Irrigation run times are set according to the precipitation rate of the sprinklers or emitters and the soil's water-holding capacity. A lawn sprinkler zone might run for 20 to 30 minutes, two or three times a week in dry weather, delivering enough water to soak the root zone. Drip zones run longer, often 30 to 60 minutes, because drip delivers water slowly. The goal is deep, infrequent watering, which encourages deep root growth and produces a more drought-tolerant garden than frequent, shallow watering. A smart controller adjusts these run times automatically by weather and season, so the system waters more in a hot, dry week and barely at all in a cool, wet one. We set the initial schedule during commissioning and fine-tune it during servicing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should each irrigation zone run?
Lawn sprinkler zones typically run 20 to 30 minutes, two to three times a week. Drip zones run longer, often 30 to 60 minutes, because drip delivers water slowly.
Is it better to water little and often or deeply and less often?
Deep, infrequent watering is better. It encourages deep root growth and a more drought-tolerant garden than frequent, shallow watering.