Lawn Watering Tips for Salt Lake City, UT
Best watering practices in the US vary from region to region, evolve as the seasons change, depend on grass type and soil type, and can face limitations if your city implements water conservation efforts. There are many factors to consider and it can seem overwhelming to identify the frequency and volume of water your lawn needs day by day. We’re here to guide you though what you need to know in order to create the optimal watering plan for your Salt Lake City area lawn.
For more localized watering tips, visit our growing list of regional best practices to discover how to achieve the healthy, greenest lawn of your dreams anywhere in the US.
List of Tips
Homeowners around Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah, know to expect extreme heat in the summer and extremely snowy winters. Even with drastically different weather patterns throughout the year, there are a handful of simple tips and things to remember in order to improve your lawn care routine. The Utah Department of Natural Resources is committed to promoting responsible water usage, and there are smart sprinkler systems on the market that bring ease to water conservation. Systems like Irrigreen are committed to reducing excess water usage while automating the watering process. Weather monitoring, precision watering patterns, and soil moisture calculation bring ease to lawn care, perfect when navigating the SLC climate!
Best Time of Day to Water Grass in Salt Lake City
It is best practice to water in the early morning as the sun is rising. Between 5am and 9am is the best time of day to water your lawn because the temperatures are still relatively cool, preventing quick evaporation seen during the hottest parts of the day. You may also water around sunset - between 6pm and 8pm. Throughout the day, your soil has enough time to dry, preventing the growth of fungus or weeds. Allowing water to fully quench grass, having a sufficient period of time to dry out before watering again, encourages strong grass roots and ensures your grass will retain all the nutrients from the soil.
Worst Time of Day to Water Grass in Salt Lake City
Even though Salt Lake City winters are cold, snowy, and ideal for avid skiers, don’t underestimate the summer heat! It is not uncommon to see 90-100 degree farenheit days. Year-round, the hottest time of day is between 1pm to 4pm, which can be scorching during the summer. Avoid watering in the middle of the afternoon under direct sunlight to prevent excessive evaporation which requires an increase of water usage. On the other hand, watering at night - 8pm to 12am (midnight) can lead to an oversaturation of the soil causing weeds, fungal diseases and damaging pests.
How Much to Water a Lawn in Salt Lake City and Watering Guidelines
It’s no secret that Utah’s natural landscapes are some of the most beautiful environments in the whole country! From deserts, to lakes, to forests, the geography across the state is very diverse. Overall, however, Utah is very dry. Salt Lake City in particular gets very hot in the summer and is susceptible to drought conditions, which is why it is important to use water efficiently for a healthy lawn. The average lawn in Salt Lake City needs between 1-2” of water per week during the spring and summer - that includes rainfall. It is good practice to water twice per week, in increments of .5” at a time. The Utah Division of Water Resources estimates that the run time for .5” of water takes between 20-75 minutes depending on your sprinkler head. Continue reading to determine the right amount of water needed specifically for your grass type.
The Utah Department of Natural Resources website provides a weekly lawn watering guide for each county across the state. Each week, Salt Lake County is updated to inform homeowners how many watering events per week is permitted. It’s best to check in every week for the most accurate information and any updates regarding watering restrictions.
Best Grass Types for Salt Lake City
The best grass types vary from region to region. The climate in Salt Lake City is perfect for cool-season grasses. Cool-season species of grass naturally develop a sort of “antifreeze” which helps them survive through very cold and snowy winters. With regular watering through the warm months, cool-season grasses cope with the heat and grow beautiful, vibrant green lawns.
Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most popular cool-season grasses to plant in Utah. While it is believed that this grass first grew across Europe, its natural adaptation to North America has it behaving as a native grass type. It provides a thick turf across your property with a beautiful shade of emerald green! Choosing Kentucky bluegrass is a good choice for properties in Salt Lake City because of how cold-resistant the grass is. It also thrives in clay soils. During the summer, this grass requires quite a bit of maintenance, as it is not considered heat-tolerant and requires 1.5” of water per week. Investing into a smart irrigation controller can automate the watering process and simplify any water adjustments needed. Sticking with the maintenance requirements pays off in the long run, though, because Kentucky bluegrass recovers nicely each season the more you commit to regular watering, mowing, and fertilizing. If you have a green thumb, Kentucky bluegrass is the right grass for you.
Fine fescue grass is another common grass type in Salt Lake City. This grass is fairly low-maintenance and a great choice if your main goal is water conservation while maintaining a manicured lawn. Fine fescue grows slowly, is drought-tolerant, and requires less frequent fertilizing than other cool-season grasses. This grass prefers drier soil conditions, so make sure to avoid over-watering clay soils that retain a lot of water. Expect fine fescue grass to only need 1” of water per week. If any brown or yellow areas occur, increase the watering amount by .25-.5” until patches have recovered.
Water According to Salt Lake City Soil Types
Much of the soil around Salt Lake City is clay soil. Valleys and low-lying areas typically accumulate clay soil, which has a thick texture and is very moisture-dense. This type of soil needs extra time to fully absorb and properly dry in between watering cycles. Watering in increments, typically .5” at a time, is often referred to as the “cycle and soak method” or “irrigation water cycling.” Based on the specific time of year, you can set your irrigation controller to run .5” at a time until you have reached the necessary amount of water needed for your lawn. Smart controllers with weather monitoring software and soil moisture sensing, like the Irrigreen controller, are able to make weekly adjustments to the amount of water needed, eliminating much of the manual programming needed when using traditional sprinkler systems. Irrigation water cycling for clay soils reduces runoff, promotes deep root growth for healthy grass, and prevents overwatering.
Lawn Care Season in Salt Lake City: Year Round Watering and Maintenance
Some cities around the United States have strict watering months that permit the first day of the year homeowners can fire up their sprinklers. These set dates also tell us when an in-ground sprinkler system must be winterized for the year. In Salt Lake City, there are no specific dates indicating the beginning and end of the watering season, but a good rule of thumb is to start a regular summer watering routine in the middle of May. It’s best to begin once the temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees fahrenheit every day.
Once daily temperatures drop below 50 degrees fahrenheit, your grass will begin to go dormant. To ease the transition from fall to winter, watering once per week will prevent the grass from dying and will encourage healthy growth come the following spring! Raking and occasional mowing during the winter reduces the amount of dethatching needed in the springtime.
Winterizing your sprinkler system is encouraged before the temperatures dip below freezing - 32 degrees fahrenheit. Freezing temperatures can cause costly damage to pipes, valves and other irrigation hardware. It’s a good idea to winterize your system by draining or blow-out before the first freeze of the season.
Conclusion and Takeaway
Knowing how much to water, when to water, and the seasonality of lawn maintenance are dependent on local weather patterns, soil type, grass type, and changes in city-wide watering restrictions. In Salt Lake City, these tips will help you maintain a green and healthy lawn all year long! You can step-up your watering game in SLC with smart systems like Irrigreen with digital water spray patterns and weather monitoring software, all controlled from the ease of your smartphone.
