How to Water a Large Lawn: Deep and Infrequent

For an acre of sod in suburban Detroit, water deeply (1–2 hours per zone) to wet soil 6–8 inches. This typically means running each sprinkler zone 60–120 minutes, not 15–20 minutes.

Water once per week (twice in extreme heat) rather than daily. Deep, infrequent watering encourages deep roots, reduces disease, and minimizes weed pressure. Shallow frequent watering creates shallow roots, thatch, and fungal issues.

If using manual oscillating sprinklers, water one section deeply (1 hour), move, repeat until coverage is complete. Split the lawn into sections watered on different days if needed. Adjust for rainfall; skip watering if 1+ inch of rain falls.