Do you want your sprinkler system up and running quickly and easily? Look no further than our beginner’s guide to setting up your sprinkler system schedule. By following our simple, step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to get your system up and running in no time at all!
First, for turf zones, there are a few things you have to understand:
- Tall fescue lawns require 1-2 inches of water each week through irrigation or rainfall if you decide to maintain your grass green throughout the summer’s heat.
- Clay soils have a percolation rate of approximately .25″ per hour, which allows water to permeate.
- It is preferable to water sparingly and deeply.
- Deeply watering is to an 8″ depth, which requires .5-inch-high water.
Although there are some exceptions to all of these criteria, here are some things to consider for the sprinkler system installation schedule:
Tune Up Your Sprinkler
You must ascertain how much water is delivered over a specific period to calibrate your sprinkler (hose or in-ground system). Here’s a quick method to accomplish that:
- Set a can of tuna fish or cat food in the center of the water pattern.
- Measure the amount of water in the can after letting that zone or the sprinkler run for 10 minutes. You need 25″ of water.
- Now alter your schedule till you can make that delivery. Do this for every zone; tiny spray heads might only take 3–4 minutes, while sizeable full-circle rotor zones might take 30–45 minutes.
Deep Water
To water deeply, use a rain/soak/rain rhythm. If you water more than.25″ in an hour, it won’t be absorbed by the soil and will instead flow off into the storm drain, wasting water and money.
However, it’s preferable to water the grass by.5″ each time since that will soak the soil profile to a depth of 8″. Water until you get that .5″ of water, and then move your sprinkler if you pull a hose. Otherwise, you can’t do this.
If your system is automated, you can program two start times that coincide in the early morning.
For instance, if your initial start time is at 3 p.m., it will take 1.5 hours to complete your zones and deliver 25 inches of water. Next, schedule a second start time at 4:45 p.m. (so they don’t conflict). You will have now watered thoroughly and effectively.
Water Occasionally
You may establish your sprinkler system installation and repair schedule after calibrating the sprinkler, like in stages 1 and 2.
An irrigation and lawn company may water the grass by 5 inches daily since it needs 1-2 inches of water between irrigation and rain.
To encourage strong root growth, the company also knows that they should let the lawn dry out in between waterings. With these considerations, you can program the sprinkler to activate on Monday and Thursday (or Tuesday and Friday) and be sure to provide 1″ of water for the whole week.
In colder months, you should start here. It will require additional water when the lawn begins to suffer from the heat, which may move to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday knowing that lawn companies are supplying 1.5″ of water.
You can get by most summers with this. However, you might need to switch to an every-other-day timetable if we have that 100-degree August blast furnace to supply the entire 2″ of water.
There are numerous things to consider when determining the run times for your sprinklers. Still, with some work, you can configure your system to operate correctly and efficiently and avoid paying for water that doesn’t reach the soil.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you want a healthy green lawn, you must set up a sprinkler system schedule. Following this article’s advice, you can easily create a plan to meet your lawn’s needs. The type of grass, the environment, and the quantity of sunshine are just a few examples of the variables you should consider while planning your lawn.
With some planning, you can create a schedule to keep your lawn looking its best. In case of trouble, you can also schedule a sprinkler system repair in Tulsa!
Extreme Irrigation & Lawn, a locally owned and run business, provide sprinkler system installation and maintenance services across the Tulsa region. Request a quote today!