Water lawn at night - Ask Extension
Today, our HOA sent a notice to all residents with a schedule of when each single family home is allowed to water their lawn. Some are scheduled for...
Knowledgebase
Water lawn at night #941807
Asked August 07, 2026, 12:33 PM EDT
Today, our HOA sent a notice to all residents with a schedule of when each single family home is allowed to water their lawn. Some are scheduled for 12:00 a.m., some are scheduled for 3:00 a.m. What is the impact on the lawn and our health of only watering at these times for an entire summer?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Actually these are good times to be watering a lawn. During the heat of the day, water is wasted as it evaporates. Watering your lawn at night allows the water to be absorbed. It also is a good practice for your local city to avoid using this water during daylight hours when it is used by commercial businesses. Some plants, like tomatoes should be watered at the ground level but if you have overhead watering they need to dry out and not sit with water in their leaves all night.
What about the grass being wet all night, growing mold, fungus, attracting insects, pests, and the corresponding mold spores that are inhales when the years is used or mowed??
On Aug 7, 2026, at 1:31 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
What you are imagining will not happen. These things could develop if the area was a swamp that had constant standing water and a muck bottom. Even then it would be rare. Your lawn will be dry or almost dry in the morning. Golf courses, parks, football fields, etc. all water at night. Personally I have my irrigation go on at 4 AM to start its 10 zone schedule. When I go out at 7 AM the grass is dry. It is better for your plants to water in the evening when the air is cooler rather than being shocked by cold water when they are overheated on a hot day.
