Landscaping Tips
Lawn watering uses nearly half of the water around most homes. Most of us tend to water too often and leave the sprinklers on too long.
The steps outlined below will help you determine how long to leave your sprinklers on if you water three times a week. Proper lawn watering can save a lot of water - and that saves you money!
The Watering Calculator
The Watering Calculator is intended to be used with zip codes for urban Southern California. It was developed by the city of San Diego and is a tool that estimates the correct amount of water to give your landscape or garden every week.
It has been designed to give you a schedule for the maximum amount of water which your plants may need each week of the year. For example, in January, your plants may need to be watered for a total of six minutes per week. Come July, they may need 24 minutes per week. The calculator has been simplified by using average numbers for weather, plants, and soils within the urban Southern California area, and should be used as a guide only.
To access the Watering Calculator, click on www.bewaterwise.com/calculator.html
Standard Watering Guide
The following information was developed with the help of a certified landscape contractor and is for general use within the Yorba Linda and surrounding areas. Individual properties may require individual schedules.
YLWD encourages the use of consultations with certified landscape contractors to determine your individual needs. Visit www.clca.org for more information on drought recommendations, including tips on how to maintain “green” while watering fewer days per week.
- Cool Season Grass Watering Schedule
- Ex. Fescue
- 6 min/cycle
- 2 cycles
- 20 minutes soak time (minimum) between cycles
- 3 days/week in Summer; 2 days/week in Winter
- Warm Season Grass Watering Schedule
- Ex. Bermuda
- 5 min/cycle
- 2 cycles
- 20 minutes soak time (minimum) between cycles
- 3 days/week in Summer; 2 days/week in Winter
- Shrubs/Groundcover Watering Schedule
- 4 min/cycle
- 3 cycles
- 20 minutes soak time (minimum) between cycles
- 2 days/week in Summer; 1 day/week in Winter
- Trees Watering Schedule
- 3 min/cycle
- 4 cycles
- 20 minutes soak time (minimum) between cycles
- 2 days/week in Summer; 1 day/week in Winter
*** Aerate the lawn in Autumn and Spring, filling the holes with compost so the water can infiltrate deeper.
*** Drought-tolerant plants will need less time per cycle, but the same number of cycles.
Landscaping Tips
Get to know how plants signal for water. Grass tends to lie flat after being stepped on if moisture is low. Some plants lose their gloss and start to droop a little before wilting. The time to water is when the plants need it. - Adjust sprinklers to avoid watering the sidewalk or driveway.
- Train your plants to develop deep roots by watering thoroughly but infrequently. Deeper roots will enable plants to utilize moisture deep in the ground, making them healthier and stronger.
- Shrubs and trees need only half the water your lawn needs. Drought tolerant species need even less.
We also have a variety of booklets and informational packets available to help you conserve water all around your home.
Please contact Cindy Botts at cbotts@ylwd.com or (714) 701-3024 for more information