What is the best time to water turf grasses to prevent turf disease?

• A. Between early morning and late afternoon
• B. Any time before midnight
• C. Early Evening Hours
• D. Any time during the day

Answer: (A)

Watering in the morning gives turf blades time to dry before night falls, which is when turf diseases thrive on leaf wetness. Fungi such as Pythium, dollar spot, and brown patch spread readily when leaves stay wet for extended periods, especially overnight. By scheduling irrigation from early morning through the afternoon, you take advantage of sun and wind to dry the foliage, reducing the window of leaf wetness and thus disease risk. The other times either allow leaves to stay wet into the evening or night, or don’t prioritize drying, which is why this morning-to-afternoon window is the best choice.