Your Gainesville lawn generally needs an inch to inch and a half of water a week in summer, including rainfall. Barring rain, irrigate two or three times a week, about a third to half an inch of water each time. Reduce watering during the cooler winter months, but regardless of the season, watch closely for signs that your grass is thirsty and water it as needed.
To water effectively, you need to know when to start watering and the best times of the day to do so. Moreover, your grass type also plays a role in your watering program.
Key Takeaways
Water no more than 3/4 of an inch per session: But a third to a half inch of water two or three times a week is enough, depending on your grass type. This includes rainfall.
Water when needed: Wait for your grass to show signs of dryness. Water more frequently in hot, dry weather. The best time to water is in the morning.
Gainesville has watering restrictions: You can’t irrigate between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You also can’t irrigate for more than one hour or with more than ¾ inch of water at a time. If you have an automatic irrigation system, you need to use a rainfall shutoff device with it.
How Much Water Does Your Gainesville Lawn Need?
Most Florida soils are sandy. They hold 1 inch of water in the top 12 inches of soil. But when these top 12 inches become dry, you should apply 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water, depending on the type of grass. This doesn’t change throughout the season; you should always apply the same amount of water, even if you water more frequently.
How much water your grass needs each session based on your Florida grass type, assuming you water three times a week. Of course, reduce watering frequency if it rains:
| St. Augustinegrass | 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water |
| Bermudagrass | 1/3 to 3/4 inch of water |
| Zoysiagrass | 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water |
| Bahiagrass | 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water |
| Centipedegrass | 1/4 to 1/3 inch of water |
Read more about Gainesville grass types in our article.
Check how long you need to run your sprinklers:
- Place small, straight-sided cans in a straight line from your sprinkle to the edge of the watering pattern.
- Run the system for 15 minutes and check if there are equal amounts of water in each can.
- Determine how long it takes to fill the cans with ½ to ¾ inch of water.
Pro tip: Watering isn’t all it takes to keep a dense, green lawn. Make sure you also prevent pests.
How Often Should You Water Your Gainesville Lawn?
The rule of thumb is to water when your lawn asks for it. Don’t worry; dehydration symptoms are pretty noticeable in grasses.
Look out for:
- Gray-blue grass color
- Folding leaf blades
- Visible footprints in grass
When you notice the aforementioned symptoms of dryness, water your lawn once and don’t water it again until you notice drought. And certainly don’t water your lawn after it rains until visible drought stress symptoms appear.
Check out general Florida watering tips in our guide.
How Often to Water, by Season
Your lawn care jobs vary by season. Winter lawn care is different than in the summer. Similarly, you can expect to water the least during the winter, more during the spring and the fall, and the most in the summer. Adjust your irrigation system each season to avoid overwatering.
Here’s approximately how many days your grass can go without water, based on the requirements of the popular St. Augustinegrass. If you have more or less water-demanding grass (see more further down below), adjust how often you water accordingly.
The graph also assumes that there’s no rain in each season. But in reality, we’re likely to receive 50 or more inches of rain every year. When it rains, don’t water your lawn.
How many days St. Augustinegrass can go without water in each season:
| Season | Days Without Water |
| Winter | 7 to 23 |
| Spring | 3 to 9 |
| Summer | 1 to 5 |
| Fall | 2 to 8 |
Here’s an exception: You need to water a new lawn frequently until it establishes.
The Best Time to Water Your Gainesville Lawn
The best time to water your grass is early in the morning to prevent water from evaporating during the day. Watering late in the afternoon or late morning may damage the turf because the lawn is naturally wet from dew. This excess moisture invites diseases.
Watering Restrictions in Gainesville
There are watering restrictions in Gainesville. Why? Because landscape irrigation accounts for up to 60% of residential water use. The restrictions are designed to conserve water.
So before you pull out your hose or turn on your sprinklers, make sure you know the local dos and don’ts:
- DON’T irrigate between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the water is most likely to evaporate.
- DON’T irrigate more than one hour or ¾ inch per irrigation zone per irrigation day.
- If you have an automatic irrigation system, DO get a functioning rainfall shutoff device. This device will prevent unnecessary irrigation when it rains.
- DO maintain your sprinklers annually.
- If you install a new system or modify more than 50% of an existing one, DO comply with Alachua County’s irrigation design standards.
These restrictions apply to wells, lakes, creeks, and city water. Aside from watering your lawn sparingly, you may also want to consider planting drought-tolerant plants.
However, if your landscape is new, it’s exempt from restrictions for the first 60 days because new landscapes need a lot of watering.
Other exceptions are vegetable gardens, hand watering with a spray nozzle with an automatic shutoff, reclaimed water, athletic fields, and micro-irrigation.
FAQ
What is xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping involves designing your landscape in a way that limits the use of water. You can install drought-tolerant plants and use a ground cover instead of grass where possible.
What are the best drought-tolerant plants for Gainesville?
Florida is full of native plants and non-native plants that grow well in drought. Drought-tolerant plants like native saw palmetto, acacia, Jerusalem thorn tree, and rosemary are perfect for Gainesville’s hot climate and watering restrictions. Learn more ways to conserve water in our article Drought-Tolerant Landscaping for Gainesville.
How often should you fertilize in Florida?
Generally speaking, most people in Florida fertilize from April to September. But it’s not that simple. Check out our Florida fertilization guide for more information.
Does Gainesville get hurricanes?
Yes, all of Florida is prone to hurricanes. Read more about hurricane-resistant landscaping and Gainesville hurricane preparation in our articles.
Our Pros Help Your Grass Stay Thick and Green
Watering too much can be detrimental to your lawn and the environment. Plus, you could even break local restrictions. But if you don’t water at all, you risk harming your grass and plants.
Reading up on the best watering practices in Gainesville should help you get that sweet middle ground. But if that’s too much work, Lawnstarter’s pros are ready to help you. Get an instant quote.
Main Image Credit: Ebyabe / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
