Dousing grass with cold water is a common practice, often made out of habit without considering possible consequences. But is it bad for the grass?
Cold water can damage the root system, stunt growth, and cause discoloration. It may also cause seed heads that lead to weed infestations.
Grass naturally absorbs warm water more efficiently than cold water because roots absorb less. When the temperature difference between soil and water improves effectiveness, absorption is maximized; warmer temperatures are optimal for increased growth.
When irrigation systems use colder-than-recommended fluids, adjacent plants absorb significantly less moisture. This ineffectiveness leads to shorter root development and diminished vitality which causes yellow patches in the lawn and thinning or stunting of select spots.
Personal sprinklers or hoses typically provide cooled water straight from a faucet. This lowered temperature decreases absorption efficiency and increases potential exposures to mold caused by quickly evaporating cold moisture having only touched the plant’s surface rather than reaching its root system.
The best solution is to apply tepid or room-temperature H2O when watering plants; setting up a timer can be especially helpful on hot days when heat levels tend to decline substantially between hours of direct sunlight exposure resulting in drying out your lawn during the afternoon peak performance periods of photosynthesis activity.