Healthy lawns that have been allowed to go dormant will green up again when the turf receives sufficient water. Gardeners who want a green lawn throughout the summer should water the lawn when symptoms of moisture stress begin to develop but before the grass becomes dormant. A good indication of water stress in turfgrass is leaf color. The normally green leaves become a dull blue-green. Additionally, water-stressed turfgrass is less resilient.
Footprints remain in the turf after walking across it.
The actual amount of water required depends upon soil type and weather conditions. When irrigating turfgrass the general rule of thumb is to water deeply but infrequently. Deep watering promotes the development of deep extensive root systems. Sprinklers are the best way to water lawns. The amount of water applied may be estimated by placing several straight-sided cans in the spray pattern and then measuring the amount of water in the cans with a ruler.