Today's Topic: Evapotranspiration: Where Does All That Water Go? - Part 4 of 5 Part Series
Posted by Becca Messreni on
Why Does Your Landscape Dry Out So Much Faster in Summer?
During an Arizona summer, your landscape can lose moisture much faster than it does during the cooler winter months.
Why?
Intense heat, strong sunlight, dry air, and wind all increase how quickly moisture leaves your landscape.
Some water evaporates from the soil. Plants also take up water through their roots and release moisture through their leaves.
Together, these two types of water loss are called evapotranspiration.
It’s a big word for a simple idea:
Evapotranspiration is how quickly water moves from your landscape back into the atmosphere.
How Much Water Are We Really Talking About?
Arizona's summer heat can create an enormous demand for water.
In the Southwest Valley, University of Arizona weather data shows that evapotranspiration can reach about 0.30 inches in a single hot summer day. A fraction of an inch doesn't sound like much—until you start adding it up.
If that rate continued, it would add up to roughly:
9 inches in 30 days
18 inches in 60 days
27 inches in 90 days
That's a lot of potential water loss.
Add evapotranspiration to the season, the plants you're watering, and the soil beneath them, and it becomes easier to understand why one irrigation schedule can't work equally well all year.
Don't let the calendar be the only thing controlling your irrigation.
Pay attention to the weather, too. A stretch of extreme heat or windy, dry conditions can change how quickly your landscape loses water.
Your irrigation schedule should respond to what's happening outside—not just what day it is.
Evapotranspiration is another important factor in understanding how much water your landscape needs. As Arizona's weather changes, your irrigation needs can change, too.
Need help getting your irrigation right?
Esteban Land Design can evaluate your system and help you water more efficiently while keeping your landscape healthy.
Looking Ahead
You've learned the four things that can change how your landscape should be watered: the season, your plants, your soil, and evapotranspiration.
But how do they work together?
Next, we'll put all four pieces together and show you how to think about smarter watering for your landscape.