Today's Topic: Smart Watering: Putting It All Together - Part 5 of 5 Part Series
Posted by Becca Messreni on
One Irrigation Schedule Doesn't Fit Every Landscape
Throughout this series, we've looked at several reasons your irrigation timer shouldn't simply be programmed once and forgotten.
Smart watering comes down to understanding four things:
The Season
Your landscape generally needs more water during Arizona's hot summer months and less during cooler weather.
Your Plants
Lawns, trees, shrubs, and desert-adapted plants have different watering needs. Whenever possible, plants with similar needs should be grouped on the same irrigation zone.
Your Soil
Some soils absorb water quickly. Others absorb it slowly. Your watering schedule needs to give water enough time to soak into the root zone instead of running off.
Evapotranspiration
Heat, sunlight, dry air, and wind affect how quickly water leaves your landscape. As those conditions change, your landscape's water demand changes, too.
Put the Four Pieces Together
There isn't one perfect irrigation schedule that works for every yard—or even one schedule that works for the same yard all year.
Season + Plants + Soil + Evapotranspiration
Together, these factors help determine how your landscape should be watered.
That's why good irrigation isn't about simply adding more minutes when plants look dry. It's about understanding what you're watering, the conditions outside, and how effectively the water is reaching the roots.
Don't wait for a high water bill or stressed plants to check your irrigation system.
Run each zone periodically and watch what happens. Look for broken emitters, clogged lines, runoff, overspray, and areas receiving too much—or too little—water.
A few minutes spent checking your system can catch small problems before they become bigger ones.
In Conclusion
Your irrigation timer is a valuable tool, but the settings are only as good as the information behind them.
Pay attention to the season, your plants, your soil, and changing weather conditions. Small adjustments can help conserve water, control your water bill, and keep your landscape healthy.
Need help putting it all together? Esteban Land Design can evaluate your irrigation system and help make sure your landscape is getting the water it needs—where and when it needs it.