Water is our most precious resource and much of the water we use to irrigate our lawns and shrubs is wasted. The following keys to effectively watering your landscape will help ensure the health and beauty of your landscape and prevent our precious resource from being wasted.

Water Deeply and Infrequently. In most cases, watering more than twice a week is unnecessary and can lead to weed or disease problems.

Wait Until Your Soil Becomes Dry. The biggest mistake most homeowners make is watering too often. You should wait to water your lawn until the soil dries out to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. This will promote a deeper root system and help to eliminate undesirable weeds or diseases.

Don't Set It and Forget It. Set your watering frequency for the season. Irrigation timers will need to be adjusted for temperature changes or rainfall patterns. Keep in mind, many water management districts have watering restrictions and guidelines that need to be followed.

Don't Waste Water. Turn off automatic irrigation systems during rainy periods or use a rain sensor to prevent unneeded watering.

How often should I water?

Watering frequency should be determined by the rate at which the soil in the plants root zone dries out. The rate at which the soil dries is determined by the type of soil (sand vs. clay), the type of shrub or grass pulling water from the soil and the temperature. As a general rule, 3/4 to 1 inch of water 2 times per week is more than adequate for most landscapes. During the winter months, 3/4 to 1 inch of water once every 7 to 10 days is usually adequate. Any rainfall that occurs between your watering schedule should be counted towards your watering goal.

Watering new plantings:

SOAKER HOSE is a garden hose that allows water to "seep" or "weep" very slowly. It allows water to seep into the soil very slowly instead of running off. Soaker hoses look likes black garden hoses, with fittings to screw onto your outdoor faucet.

Helpful Tips & Guidelines:

• For even watering, individual lengths of soaker hose should not exceed 100' in length.
• Up to 600' of soaker hose can be operated from a single house faucet. Remember, the 600' must be divided into sections, none of which can be greater than 100' in length.
• Soil type affects the amount of area the the soaker hose will water:
• Loose, sandy soil will water from 6" to 8" on each side of the hose
• Hard, clay-like soil will water from 8" to 12" on each side of the hose.
• For even watering, lay out soaker hose horizontally in sloped beds rather than up and down the hill.
• Soaker hose will water at a rate of 1 gallon per hour per every 10' of length. This amount varies with water pressure, length of run and water hardness. Experiment with your system and develop optimum time for each watering.
• Water in the morning for maximum water efficiency & plant benefit.
• Watering deeply three times per week is a good rule of thumb.
• Soaker hose works best at low pressure (10 psi). Use a pressure regulator to control maximum water pressure.

Watering sod:

• Water sod Immediately after Installation until good and soaked.
• Water as Infrequently as possible after initial soaking.  
• Water once a day in the morning at 7:00 AM . Delay or eliminate additional daily waterings until wilt is observed. Then irrigate again immediately.
• The rule of thumb is:
  
  • Week 1, 7:00AM, 11:00AM, 2:00PM
    If the soil remains moist and absolutely no turf wilt is observed eliminate the 11:00 watering.
  • Week 2, 7:00AM, 2:00PM
    If the soil remains moist and absolutely no turf wilt is observed eliminate the 2:00PM watering
  • Weeks 3 and 4, 7:00AM
    If the soil remains moist and absolutely no turf wilt is observed water every other day.
• Once established, water every second or third day.
• Water shady areas less frequently than areas in the full sun.

Useful publications:

Weed Control in Home Lawns (PDF, 100KB)
Deer Resistant Plants in NJ (PDF, 100KB)