General Tips

Less is More - More harm is caused to our plants and grass from over-watering than from under-watering. When setting up your schedule, be conservative to start and add more time if plants begin to look stressed.

Losing its Spring - Grass signals that it needs water by losing its spring. When you walk across the lawn and see your footprints, your lawn probably needs to be watered. You may also see the color change to a bluish shade of green.

Grass Height - Set your mower to one of the highest settings recommended for your turf type. There are several reasons not to cut your grass too short:

Keeping grass longer allows it greater surface area to carry out photosynthesis, which in turn results in healthier grass. In addition, taller grass grows slower than shorter grass. You can use this fact to eliminate up to 20 percent of the mowing you do annually—an average savings of about eight hours a year, not to mention the savings of gasoline and wear on equipment.
By keeping your grass at the upper end of its recommended mowing height, you can prevent most weeds from germinating—and thereby eliminate the need for herbicides. For more information regarding lawn care visit: www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/tools/turf

Take Control - Weather-based irrigation controllers (wbic) are a great way to automate seasonal irrigation adjustments. Rebates for these devices may be available through your water provider.

Fall Irrigation - In the Sacramento Region, during the months of September through November, temperatures may continue to be relatively warm and you may be tempted to continue using your summer irrigation schedule. However, keep in mind that as the days become shorter, evaporation decreases and plant water needs drop by approximately 30% as plants prepare for winter.

Next - Watering Device Types