Your irrigation system is crucial for keeping your lawn and landscape in the Plano, TX, area well-watered throughout the year. However, to ensure that it functions correctly and provides optimal results, you need to follow a strict watering schedule. You'll also want to inspect the coverage of your system to make sure that it's providing water evenly throughout your lawn. If your lawn is on an incline, you may need to utilize a specific watering technique to prevent runoff.

The ideal watering schedule for lawns in the Plano, TX, area.

Irrigation system running on lawn in Plano, TX.

Having an irrigation system on your property can be a real time saver when it comes to keeping your lawn and landscape hydrated. However, you'll want to make sure that it's set up correctly so that your grass and plants receive the water they need at the right times. Below is a breakdown of the best times to run your irrigation system In the Plano, TX, area:

  • April - May: Run your irrigation system for 10 minutes at 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM for two days per week. This will ensure your grass can soak up the water before it gets evaporated.
  • June - September: Run your irrigation system for 20 minutes at the same times as you did from April to May. Due to the hotter temperatures, your lawn will need more water, which is why you'll want to run your system for twice as long. You may need to water your lawn three or four times a day if you notice browning in your turf.
  • October - April: Run your irrigation system for just 10 minutes at 6:00 AM during the same days that you were watering before and make sure the rain sensor is working properly. Avoid watering between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM because if your lawn remains wet during cool nights, it could cause lawn diseases to form!
Watering your lawn at night during the colder times of the year can cause lawn diseases to form!

Make sure your irrigation system covers all areas of your lawn evenly.

While setting up your irrigation system's timer is important, making sure that it provides proper coverage to every part of your lawn is equally crucial. To check if your irrigation system is providing adequate coverage, you can follow these steps:

  • Place cans or coffee mugs sporadically across your lawn. You can use anything that holds liquid to measure the amount of water your irrigation system is providing.
  • Measure the water in each container after you've run your system. If some containers don’t seem to have much water, it may mean that the coverage from your irrigation system isn’t reaching that spot. You will then need to adjust the coverage to ensure water is reaching every area evenly.

Your Irrigation System Might Need Adjustments If Your Lawn Is On An Incline

If your lawn is on an incline, you might need to utilize a technique called "soak and cycle" to ensure proper water absorption. This technique involves running your irrigation system for four, 5-minute intervals: once at 2:00 AM, again at 6:00 AM, another at 6:00 PM, and finally at 10:00 PM. By staggering the watering times, you can allow the water to soak into the soil rather than running off due to gravity.

Give us a call today to enroll in our lawn care program!

At College Fund Landscaping, we offer a lawn care program that you can sign up for that includes lawn fertilization and weed control treatments throughout the year. Following a strict watering schedule after our applications is essential to the success of our treatments! We offer this service to residential properties in Plano, TX, and the surrounding areas including Allen and McKinney. Give us a call at (972) 985-0279 to sign up for our lawn care program today!