How can I tell when it is time to water my lawn? We get asked this question almost every day. A Bermuda or Zoysia lawn needs an inch to an inch and a half of water every week during the growing season. You can measure this by using a rain gauge or something as simple as a tuna can that can be measured each day.

But a simple spot test that anyone can do involves a screwdriver. Push the tool into the soil. If it goes in easily to a depth of 6 inches, there is probably plenty of moisture. Or, just pry into the soil and look at what lies underneath. If the soil is dry, you need to increase your water. Moist is ideal, but muddy would tell you to back off for a few days and try again. Remember that the best time to water your lawn is early in the morning. This helps to avoid disease pressure from plants that are wet all night. We prefer deep watering one or two times a week over shallow daily watering that does not promote root growth.