Your landscape needs a lot less water in September than it did in the summertime. About 35 percent less on average. The days may still be warm, but shorter days and cooler nights in the months of September, October and November means less evaporation, which means less irrigation is required. Adjust your irrigation controller following the Fall Season Watering Recommendations to save water and money this Fall.
Ramping down your landscape irrigation does not mean you need to stop watering all together. If you have a lawn, cut back to two days per week. Cut back to two to four days a month for trees. Fall is when trees, shrubs and other perennial plants get busy growing their roots, and proper watering supports this activity. After spending the summer putting energy into growing leaves, flowers and fruit producing plants take advantage of the fall season by anchoring their root system to the earth. It’s important to fortify root systems during the Fall so they have a stronger trunk and stem during the winter season.
Fall season is also a great time to put in new plants, for the same reason – they spend their time growing their root system instead of leaves and flowers. But new plants need more frequent watering to help them get established. Keep in mind that new plants need at least a month to anchor in the ground before the first freeze, so don’t plant too late in the season to avoid damage.
And remember it is not necessary to irrigate when it rains, or on days following a good rain event (or about a 1/2″ of rain). Using nature as your source of water encourages a desert friendly landscape.
Want to know how much your landscape really needs? Call 505-289-3003 to schedule a free, efficient irrigation consultation with a Water Authority expert.