Grass, plants, trees and shrubs are all healthier when watered deeply and infrequently. Each month throughout the year, water the recommended times per week for best results.

  • 1 day a week:  November, February
  • 1-3 days a week: March through May
  • 3-5 days a week: June through August
  • 1-3 days a week: September through October

Irrigation is typically not needed in December or January. Hand water as needed.

Click here to download a seasonal watering schedule to place by your irrigation clock.

Sprinkler Irrigation

The cycle and soak method of sprinkler watering on lawns allows water to soak deep into the soil creating healthy roots and eliminating runoff.

  • Run 3 cycles per watering day
  • 1 hour between each cycle
  • 4 minutes for a fixed spray or 8 minutes for a rotating spray
  • Monitor and adjust as needed

Drip Irrigation

Drip low and slow to allow plants, trees and shrubs to be watering directly at the root systems using a low pressure for a longer period of time.

Low-flow emitters deliver bead-like droplets (1-4 gallons per hour)

High-flow emitters deliver a steady, light stream of water (up to 20 gallons per hour)

Water based on your drip emitter’s rate of flow:

  • High flow (up to 20 gallons per hour): 12 minutes
  • Low flow (up to 4 gallons per hour): 30 minutes
  • Low flow (up to 2 gallons per hour): 60 minutes
  • Low flow (up to 1 gallon per hour): 90 minutes

Because every landscape and irrigation system is different, you may need to adjust this schedule. Variables such as soil, weather, flow rate, and plant type will affect irrigation needs. If a plan appears stressed, check around the root zone to determine if the soil is dry or waterlogged – both conditions can cause plants to exhibit a wilted appearance.

Irrigation Best Practices

  • Avoid watering from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the summer months
  • Adjust sprinkler heads so they don’t spray walls, driveways or sidewalks
  • Trim around sprinkler heads so lawn doesn’t block the water spray
  • Use the most efficient types of nozzles and irrigation clocks
  • Check the sprinkler system weekly and immediately replace broken or missing parts
  •  Overwatering and underwatering can cause brown spots; be sure to check water pressure and sprinkler coverage and adjust as needed

Simple Ways to Save Water

Additional Resources

The Utah State University Cooperative Extension has published a variety of materials to promote water-efficient landscapes. Following are a few publications that may be of interest: