Summer is peak irrigation season in California, making July\u2019s Smart Irrigation Month the perfect time to ensure your landscape is getting the water it needs\u00a0without wasting a drop.\u00a0Keep reading to learn the\u00a0small adjustments\u00a0you can make\u00a0to your irrigation system and watering habits\u00a0that\u00a0can help plants\u00a0stay\u00a0healthy while improving water efficiency.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Inspect Your Irrigation System Regularly<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A well-maintained irrigation system<\/u><\/a>\u00a0is one of the easiest ways to save water. During the irrigation season, inspect your system at least once a month for broken sprinkler heads, leaks, clogged emitters, or overspray onto sidewalks and driveways. Watch your plants for signs of stress, too. Wilting can\u00a0indicate\u00a0underwatering, while yellowing leaves, consistently damp soil, algae, or mushrooms may signal overwatering.\u00a0Monitoring your irrigation system regularly helps catch problems early and\u00a0can prevent water waste.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Water During Cooler Hours<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Watering during the cooler parts of the day helps more water reach plant roots instead of evaporating into the air. Early morning is\u00a0generally the\u00a0best time to irrigate because temperatures are lower and winds are usually calmer. Midday watering can lose a significant amount of water to evaporation, while morning watering helps improve efficiency and reduces the chance of water being\u00a0wasted.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Upgrade to Drip Irrigation<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you can, switch from sprinklers to drip irrigation. Drip systems deliver water slowly and directly to plant roots, reducing evaporation, runoff, and overspray.\u00a0Drip systems\u00a0work\u00a0well for shrubs, trees, planting beds, containers, and heavily mulched landscapes. According to the\u00a0U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)<\/u><\/a>,\u00a0micro irrigation\u00a0systems\u00a0like\u00a0drip irrigation can use 20%\u00a0to\u00a050% less water than conventional sprinklers while providing water exactly where plants need it most. Many easy-to-install drip kits and sprinkler-to-drip conversion kits are available at garden centers and hardware stores.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let Smart Technology Do the Work<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Smart irrigation controllers take the guesswork out of watering. Unlike traditional timers that\u00a0operate\u00a0on fixed schedules, weather-based and soil-moisture-based controllers automatically adjust irrigation\u00a0depending\u00a0on local weather conditions or actual soil moisture levels. EPA\u00a0Water Sense-labeled controllers help prevent unnecessary watering and can significantly reduce outdoor water waste while keeping landscapes healthy.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Match Watering to Plant Needs<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not all plants\u00a0require\u00a0the same amount of water. Newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials need more frequent watering while their root systems become established.\u00a0Once\u00a0established, most plants should be watered less often but more deeply so the water reaches farther into the soil, encouraging deeper, stronger root systems.\u00a0Mature trees\u00a0thrive\u00a0with deep watering intervals rather than frequent shallow watering. Adjust your schedule based on weather, soil type, plant species, and signs of plant stress.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Practice Hydro-Zoning<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grouping plants with similar water needs together,\u00a0known as\u00a0\u2018hydrozoning\u2019,\u00a0helps\u00a0prevent both overwatering and underwatering.\u00a0Drought-tolerant plants<\/u><\/a>\u00a0should share irrigation zones with other low-water-use plants, while thirstier plants should be watered separately. Trees\u00a0generally perform\u00a0best\u00a0in\u00a0their own irrigation zones rather than sharing a line with lawns or groundcover, which often require more frequent watering.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mulch for Maximum Efficiency<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mulch is one of the simplest tools for conserving moisture. A layer of mulch helps reduce evaporation, moderates\u00a0soil temperatures, suppresses\u00a0weeds, and keeps\u00a0roots cooler during\u00a0hot summer\u00a0weather. By helping soil\u00a0retain\u00a0moisture longer, mulch can reduce how often your landscape needs watering.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This Smart Irrigation Month, take a few minutes to inspect, adjust, and improve your irrigation practices. Watering smarter, instead of more,\u00a0helps\u00a0maintain\u00a0a beautiful landscape while supporting California\u2019s long-term water resilience.\u00a0For more information,\u00a0read\u00a0our article on\u00a0Why\u00a0Mulch\u00a0Matters<\/u><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n