When temperatures are above 90 degrees, keeping your plants healthy and landscape vibrant can be challenging. For Houston homeowners, especially during the hot summer, adjusting sprinkler settings is crucial to ensure efficient watering.
Why Adjusting Sprinkler Settings Matters in the Heat
Houston summers are intense, and your plants feel the heat just as much as you do. Proper irrigation is essential not just for appearances but for maintaining healthy soil, thriving plants, and overall water conservation. While it might be tempting to simply increase watering times, a more tailored approach to sprinkler settings is better for both your landscape and water bill.
Factors like type of plant, soil conditions, sun exposure, and even the layout of your yard play an important role in how often and how much water is needed. There is no one-size-fits-all rule for watering plants other than, “Water a plant when it needs water”.
General Watering Guidelines for Houston Summers
To give you a starting point, here are some basic guidelines for effective watering in Houston heat. Remember, these are general rules and should be tailored to your lawn and landscaping’s specific needs.
- Watering Frequency
- 2-4 days per week depending on plant types and exposure to sun.
- Avoid watering every day. Deep, infrequent watering encourages stronger roots.
- Spray Zones
- Run for 10-20 minutes per session.
- These zones are ideal for small areas with quick-draining soils or evenly spaced plants.
- Rotor Zones
- Run for 25-35 minutes per session.
- Rotor heads have a slower application rate, requiring longer runtimes to soak the area effectively.
- Time of Day
- Water early in the morning, ideally between 4am-6am, to minimize evaporation and fungal growth.
Don’t Know? Call the Pros!
Every yard is different, and understanding your requirements takes experience. If you feel overwhelmed, consider contacting us! Let one of our licensed professionals do an evaluation with any sprinkler call.
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