Winter Watering
Horticulturalist Neil Sperry says, “My recommendation always has been to learn to “read” the soil, either by looking or by feeling. When it begins to dry an inch or so down, it’s time to water. Best advice: watch your plants daily. When they’ve gone for a week or longer without rain or supplemental irrigation, it’s time to think about watering. Keep an ear to the forecast, then water as appropriate. https://neilsperry.com/2009/12/winter-watering/
Since we rarely get snow here in Texas, you should still water your lawn in the winter, especially if it’s been several weeks without rain. So far for all of November through December 2nd I have not had to water. It is obvious that the ground is dark and holding moisture at this time. I am having to water the potted plants about every 5 days. If you’re unsure if your grass needs water, take note on whether it looks dry, droopy, or if you leave footprints when you walk across it. Grass experts agree during winter, that watering first thing in the morning is best because there is less evaporation and the water has a better chance of drying before nighttime, thereby reducing instances of lawn disease. If your foundation perimeter needs water the indicator will be approximately ½ inch separation between the earth and the foundation or more.
Presently I will run my irrigation system manually on an as needed basis . . . still waiting for that to happen.
Sprinkler Head Duration
Spray heads: 10 to 12 minutes per zone in open lawn areas.
However, water 10 minutes or LESS along the shaded north elevation or a shaded side yard due to a shadow cast by the neighbor’s home or a shaded tight side yard between properties . You should not need as much water where there is little or no sunlight. Unfortunately lawns do not due well in side yards where there is no direct sun.
Rotary heads: 30 minutes per zone (which is about the same amount of water released as a standard spray head that runs for 10 minutes)
The left photo is a water conservation rotor and the right photo is an older style less rotor (which can have considerable evaporation loss). Water Conservation heads must run longer to provide the equivalent amount of moisture as a spray (mist) pop-up head.
Drip irrigation: 30 minutes (is equal to approximately 10 minutes of a pop-up spray head). You will need to monitor what is best for your yard. Many of the homes constructed in the last 5 to 8 years have drip irrigation at the front parkway and the front planters. This method of watering results in less water loss due to evaporation and achieves deeper moisture penetration.
If you are lucky, a foundation drip has also been installed around the perimeter of your home. This is intended to keep the earth moist along the foundation and minimize clay soil movement. The ground should be damp (have some cohesion when you press the earth between your fingers) but not muddy. If the earth is dry as dust one inch beneath the surface or if there is a 3/8” gap between the foundation and the sod, you will need to increase the watering. Monitor until you get the right amount of moisture.
Drip Irrigation lines are commonly installed in the front flower beds, parkway (between sidewalk and street) and around the foundation (a single line that wraps around the home). A foundation drip line can continue to run during water restriction periods to protect the foundation but this should be at night or before 10 AM in the morning.
If your system is not already equipped with a moisture sensor / freeze guard, it is recommended that you have one installed. Additionally, a digital controller, such as Rachio which connects to your Wi-Fi, is also recommended and has the ability to override the watering schedules based on the local weather.
AT THIS TIME –
I have my time clock schedule set to run the following durations if I choose to turn on the timer manually for a single run.
Start with the following suggested durations, monitor the moisture in the earth, and adjust your schedule as needed.
Lawn Areas That Get Full Sun
- Spray (mist): Start with 10 minutes
- Rotors: Start with 30 minutes
Shaded Lawn Areas
- Spray: Start with 8 minutes
- Rotors: Start with 24 minutes
Flower Beds
- Spray: Start with 10 minutes
- Drip irrigation: 20 minutes
Foundation Drip
- Drip irrigation: 30 minutes
Parkway
- Spray: Start with 10 minutes
- Rotors: Start with 25 minutes
- Drip irrigation: 25 minutes
