Water Wednesday Recap: Summer Lawn and Irrigation Care in Florida

Last Updated on August 28, 2026 by Stella Canfield

Florida summers can be challenging for lawns. Hot temperatures increase water demand, but simply running your irrigation system more often is not necessarily the answer. Too much water can contribute to disease, shallow roots, weeds, and unnecessary water use.

During the August Water Wednesday webinar, Summer Survival: Irrigation, Water Use, and Troubleshooting Lawn Problems, Dr. Marco Schiavon, Associate Professor of Turfgrass Science at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, discussed how to recognize when your lawn actually needs water, how to check your irrigation system, and how proper lawn management can improve drought tolerance.

How Much Water Does Your Lawn Need?

UF/IFAS recommends applying about ½ to ¾ inch of water when turfgrass shows signs of wilt.

The important part is when turfgrass shows signs of wilt. Irrigation should respond to the needs of the lawn rather than simply running on the same schedule throughout the year.

Signs that turfgrass may need water include:

Grass turning a bluish-gray color
Leaf blades folding lengthwise
Footprints remaining visible after walking across the lawn

St. Augustinegrass can make these signs particularly easy to see because of its wide leaf blades. Once turfgrass receives adequate water, healthy warm-season grasses can generally recover from temporary drought stress.

How Many Minutes Should You Run Your Irrigation System?

There is no single answer. Running sprinklers for 15, 20, or 30 minutes does not tell you how much water your lawn actually received. Different irrigation systems can apply very different amounts of water during the same amount of time. The solution is to calibrate your irrigation system.

A simple catch-can test can tell you:

Precipitation rate: How quickly your irrigation system applies water.
Distribution uniformity: How evenly water is being applied across the lawn.

You can conduct a basic catch-can test using identical straight-sided containers placed throughout an irrigation zone. After running the system for a set amount of time, measure and compare the water collected in each container. Calibration helps you determine how long your system needs to run to deliver the recommended amount of water.

Why Irrigation Uniformity Matters

Sometimes a lawn that looks like it needs more water actually has an irrigation coverage problem. If one part of a lawn receives less water than another, homeowners may respond by increasing the run time for the entire zone. The dry area may get enough water, but areas that were already receiving enough are now overwatered.

Common causes of poor irrigation coverage include:

Sprinkler heads installed too low
Leaning or damaged sprinklers
Plants or other objects blocking the spray
Clogged or damaged nozzles
Low or excessive water pressure
Different sprinkler heads or nozzles within the same zone
Older irrigation equipment that is no longer performing properly

Periodically turning on your irrigation system during the daytime for an inspection can help you identify these problems. Look for broken heads, blocked spray patterns, misting, leaks, runoff, and areas receiving noticeably more or less water.

Avoid the “Set It and Forget It” Approach

Your lawn does not need the same amount of irrigation throughout the year. Temperature, rainfall, soil, shade, rooting depth, pests, and season all influence how quickly turfgrass uses water. Irrigation schedules should be adjusted accordingly.

Frequent, shallow irrigation also keeps the upper portion of the soil continuously wet. This can encourage shallow rooting. Allowing appropriate time between irrigation events encourages roots to grow deeper in search of water, helping turfgrass tolerate dry periods.

A rain shutoff device can also prevent an automatic irrigation system from running when rainfall has already provided enough water.

When Is the Best Time to Water?

The best time to irrigate a lawn is just before or around sunrise. Watering during the middle of the day can increase water loss through evaporation. Watering at night can leave turfgrass wet for an extended period, creating conditions that may favor some turfgrass diseases. Early-morning irrigation allows water to enter the soil while minimizing evaporation and prolonged leaf wetness.

Do Not Forget Mowing Height

Irrigation is only one part of maintaining a drought-tolerant lawn. Mowing height affects root depth. In general, mowing turfgrass too short reduces leaf area and can result in a shallower root system. A lawn with deeper roots can access water from a larger volume of soil and is better prepared for periods of drought stress. This is especially important during hot or dry periods when turfgrass is already under environmental stress.

What About Turfgrass Growing in Shade?

Turfgrass growing under trees or other shaded areas generally uses less water than turfgrass growing in full sun. That means shaded and sunny portions of the landscape may have different irrigation needs. Species also differ in their ability to tolerate shade. Among common Florida lawn grasses, St. Augustinegrass generally has better shade tolerance, followed by zoysiagrass. Regardless of the turfgrass species, avoid assuming every part of the landscape needs the same amount of water.

Reclaimed Water Still Needs to Be Managed Carefully

Reclaimed water is widely used for landscape irrigation in Florida and is typically identified by purple pipes, signs, or irrigation equipment. Although reclaimed water provides an alternative water source, it should still be used efficiently. Reclaimed water may also contain nitrogen and other nutrients that turfgrass can use. Depending on the nutrient concentrations, this may reduce fertilizer needs. Knowing your irrigation water source is therefore important when making both irrigation and fertilizer decisions.

Highlights from the Q&A

Can I use grass plugs to fill in bare areas?

Yes. Plugs can be used to establish or repair turfgrass. Newly planted turf is one situation where more frequent irrigation is needed because the new grass initially has a very limited root system. As the turf becomes established and roots anchor into the soil, irrigation should gradually transition to normal maintenance practices.

Where can I find my local watering restrictions?

Watering restrictions vary depending on where you live. Check with your city, county, or water management district for the rules that apply to your property. Florida has five water management districts, and local governments may also have their own requirements. Homeowners should verify the current rules for their location rather than assuming the same schedule applies everywhere.

Can I mix St. Augustinegrass and Zoysiagrass to improve drought or pest tolerance?

Mixing turfgrass species may sound appealing, but maintaining a stable mixture can be difficult. Over time, one species may outcompete the other. Drought tolerance can also vary considerably among cultivars within the same turfgrass species. Newer St. Augustinegrass cultivars, for example, may perform differently from older cultivars. If different turfgrass species are used in different areas of a property, it is helpful to keep them in separate irrigation zones because their water, fertilizer, and maintenance needs may differ.

Additional Resources

Watch the Recording

If you missed the webinar or would like to revisit the information, watch the full recording:

Summer Survival: Irrigation, Water Use, and Troubleshooting Lawn Problems

Join Us for the Next Water Wednesday

Our next Water Wednesday webinar will be held on September 23 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET.

Living with Florida Wildlife and Pests: What Is Normal and What Is Not?

Florida’s wildlife can be one of the most interesting parts of living here, but encounters with unfamiliar animals and pests can also raise questions, especially for new residents. Join us to learn more about what you might encounter around your Florida home and landscape and when you may need to take action.

Whether you are new to Florida or have lived here for years, Water Wednesday provides research-based information to help you better understand Florida’s environment and natural resources. More information please visit UF/IFAS Extension Water Resources Program.