Tips for efficient lawn and plant irrigation

Did you know that about 50 percent or more of the water we use each year is used on landscaping?  As a result, summer water bills are typically two to three times higher than bills during the winter. A large part of the seasonal increase is simply due to over-watering. This can be through inefficient sprinklers, hidden leaks or improper timer programming.  Whether you use a hose and sprinkler or an automatic irrigation system, you can water more wisely with the following tips.

How can I tell if my grass needs water?
Here’s a simple test to tell if your grass needs water and anyone can do it. Walk across your lawn, wait 10-15 minutes, and look back at your footprints in the grass. If the grass has sprung back, and your footprints are gone, watering is not needed. If your lawn has lost its ability to spring back, and the footprints are still visible, watering may be necessary.

Keeping an eye on the shade of green can also be a good indicator. As grass starts to lose moisture, the color will change from a deep dark green to more of a blue or gray tinted green.  Before you drag out the hose or turn on the sprinklers, check the weather and see what’s in the forecast.  If the forecast includes rain, hold off and see what really happens.  You only need to water if the rain does not happen or is so brief that the lawn still needs more.

How much water does my grass need?
First and foremost, do not simply set your automatic system in the spring and leave it to water the same amount throughout the growing season. A good rule of thumb for turf grass is to water 1.5 inches per week when the temperature is 85 degrees or higher. (Don’t forget to subtract any rainfall when figuring how much to irrigate).

How long should my timer run?
Once you’ve made the decision to water, you need to decide how many minutes each station should run. There are several factors to consider, so don’t rush out and set every station the same:

  • Is the area sloped or flat?
  • Does the area sit in the shade or full sun?
  • What about the exposure? Does it face north, south, east or west?
  • What about the soil type? Different soils absorb water at different rates. 
  • How is the water being applied?  The type of sprinkler determines the application rate. Because of our varying qualities of soil, it may be better to give your lawn and plants two or three short waterings (cycle and soak) in one day, so that the soil has time to absorb the moisture.
  • Watch what your lawn and soil do during a watering. If the water begins to run off, observe how long it took for this to happen and limit future waterings to this amount of time. 
  • Using another low-tech moisture test, stick an 8-inch screwdriver into the soil.  If it is dry when you remove it, you need to repeat the watering, stopping before run off begins. If the screwdriver comes out moist or muddy, that’s enough water.

How can I get the most from my in-ground irrigation system?

  • Spray heads are best suited for use on turf areas. Drip irrigation can be used for a variety of applications by simply selecting the head or emitter best suited for the plant material you are planning to water.
  • Space sprinkler heads so that the spray of one head hits near the head of the next head. This will increase efficiency.
  • Reduce evaporation by operating your system at the manufacturer’s recommended pressure pounds per square inch (psi). This will help reduce misting. The pressure ranges are: 
    • Rotor, 50-60 psi
    • Spray, 20-30 psi
    • Drip, 10-25 psi
  • Use a rain sensor. Rain sensors interrupt the irrigation cycle on your controller when adequate rainfall has occurred.
  • Adjust the direction of the sprinkler heads. Be sure the water is going only on the plant material and not the pavement.