applied during each session.
Call Lawn Specialties to Keep Your Lawn Green All Summer
Maintaining a lush, green lawn through the dog days of summer doesn’t have to be complicated. With a bit of knowledge and a handful of tuna cans, you can keep your grass healthy and hydrated.
Of course, watering is just one piece of the lawn care puzzle. For truly spectacular results, you will want to make sure your grass has the right nutrients and attention throughout the season. Thankfully, the professionals at Lawn Specialties can help with this. We offer a full range of lawn care treatments to complement your watering efforts. From overseeding and hydroseeding to fertilization and weed control, our team helps your grass thrive no matter what the weather brings.
Give us a call today and learn more about our services!
