Should You Really Water Your Lawn in November When the Grass is Dormant?

Starting in November there is no need to water your lawn as much as at the start of autumn. Be careful not to overwater. Overwatering can lead to drowning your lawn and is both a waste of money and resources. We recommend winterizing your irrigation system before freezing temperatures.

There is no need to routinely water dormant grasses such as Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine, and Zoysia in the late fall and winter. Only water these types of lawns when the soil is both very dry to the touch (after an unusual and specific warm dry spell) AND when the temperature is expected to drop under twenty degrees. By doing this you allow your lawn to freeze and keep soil temperatures close to thirty-two degrees. Failure to do this results in allowing temperatures less than twenty degrees to penetrate the root zone which can kill your grass. During times of low humidity and high wind conditions, grass is more prone to drying out and being more susceptible to freezing during unexpected temperature drops.

If you decide that your lawn needs watering in November, use a tuna fish can as a rain gauge and water only until it is about ¾” to 1”full. This amount should top ¼” below the soil which is enough to protect the roots from freezing. Mulch around plant beds in the lawn and container pots. This allows the conservation of moisture and reduces weed growth.