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.
Up to 1 day a week: November – February*
Up to 3 days a week: March – April
Up to 4 days a week: May – August
Up to 3 days a week: September – 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.
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
5 minutes for a fixed spray or 10 minutes for a rotating spray
Monitor and adjust as needed
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.
Water based on your drip emitter’s rate of flow:
20 – 40 minutes for high-flow emitters (deliver bead like droplets; 1-4 gallons per hour)
30 – 90 minutes for low-flow emitters (deliver a steady, light stream of water; up to 20 gallons per hour)
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
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:
