If you have an irrigation system you already know the importance of protecting your investment. But there is more to just turning the sprinkler system on when it gets hot or when you put new plants or seed down. Proper watering times are key to keeping your plants happy and lawn looking lush. A few minutes per cycle is typically just enough water to wet just the very top layer of soil. By watering deep, the root system of the turf will grow deep and be able to absorb that water. Just keep the deeper soil levels moist, and that takes longer irrigation times.

Water 3 times a week, but not everyday. It’s not needed more than that unless seed or new sod was put down. In that case, watering two times a day for 2 weeks is needed for the sod to take. Do not set your sprinkler to come on or irrigate in the evenings, as this keeps the turf damp all night and could lead to turf disease. And don’t water in the middle of the afternoon, as with the heat and sun, some of it will simply evaporate and be lost. Have your sprinkler system programmed to come on early in the morning, so more of the water can soak into the soil, and as the sun comes up it will dry out the grass.

The key to efficient irrigation is to adjust watering schedules frequently during the season. If you set your automatic controller once and let it run all season, you’re wasting a lot of water that could be damaging your plants and your pocketbook. Most modern controllers allow you to easily set your base schedule and then adjust your weekly watering schedule based on the weather.

While this all may seem complicated, there are ways to simplify it. Having a knowledgeable sprinkler system company can help. A trained staff with years of training can routinely come and make sure that plants are getting watered for their specific needs . There is also the technology advancements reaching the irrigation industry. New cloud based, WIFI controllers can tap right into local weather stations and water according to your local weather reports. Reports are kept to see when the system last watered, for how long, and even spot potential issues.