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Automated Sprinkler Timer
09/06/10
An automated sprinkler system can help you water efficiently if the timer
is used properly. A study conducted by the Division of Water Resources found
that residents with automatic sprinkler systems in Salt Lake City typically
water 44% more than the lawn needs. Make sure you use your timer wisely by doing
the following:
* Adjust your watering schedule to the season. Your landscape needs much less
water during the spring and fall than it does during the summer.
* Water only between 6 pm and 10 am. Not watering during the hot daytime hours
will reduce the amount of water you lose to evaporation.
* Don’t turn your sprinkler system on during or after a rainstorm. Historically,
Mother Nature has provided about 30-40% of the moisture your lawn needs to remain
healthy--take advantage of this gift and help conserve our water resources.
* Program your sprinkler timer to cycle watering events. Clay type soils and
areas with mild or steep slopes usually can not absorb water fast enough to
prevent it from running off. If such conditions exist in your landscape, program
your timer to water for several shorter periods, with about an hour in-between,
to let the water soak into the soil.
* Keep the battery in your timer fresh and a copy of your schedule nearby If
the power fails and your battery is dead, you will lose all the adjustments
you have made. Just in case, keep a copy of the schedule that works best for
your landscape nearby so you can easily reprogram the timer if needed.
Read your sprinkler system user’s manual to learn more about the capabilities
of your timer. If it cannot do what you need it to, purchase a new one. And
remember, your timer is there to help you water efficiently, but it can only
do so if you know it well!
If you want to know how long you should water each zone in your landscape and
whether or not you should cycle, use the customized guide to get you well on
your way.
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