Do you know you could use less water and have a healthier lawn? On average, we use nearly two-thirds of our water out doors, most of which goes on lawns. As much as one-half of the water is wasted through incorrect watering.
Most areas of Utah have average high temperatures of 90 – 100 degrees. The recommended irrigation application is ½” of water each irrigation.
If you see water running off your lawn, three or more soak cycles are recommended. Irrigate for three or more cycles allowing 1-hour in between each cycle. This will prevent water from running off the lawn. For example: If your sprinklers take 20 minutes to apply ½” of water, you would use three 7-minute cycles.
The following chart shows how often you should be irrigating during the growing season. This schedule is based upon average or normal weather conditions. Unusual warm conditions may require an occasional irrigation a day earlier than scheduled. Rain storms or cool periods may allow postponing or skipping an irrigation.
Irrigation Schedule
Month
Interval
Startup Until April 30
Once every 6 days
May
Once every 4 days
June
Once every 3 days
July
Once every 3 days
August
Once every 3 days
September
Once every 6 days
October 1 to Shutdown
Once every 10 days
By following the above suggestions, you will apply the maximum amount of water required by the lawn. You will also use about half of the water the average Utah homeowner uses. This schedule could save you as much as one-fourth of your yearly water usage. Even so, you may still be using more than is necessary.
Landscape Water Conservation
Visually inspect your sprinkler system once a month during daylight hours. Check and fix any tilted, clogged or broken heads. Although watering at night is recommended, you won't notice problems with your system unless you see it in operation.
Avoid watering your landscape during the hottest hours of the day (10 am until 6 pm) to minimize evaporation.
Water your landscape in cycles by reducing the number of minutes on your timer and using multiple start times spaced one hour apart. This allows the water to soak into the soil and avoids runoff.
Water your lawn only when it needs it. If you leave footprints on the grass, it is usually time to water.
Turn your sprinkler system off during or after a rainstorm and leave it off until the plants need to be watered again.
Consider installing an automatic rain shutoff device on your sprinkler system.
Install drip irrigation systems for trees, shrubs and flowers.
Check your sprinkler valves for leaks when checking all your heads.
Avoid watering your lawn on windy days.
Try to add more days between watering. Allowing your lawn to dry out between watering creates deeper roots and allows you to water deeper and less often.
Place a rain gauge in your backyard to monitor rainfall and irrigation.
Set the kitchen timer when you water by hose.
Test soil moisture with a soil probe or screwdriver before you water. If the soil is moist, don’t water!
Watch out for broken sprinklers, open hydrants, broken pipes and any other significant water losses in your community. Be sure to notify the property owner or the water district of the problem.
Make sure the water coming out of your sprinklers is not misting and drifting away in the wind. This is usually caused by too high of pressure—if necessary, install a pressure reducer on your sprinkler line.
Turn back your automatic timers in the spring and fall. Water only once or twice a week during the spring and fall.
General Lawn Maintenance
Did you know that most lawn problems are a direct result of over watering? Maintaining your lawn properly will help you save time, money and water!
Mowing
Is your lawn shorter than your carpet? Mowing your lawn at such a short length hurts the grass, wastes water and encourages more green waste.
By raising your lawn mower height another ½ to 1 inch, you are promoting the conservation of water in grass. Grass will shade itself as it grows longer, reducing its overall water need. This, in turn, reduces the growth rate of the grass- meaning less frequent mowing! Experts recommend cutting grass to a total length of 3 inches, and removing no more than one-third of the leaf blade per mowing.
Stressing
Ever heard the expression "What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger"? In order to make your grass heartier, try stressing it out! By going an extra day without water here and there, you are promoting deeper root growth. The deeper the roots are allowed to penetrate the soil, the better overall health of your lawn. Roots will only grow as far as they need to in order to get water. If you are always giving them water up near the surface of the lawn, the plants have no incentive to grow deeper. You can easily check your rooting depth by using a soil probe or screwdriver.
Try waiting as long as possible in the spring to water your grass. The longer you wait, the healthier your lawn will be in the summer months. And don’t worry it’s virtually impossible to kill your lawn. The lawn may turn brown in areas, but it is just the plant going DORMANT, not dying. Adding water will make that spot spring back to life!
Fertilization
Fertilizing your lawn encourages healthy plant growth. In this case, however, MORE IS NOT BETTER! Fertilize sparingly, as you can actually over stimulate plant growth, making the lawn more susceptible to dry conditions and disease. Additionally, the more fertilizer applied to a lawn increases the likelihood of harmful chemicals running off into streams or seeping into groundwater. The combination of over-watering and over-fertilizing can be dangerous to both plants and humans!
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Do you know you could use less water and have a healthier lawn? On average, we use nearly two-thirds of our water out doors, most of which goes on lawns. As much as one-half of the water is wasted through incorrect watering.
Is your lawn shorter than your carpet? Mowing your lawn at such a short length hurts the grass, wastes water and encourages more green waste.