For many of us, fall is the best time of the year. It comes in the form of cooler, more pleasing temperatures and the end to daylight saving time.
Without a doubt you’ve already set all your usual timepieces back one hour. But don’t forget to reset the most important clock – the one on your irrigation controller. It’s time to fall back on winter watering.
In fact, at this time of year we encourage you to just turn off your irrigation system and run it manually on the few occasions when watering is recommended.
Consider your landscape’s watering needs:
- Plants are preparing for dormancy. This means they don’t take in as much water and the rate at which moisture evaporates from the soil is significantly less than it was just one month ago.
- Roots continue to grow at a snail’s pace during dormancy. Apply mulch to conserve existing soil moisture and help protect plant roots from freezing temperatures.
- The cooler, wetter weather is usually sufficient for our soon-to-be-dormant lawns. Any additional irrigation – especially during certain times of the day – only encourages the growth of fungi.
Need help with your irrigation system controller? SAWS conservation consultants provide year-round, water-wise advice for your home, landscape and sprinkler system. Call us at 210-704-SAVE (7283) to make an appointment.
