How Long to Water

The sprinkler system is watering the soil, not the plants. Sprinkler run times should be based on an in-depth site analysis evaluating the soil type, the water infiltration rate, the soil depth, the slope of the landscape, and any other micro-climate factors that may impact soil moisture holding capacity. This information must then be coordinated with the precipitation rate (water application rate) of the irrigation to ensure the water absorbed into the soil while eliminating run off.

Consequences of Timer Based Watering

FACT

Typical Calgary timer settings of 1 Start Time and 15 minutes of run time for spray heads results in 6 to 8 minutes of effective watering with the rest completely running off the landscape.