I
absolutely love this time of year!! Not only are the really hot days behind us,
but with the improved chances of rain, we can really start seeing some relief
on our water consumption. There are cooler days and nights ahead of us, and an
overwatered landscape is a welcome invitation to fungus.
I’m currently running all
the irrigated common areas at 25% water budget/seasonal adjust, with my finger
on the OFF button should we get rain. For
your homes, you could probably turn your systems off, and be just fine until Spring.
If you feel that you need to keep your controller ON, I’d recommend between a 25%
and no more than a 50% setting for the water budget/seasonal adjust.
Fall is typically wetter and
cooler, and for established landscapes, and it’s a great time to see how far
you can stretch those days between watering cycles. Soil moisture depletion is
much slower, and can quickly be replenished within a single watering cycle. Don’t
be afraid to shut the system down, and see what happens. If the yard is
beginning to look stressed, turn the system back on for a day.
The
Water Matters Team is available to help familiarize you with your irrigation
system. If you need help setting up your controller, or would like a
complete and thorough evaluation of your irrigation system, send an email to WaterMatters@SCTexas.org , or contact your Neighborhood Representative.
A Water Matters Ambassador will come to your home to assist you.
