More lawns are damaged by frequent shallow watering than by drought.
Deep and infrequent
Water long enough to wet the root zone, then leave it until the turf needs it again. Shallow daily watering trains roots to stay at the surface, where they cook in August.
Early morning
Before the sun is high, so less evaporates and foliage dries quickly. Evening watering leaves grass wet overnight, which is how disease starts.
How to tell it is working
Push a screwdriver into the soil after watering. If it goes in easily to a hand's depth, you have watered enough. If it stops short, you have not.
New planting is different
New sod, new trees and new shrubs need consistent water while establishing, regardless of the rules above. That is a temporary regime, not a permanent one.
Dormancy is not death
Cool-season grass goes dormant and brown in a dry August and greens again with rain. That is the plant working, not failing.
Read next
Spring checklist for a GTA property
Eleven things to do between the thaw and the first cut, in the order that matters.
ReadFall checklist: what to do before the ground freezes
Nine jobs in October and November that are cheap now and expensive in May.
ReadHow winter damages hardscape, and how to prevent it
Plow shoes, salt, snow piles and the spring repair bill nobody budgets for.
ReadFree estimate
Planning something like this?
Send the address and a photo, or call or text 647-621-8592.