Take a step into a suburban neighborhood and count how many lush green lawns you see. Chances are the green ones out number the brown ones. There is a King of the Hill episode where the men compete to have the best lawn in the neighborhood. The lawn symbolizes pride in the home owner. However, water use on lawns can be very wasteful. Here are some tips to be more efficient when watering the lawn.

Water in the early morning – when you water the lawn some water evaporates before it hits the grass. Water your lawn between 4am and 9am. This reduces the chance of water evaporation because it is the time when the air is the coolest and the wind is the least during the day.

Water only when your grass needs it – Apart from water waste, over-watering your lawn can actually damage the lawn. It can contribute to the development of fungus and disease. However, most people do not know that they are over-watering. Types of grass, temperature and climate are all factors that play into how much water your grass needs. Luckily, there is one easy way to determine how much water your grass needs – look at it. Grass that needs to be watered will give off a blue-gray tint and the ends of the blades will begin to curl up.

Adjust your sprinkler system – Make sure that your sprinklers are hitting the lawn and not the sidewalks, driveways, etc. Also, check your sprinkler heads to make sure that they are not clogged and aiming the wrong direction.

Monitor rainfall – Let the rain do the work for you. By monitoring rainfall you can alter your watering routine to account for the rain. Make sure that if your sprinklers are on a timer you turn them off when it’s raining.