How much water?

Question

Is there a simple formula to figure how much time/water for automatic sprinklers? Flat area, grass only, 60' x 60'. Southern CA inland meaning it can get up to 100, often 90, currently about 82. My grass is green but my bill is way high. Has 3 stations, running 2 times for 5min each, every other day. Too much?

Answer 1

The normal amount of water grass needs to stay healthy is one inch of water per week. The easiest way to figure out how much an inch is is to put out a soup can the next time you sprinkle the lawn and let the sprinkler run until one inch of water is in the can. If it took 30 minutes for example, that means you need to water for 30 minutes a week unless Mother Nature helps you out. I recommend splitting you watering into 2 fifteen minute sessions twice a week. It keeps the lawn at a more constant level of dampness. I'm afraid that a 5 minute watering may not be enough to get the water through the thatch layer and down to the root zone. Also if rain does come along you can skip the 2nd 15 min watering so you might save water too by splitting the inch per week.

IMPORTANT: Don't waterlate in the evening or at night. You are asking for fungal diseases if you do.

Answer 2

Put some cans out where the sprinklers can water into them as they water the lawn. Measure the water in the can after the sprinklers have finished their cycle. Check with a local nursery on the water requirement in your area and adjust the timer accordingly. Plus, water at night or very early in the morning.

Answer 3

water at nite,and let the grass grow, cut it at the next highest level on your mower, this puts shade on the roots and holds in more water, cut it short in spring and adj. as summer goes along