Water Saving Tips: 4 Best Practices for Your Irrigation System This Summer

Nothing makes you the envy of the neighborhood or offers more curb appeal than that of a green and well-maintained lawn. The month of August often brings the hottest and driest weather of the summer season. Keeping your lawn green and lush will call for a little extra work from your homes irrigation system, but without the proper mindfulness, your irrigation system could be wasting you water and money. 

An automatic irrigation system can make watering your lawn easier, but it can also make it easier to forget about as it becomes a scheduled routine. The trick is to monitor your irrigation system and schedule accurately and accordingly. A well-planned and specific watering system can help you avoid over watering and wastefulness.

Too Much, Too Often

The most common mistake is over watering of a lawn. When your irrigation system is being overused you will notice that it runs off and is not absorbed. Don’t water for a long continuous period. Instead split the watering time up into shorter periods and try taking 15-minute breaks in between each session. Taking a break will allow the water to soak in and be absorbed so you are less likely to waste.

Dividing Your Lawn

Not all parts of your lawn need the same amount of water. Different plants require various amounts. Watering by zone could help you avoid over watering. Watering shrubs, trees, and flowers separately from your lawn would allow you to water your lawn more frequently without drowning the surrounding plants

Timing is Everything

Schedule your irrigation system to come on between 5 am and 10 am. Watering when the sun is low, and temperatures are cooler is the best time to care for your lawn. Operating your irrigation system during the middle of the day can cause more water loss because of evaporation and winds.

Be Mindful of Weather

The season and the weather will dictate when you should be using your irrigation system. Some irrigation systems have an automatic cut-off function when it senses rain. This is a great function to help you take advantage of nature’s free watering service.