Keys to summer watering

The days are long, the sun is hot, and your landscape is looking
dreary and tired. How do you respond? If you are like most people,
you think about watering more.
The days are long, the sun is hot, and your landscape is looking dreary and tired. How do you respond? If you are like most people, you think about watering more. Should you change your sprinklers to water every day like some do? The answer is probably not. Deep infrequent waterings are still the best way to water your landscape. By watering deeply, we encourage roots to grow deeply and reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation.

So what is the best way to water deeply? It may be as simple as increasing your irrigation time.

While this works for some, it is not the universal solution because some parcels have sloping landscapes and watering for a long time increases the water lost to runoff. Here are some key concepts for watering deeply:

1. If you can simply extend the duration of your irrigation sessions without wasting water, do it. Consider decreasing the frequency of your irrigation if appropriate.

For example, if you are watering 10 minutes every day, consider watering 15 minutes every other day or 20 minutes every third day.

1. If extending the duration results in excess runoff, consider watering two separate times an hour apart and then decreasing the frequency of your irrigation days. By spacing out the irrigation sessions, you’ll provide the initial water a chance to soak in and go deeper. For example, set your timer to water 10 minutes at 6am and then 10 minutes again at 7am.

2. Flower beds, gardens, and other nonlawn areas of the landscape generally do better with irrigation systems that supply water slowly like bubblers, drip systems, and soaker hoses.

These systems have the ability to minimize water waste and deliver the water in a way that gets the water deep into the root zone. Consider changing your irrigation system when the opportunity presents itself to do so.

Please Note: It is impossible to provide real examples that work for every landscape with every type of irrigation system. The time values used in the examples above are for demonstration purposes only.

For more information on how to estimate the time needed to water your lawn, contact us at 779-7247 or*******@***********ca.gov and ask for a copy of the “Watering Your Lawn” fact sheet.

Eco Web Page of the Week: Go to www.vallywater.org/media/pdf/rules_of_thumb.pdf for complete tips on waterwise gardening.

Eco Fact of the Week: Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you have to use disposable plates, cups, and utensils every time you go on an outing or eat outside. Consider buying inexpensive durable plasticware for use outdoors. You’ll save money in the long run and reduce your waste disposal immensely.

Anthony Eulo is a Program Administrator for the City of Morgan Hill who waters his lawn deeply. He welcomes your questions, comments, and thoughts and can be reached at 779-7247 or en*****@***********ca.gov .