7/22/2026 - By Harrell's

When summer temperatures climb, so do the demands placed on a lawn. Heat, longer days, and inconsistent rainfall can quickly push turf into survival mode, leaving customers asking the same question:

"Why does my lawn still look stressed even though I'm watering?"

For lawn care professionals, these conversations become increasingly common throughout the summer. The challenge isn't always convincing customers to irrigate more—it's helping them irrigate smarter.

The reality is that successful summer irrigation isn't determined by how many minutes a sprinkler runs. It's determined by how much water actually reaches the root zone where the turf can use it.

More Water Isn't Always the Answer

One of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have is measuring irrigation time instead of irrigation output.

As Harrell's Territory Manager, Cort Hall, explains, the goal isn't a set number of minutes. It's delivering the proper amount of water each week.

For tall fescue throughout the Carolinas during periods of summer heat, the target is approximately 1 to 1.25 inches of water per week, ideally spread across three irrigation events.

Every irrigation system is different. Nozzle types, water pressure, spacing, and coverage all affect how much water is actually applied. That's why relying solely on runtime often leads to underwatering or unnecessary water use.

Instead, encourage customers to measure their irrigation output.

Place a rain gauge (or another straight-sided container) in the irrigated area and run the system until it collects roughly one-third of an inch of water. The amount of time it takes becomes the runtime for each of the week's three irrigation cycles.

This simple calibration takes the guesswork out of watering and creates a repeatable schedule based on actual water delivery instead of assumptions.

Prevent Water from Running Off Before It Soaks In

Even when customers apply the correct amount of water, getting it into the soil can be another challenge.

During extended periods of heat, soils often become dry and water repellent. Instead of infiltrating the profile, irrigation may puddle, run off slopes or move around dry areas rather than through them.

When this happens, longer watering cycles don't necessarily solve the problem. In many cases, they simply waste water.

A simple solution is to break irrigation into soak cycles.

Rather than watering one zone continuously for 30 minutes, divide the cycle into shorter applications.

For example:

Water for approximately 15 minutes.

Allow time for the water to infiltrate the soil.

Return later and complete the remaining runtime.

This approach gives the soil time to absorb moisture, reducing runoff and improving water movement deeper into the root zone.

Recognizing When Water Isn't Reaching the Roots

A lawn can receive plenty of irrigation and still struggle if moisture isn't distributed uniformly throughout the soil.

Signs that water isn't effectively reaching the root zone may include:

Dry spots that persist after watering

Water pooling on the surface

Runoff on slopes or compacted areas

Wilting turf despite frequent irrigation

Uneven color across the lawn

These symptoms often point to hydrophobic soil conditions, where water follows the path of least resistance instead of spreading evenly through the soil profile. Wetting agents help overcome these conditions by reducing water's surface tension and improving infiltration and distribution throughout the root zone.

Maximizing Irrigation with Wetting Agents

When irrigation efficiency becomes the limiting factor, wetting agents can help lawn care professionals get better performance from every watering event.

Different wetting agent technologies are designed to solve different moisture management challenges. Selecting the right product depends on environmental conditions and management goals.

Some examples include:

Periods of low rainfall and high temperatures: Moisture-retaining products like Harrell’s HydroMAX® Hydro-90® help increase hydration in the root zone while working alongside penetrating wetting agents to maintain more consistent soil moisture.

Heavy rainfall or excessive moisture: Penetrating products like Harrell’s HydroMAX® SurfaceRx™ promote water movement through the soil profile, helping improve drainage and reduce excessive soil water content.

Rapid recovery from localized dry spots: Products such as Harrell’s HydroMAX® Hydro-Cure® are designed to quickly rehydrate water-repellent soils, while Harrell’s HydroMAX® RootMAX Pellets provide an effective option when hand watering localized problem areas.

Rather than replacing sound irrigation practices, wetting agents complement them by helping applied water infiltrate and distribute more uniformly through the soil profile.

If you do not have the ability to spray in products, Harrell’s also has granular wetting agent options, such as Harrell’s HydroMAX® Hydro-90® Granular and Hydro-Cure® Granular.

Help Customers Focus on the Right Metric

During the summer, customers often assume their lawn simply needs more water.

In many cases, it needs better water management.

Helping customers understand how much water they're applying, encouraging soak cycles when appropriate, and improving water infiltration through wetting agents can make irrigation significantly more effective without dramatically increasing water use.

When every gallon counts, the goal isn't simply to water longer; it's to ensure every drop reaches the roots where it can support healthier, more resilient turf.

By combining proper irrigation scheduling with effective moisture management practices, lawn care professionals can help customers navigate the toughest part of the growing season while improving turf quality, conserving water, and delivering more consistent results.

If you have any questions about how to maximize your watering potential during summer stress, connect with your local Harrell’s Rep today.