First, analyze how you’re watering. Do you water your lawn all at once, and if so how long? If you’re only watering using one cycle, then all the water you deliver may not get absorbed. The trick is to split up your watering into several cycles, all on the same day.

Secondly, test how long it take for your irrigation system to provide a half inch of water – measure and mark 1/2 inch on several plastic containers. Place them around the zone and run your system until water reaches the 1/2 inch mark – note the time this takes. This is based on providing approx 1 inch or 2.5 cm of water to your lawn each week with 2 waterings. You may wish to increase to 3 watering days in the middle of summer.

Here’s how the cycle and soak method works to save water.

Stage 1

• Run your lawn zone for a short period of time; say ⅓ of the time you’d normally run it.
• In stage 1 you are first cracking the soil surface and saturating the top layer of soil.
• Shut it off and allow the water to soak in.

Stage 2

• Once the water is fully soaked in, run your system again and deeply soak the soil.

Stage 3

• If you live on a slope or your soil is very compacted, this will be the most beneficial soak.
• Water will saturate more efficiently and deeply the more cycles you water.
• Depending on your soil structure, you could use two to three cycles.

Timing Sample: If you water your lawn zones for 30 minutes to deliver the equivalent of one-inch of irrigation water, then with the cycle and soak method, you’ll break it up into either two 15-minute cycles or three 10-minute cycles. All on the same day.

Of course, none of us have time to do this manually each time we water. Do it manually the first time so you can see how long you can run your first cycle before water begins to pool. Your irrigation clock comes with the ability to use A, B & C cycles. You can set up separate cycles, with separate start times, to automate two or three watering cycles the same day.

Information provided by Soils Alive

You can read more about the cycle and soak method here.

Tips for watering mature grass and landscape

Tips for watering new grass and newly landscaped areas

Healthy soil is an essential part of creating a lawn that is naturally better at absorbing and using water efficiently. When your soil is healthy, well fed and full of organic matter, drainage and moisture retention is improved.

Automatic sprinkler benefits: Home owner or renter … if you are like most people, you take pride in the appearance of your property. One of the most important elements of a great looking home is the appearance of your lawns and gardens. Maintaining a lawn to a high standard can be difficult and time consuming. If you don’t have the right systems in place, and it’s very hard to keep your lawn green and your gardens vibrant without water. Without the rainfall luxury, automatic sprinkler systems are the best way to deliver water to your gardens and lawns.

Does your current method of watering involve dragging a hose out onto your lawn and spending up to an hour each day watering your lawn and gardens? If so, installing an automatic sprinkler system is the best option for you. There are many reasons to choose an automatic sprinkler system; here are a few of those benefits:

Automatic Sprinkler Benefits

Convenience

The clearest reason to install an automatic sprinkler system is to make watering your yard more convenient and giving you the time to enjoy your backyard. With an automatic sprinkler system, you can set timers. Your sprinkler will automatically turn on and water your lawn at specific times throughout the day or week. You can set them to run for a specific length of time. Additionally, they can be set to water different areas of your yard at different times based on use of the spaces and types of plants.

Aesthetic Appeal and Safety

Hoses are a tripping hazard and they are also unsightly when not rolled up after use. Installing sprinkler systems means these two negative aspects of hose watering no longer exist. When an automatic sprinkler system is installed under the ground with pop-up sprinklers, you won’t even know they are there unless you see them working. Automatic sprinkler heads seem to disappear after they have finished watering your lawn so they don’t pose a hazard to anyone. This also makes them a far more aesthetically pleasing solution to garden watering.

Water at the Right Time

Watering your lawn at the optimal time is vital for water conservation, and early in the morning is the best time to set your automatic sprinkler system to turn on and off. Watering when the sun is high in the sky means that your gardens are prone to a higher level of evaporation and can waste up to 25% of the water used. Setting your timers to work in the morning as compared to the evening will also mean your plants are less prone to disease which can happen if your lawn and garden remain moist all night.

Water the Right Amount

Advanced automatic sprinkler systems have soil moisture and weather sensors to distribute the correct amount of water when and where it is needed. Advanced systems skip scheduled lawn and garden watering when any rain is detected to avoid over-watering your lawn … saves you money too!

Water While You’re Away

Automatic sprinkler systems allow you to set a timer for every day of the year, even when you are away on vacation, ensuring your lawn & garden receive the attention they deserve and you come back to your beautiful property.

Read more about what PARK Irrigation can offer to you … SERVICES

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