Metro Water District :: Landscape Watering Advice

Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District - Tucson, Arizona USA

Landscape Watering Advice

A Guide to a Green, Water Wise Yard

Plants don't save water, proper maintenance and scheduling does

Efficient outdoor watering can save you time and money. All it takes is a little maintenance, letting your plants tell you when they need water, and adjusting your watering schedule.

Metro Water District hopes this guide will help you use water more wisely. We have found that many customers water their plants more than what is necessary. By following this guide, you can reduce the amount of water you use and still keep your yard green and attractive.

Outdoor water use can account for more than 50% of your water consumption, even more during the summer.

So take a moment, review this guide and consider how you can implement these landscape watering tips.

Irrigation Tips that Save Water

Do not apply water faster than the soil can absorb it.
Group plants on separate drip valves according to watering needs.
Irrigate trees and large shrubs for a longer time and less frequently than small, shallow rooted plants.
If dry areas appear between scheduled irrigations, do not turn on the valve/station, but hand water. The dry spot may be caused by an equipment failure, poor design, maintenance practices, soil conditions, or a plant that is in the wrong location. Usually, lack of water is not the problem.
If hand watering, use a nozzle with a gentle rain setting.
When watering by hose, use a kitchen timer as a reminder to turn off the water.

Adjust Your Irrigation Timer

Irrigation timers or a controller can save you time and water. They become even more efficient when you adjust the timer regularly.

By changing your irrigation timer monthly or as the seasons change, you will use even less water and reduce the stress on the plant.

Use the weather-based watering guides on page 2 to help you adjust your irrigation timer. This will ensure the plants get the right amount of water.

Avoid only setting your timer once or twice a year. This will waste water when it is not so warm and place stress on your plants as the temperature heats up.

Set your timer for late night or early morning irrigation to reduce water loss due to higher daytime temperature, wind, or evaporation.

Set Effective Watering Schedules

Many people over water their plants even though most plants can survive just fine with less water than they receive.

A cardinal rule for effective watering is to water deeply and less frequently. This will encourage the root system to expand and strengthen, and uses water more efficiently. To follow this important rule, you can use the weather as an effective gauge for your watering schedule. Also, you should let your plants tell you when they need water. This requires you to regularly adjust when you water and how you set your drip irrigation timer, if you have one.

If plants wilt in the heat, begin to lose their leaves, or are not thriving, you may need to increase the watering times. When temperatures are over 100 degrees, keep a close watch on newly transplanted plants.

Here are general weather-based watering guides:

Shrubs & Groundcovers
Temperature	1^st Year	2^nd Year	After 2 Years
Below 75 degrees	Every 2 weeks	Every 3 weeks	Every 30 days
75 - 90 degrees	Weekly	Every 2 weeks	Every 3 weeks
91 - 100 degrees	Twice per week	Weekly	Every 2 weeks
Over 100 degrees	Three times per week	Twice per week	Weekly
This is a general guide to watering plants. The schedule is based on drip irrigation technology, two hour run-time, with one gallon per hour emitters. For your own yard, take into consideration the soil, plant size, plant location, plant type (low or high water use), and plant age.

Trees
Temperature	1^st Year	2 - 5 Years	After 5 Years
Below 75 degrees	Every 2 weeks	Every 30 days	Water if no rainfall within 60 days
75 - 90 degrees	Every 5 - 7 days	Every 3 weeks	Water if no rainfall within 60 days
91 - 100 degrees	Weekly	Every 2 weeks	Gradually extend intervals between waterings to every 3 weeks
Above 100 degree	Twice per week	Weekly	Gradually extend intervals between waterings to every 2 weeks
This is a general guide to watering trees. Citrus trees need more frequent watering and desert trees need less frequent. The schedule is based on drip irrigation technology, one to two hour run-times with two to three gallons per hour emitters. Trees should be watered to a three foot depth. Use a soil probe to determine if you need to adjust your watering schedule. For your own yard, take into consideration the soil, tree size, tree location, tree type (low or high water use), and tree age.

Signs of Overwatering

Ponding or soil is constantly damp.
Leaves turn yellow or a lighter shade of green.
Young shoots are wilted.
Leaves are green yet brittle.
Algae and mushrooms are growing

Signs of Underwatering

Soil is dry.
Older leaves turn yellow or brown and drop off.
Leaves are wilted.
Leaves curl.

A 25x40 foot lawn can use more than 27,000 gallons of water a year

Principles for Lawn Watering

Water only when you must - - many lawns can get by with irrigating every third day.
During the summer, water between midnight and 6:00 a.m. During this time, there is generally less wind, less evaporation, better soaking down to roots and no low water pressure problems.
Daily watering, especially during the heat of the day, can damage grass.
Avoid watering on windy days or right after moderate or heavy rain.
If water runs off grass area, split the run time. Apply one half the normal amount of water. Wait an hour and then apply the other half.
Avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the grass height at one time to avoid stressing the grass and turning it yellow.
For sloped yards, terrace the area for more efficient watering.
Aim your sprinklers where the water is needed, and don't waste water on open dirt, sidewalks or driveways.

A garden hose can use within an hour enough water to wash 20 loads of laundry

More information on irrigation scheduling, drip irrigation systems, xeriscape and other landscape watering information can be found at:

U of A/Pima County Cooperative Extension - 626-5161

U of A/Pima County Cooperative Extension, Low 4 Program - 622-7701

Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona - 791-9591 x55

Tohono Chul Park - 575-8468

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - 770-3500

Tucson/Pima County Libraries - Nanini Branch - 791-4626

Tucson Botanical Garden - 326-9686

Metro Water District - 575-8100

Principles for a Water Efficient Landscape

1. Planning & Design

Make a plan of your site to determine how you intend to use areas around your home. The area closest to the house or building should have the most plants to provide shade, coolness, and aesthetic appeal. Plan to group plants together that have similar water needs.

2. Low-Water-Using Plants

Many beautiful, colorful plants use little water, provide year round color and reduced maintenance. Research plants so you know what is available to you. Appropriate placement of plants helps reduce energy bills. Grouping plants of common water usage makes for easier care.

3. Limit Grass Areas

Grass uses more water than anything else in a yard and requires more maintenance. Place grass only where it is functional or consider instead one of the many drought tolerant groundcovers that are available.

4. Water Harvesting Techniques

Incorporate water harvesting techniques into your landscape design. Locate plants where they can take advantage of this extra water. Channel runoff from rain to plants. Slope walkways toward plantings.

5. Efficient Irrigation

Match your irrigation method to the type of plant being watered - - drip irrigation for individual plants and spray irrigation for grass. Multiple irrigation valves allow for greater flexibility in watering plants with common water requirements.

6. Mulches

Apply mulches such as compost, bark chips, decomposed granite or river rock at the base of plants to retain moisture, keep weeds down and control erosion.

7. Proper Maintenance

Many low-water using plants need little or no maintenance. Occasional pruning, fertilizing, weeding and pest control may be all that is needed. Maintain the irrigation system to repair leaks. Irrigate efficiently.

A landscaper's job is to keep your grass, shrubs and plants green and so there is a tendency to over water. Let your landscaper know that you want to use water wisely. Ask your landscaper to keep your yard nice but to use water efficiently.

Special Thanks to the Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona and the Cities of Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Tempe for their contributions and assistance.