9 Irrigation Tips To Save Water, Time, and Money
Conserve cash and water with these irrigation tips
Highlights
It’s important to research the different types of sprinkler systems and get the one that works best for your situation.
Watering in the morning can make a huge difference for your plants.
Smart irrigation systems can be a win-win, offering both reduced labor for you and better outcomes for your garden or lawn.
Grass, trees, and flowers need water to survive and look their best. But you can’t always rely on rainwater to provide enough for your plants, which is when our irrigation tips come in handy.
Watering by hand can be time-consuming, and setting up an irrigation system has to be done with care to avoid wasting water (and driving up your utility bills). To keep your lawn and garden looking lush all year long, follow these simple irrigation tips.
1. Choose the Right Irrigation System for Your Yard
Whether you have a xeriscaped yard or a bountiful veggie garden, water is an essential component of keeping plants alive and healthy. There are several water-saving irrigation methods to consider using in your lawn or garden, from manual watering with a hose to setting up a timed sprinkler system.
Use these irrigation tips to determine which method is right for your water usage and needs:
Watering by hand with the hose is simple, but it takes a lot of time for larger yards.
Timed sprinkler systems will automatically water your lawn, so you don’t have to remember to do so, and you can control the amount of water used and when.
Drip irrigation or underground drip irrigation systems take more time to set up, but they provide exactly enough water to plants.
2. Consider Smart or Timed Irrigation Systems
Maybe you’re tired of penciling in yard work in your already-packed schedule, or you’d prefer spending your Saturday mornings on the couch. Whatever the reason, take back your time by setting up a smart automated or timed irrigation system. This way, you can schedule when the system waters the yard.
Smart systems and rain sensors can even detect soil moisture or weather and turn on the irrigation system only as needed, making this a great water-saving irrigation method to try.
3. Try Smart Technology
Smart sprinkler systems really do earn their name. These technologically advanced irrigation systems can do wonders for your lawn or garden. A properly set-up smart sprinkler system can put out the perfect amount of water based on the plants you have and even adjust watering times and amounts based on various factors, like the weather. You’ll likely have a much healthier yard or garden with smart sprinklers.
Plus, these systems can detect problems and alert you as soon as they happen so that you can get everything back in working order faster (and get back to that new TV show you were binging instead of spending time watering with the garden hose).
4. Maintain the System and Make Repairs as Needed
Leaks and jams can impact the efficiency of your irrigation system and waste water. You should check your irrigation system at least two times per year, typically before winterizing and at the start of the spring growing season. If you notice any leaks or broken equipment, hire a sprinkler repair service near you.
5. Keep Seasons in Mind
Even with a timed irrigation system, make sure to reset the watering schedule seasonally. In most locations, the temperature and rainfall can vary from season to season, impacting how much water your lawn or flowers need.
Typically, you should water your lawn deeply once per week, and water garden beds twice per week, but that changes with the season. Water to a depth of 1 inch once or twice per week throughout warmer weather. In cooler weather, water to the same depth every other week. And, once the frosts arrive, stop watering altogether.
6. Winterize Your Irrigation System for Cooler Weather
One of the most essential irrigation tips is to winterize your system. Prepare your drip irrigation system for winter or winterize your sprinkler system before settling indoors for the frostiest months of the year. This will help keep your irrigation system in good condition when it’s time to start watering the lawn and garden again in the spring.
If you use the garden hose, make sure to winterize outdoor faucets to avoid burst pipes when the temperatures plummet.
7. Water Early in the Day
As the sun rises higher in the sky, the temperatures also begin to climb. To avoid losing the water you give to your grass or plants from evaporation in hot weather, try this irrigation tip: Water your yard in the morning (aim for before 9 a.m.) when the weather is more favorable.
Not only will this minimize the water lost to evaporation, but it will also be more comfortable for you if you are manually watering the lawn and garden.
While temperatures are also cooler in the evening, the water left overnight in moderate temperatures may attract pests. If you need help maintaining a regular watering schedule, hire a local lawn care company to help.
8. Plan to Reduce Run-Off
When your sprinklers kick on and start watering the lawn, you may notice some water flowing across the driveway or sidewalk.
Not only does this waste water (and cost you money on your water bill), but it can also direct any chemicals or other pollution from your yard into local waterways or environments. Luckily, there are water-saving irrigation methods you can use to reduce these issues.
To reduce water run-off, follow these irrigation tips:
Only use the amount of water you need, rather than allowing irrigation systems to run more frequently.
Set up sprinklers or irrigation systems to water only your grass, tree roots, or flower beds. Avoid spraying water on hardscaping.
Design irrigation systems and your landscaping to take advantage of slopes, so any run-off can provide water to your other plants.
Consider installing rain gardens that will collect run-off water rather than allowing it to go into the street or neighboring properties.
9. Add Mulch
What can’t mulch do? Mulch has many benefits, including providing nutrients to plants, stifling weed growth, and repelling pests. Mulch also helps retain moisture in the soil and protects the plant roots and soil from harsh sunlight and temperatures that can cause the water to evaporate.
To better retain water from your irrigation systems, apply mulch to flower beds and around trees. A gardener in your area can help you with this task if you don’t have the time or have a large space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make sure you’re measuring your water output and compare that against what your plants actually need. Additionally, you’ll want to inspect your sprinkler heads regularly to ensure they’re working properly and can water your lawn or garden like they need. You may want to aerate your yard so that your water can more efficiently get down into the soil and to the roots where it’s needed—this way, you waste less water on compacted soil.
The 30/30 rule refers to the tubing you use for your irrigation system and is only applicable for ¼-inch tubing. Essentially, you don’t want to exceed 30 GPH (gallons per hour) or have a line that’s longer than 30 feet if you have ¼-inch tubes in your irrigation system.
The proper way to irrigate will be different based on your local climate, plants, and soil type. You want to make sure you’re watering in the mornings, no matter where you are. Research your plant and soil type to see what the suggested water output is for them, and make sure your irrigation system isn’t delivering more or less than those requirements.