Watering Tips
Efficient Water Use Tips for Your Landscape:
Unfortunately, too many people rely on guesswork when watering their lawns and gardens, with an outcome of overwatered landscapes and unhealthy turf and plants. These practical tips will help save yourself a lot of time, money and conserve water.
BE FLEXIBLE ~ Become familiar with the settings on your automatic sprinkler system controller and adjust the watering schedule and each zone run time regularly as the weather and seasons change.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING ~ The best time to water your landscape is between 10 PM and 6 AM. This will help reduce evaporation due to calmer winds and cooler temperatures.
LESS IS MORE ~ Watering too much and too frequently results in shallow roots, weed growth, disease and fungus. The efficient way to water your landscape is to apply enough water to saturate the root zone. If the roots are 4 inches deep, water to that depth. Clay and loamy soils hold moisture longer and require watering less frequently while sandy soils hold less moisture and must be watered more frequently. Irrigate your landscape utilizing short run times at 2 or 3 repeat cycles.
EASY DOES IT ~ Drip irrigation is a water and cost saving enhancement. Drip systems are installed in bedding plants, flower pots and decks & patios. The system applies water at a low pressure and low volume direc tly on or near the plant's roots. Due to the slow application, less is lost to run off and evaporation.
IT'S A DATE ~ Routinely inspect your sprinkler heads once a month when there is no wind to ensure that areas are being watered evenly and do not overspray onto pavement and structures. A clogged sprinkler head or a leak doesn't benefit your landscape or your water bill.
FLICK OF A SWITCH ~ Rain sensors are wireless devices that automatically turn off your system when it rains and restarts it when conditions return to dry. These inexpensive devices are compatible with almost any system.
LONGER HAIRCUTS ~ A good rule of thumb is to cut off 1/3 (slightly over a quarter of an inch) of the grass plant length at most each time you mow. Raise the lawn mower deck to at least three inches. Longer turf encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system, chokes out weeds, and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn. Avoid bagging the grass clippings unless you have new sod. Mulching back onto your lawn all season is equivalent to one application of fertilizer.
IMPRESSIONS ~ If you walk on your turf and look back and see your footprints, it's time to water.
Watering Amounts Per Week / Per Month:
The average historical Evapotranspiration rate for each watering month is as follows:
Month Inches per Week
April ~ .23"
May ~ .69"
June ~ 1.04"
July ~ 1.50"
August ~ 1.39"
September ~ .92"
October ~ .23"
Be sure to adjust your irrigation zone run times for the monthly requirements.