Water early morning before 8 AM to prevent fungal disease

What to Do

Schedule irrigation between 4:00 AM and 8:00 AM. This is the window when water pressure is highest, wind is calmest, evaporation is lowest, and the grass dries quickly as the sun rises.

Why It Works

Purdue Extension specifically recommends the 4:00 to 8:00 AM window. Watering in the evening leaves grass blades wet overnight, creating ideal conditions for fungal diseases like brown patch and dollar spot. Morning watering allows the turf to dry by mid-morning, minimizing the duration of leaf wetness.

Tips

• If morning watering is impossible, late afternoon (4-6 PM) is the second-best option — still better than evening.
• Avoid watering between 10 AM and 4 PM when evaporation wastes the most water.