It's been terrible heat in my area this year and the grass is turning yellowish. I don't know if I should water every day or every other day, because my water bill shoots up either way. What's the ideal frequency to keep it from dying without spending a fortune?
Ideally, you should water every two or three days during intense drought, but it all depends on how hot it is and what kind of soil you have. If the soil drains quickly, you'll need to water more often; if it holds moisture, less. The thing is, grass needs the soil to be moist but not waterlogged, so the best thing to do is stick your finger in the soil and water when it's dry about 5 centimeters down. To save on your bill, water early in the morning or at dusk (less evaporation!), and consider mulching or something to keep the soil moist longer.
The trick that actually works is watering deep but less often, not every day; that way you encourage the roots to go deeper instead of staying near the surface where they dry out right away. Two or three times a week is usually enough if you water properly, though it really depends on your soil type and how hot it gets in your area. What I'd do is water early in the morning or at dusk to lose less water to evaporation, and if you want to cut your water bill without killing the grass, try letting it grow a bit longer than normal, because the extra length helps retain moisture and protects the soil from direct heat.
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