Hydrozones

An important component of water-efficient landscaping is creating hydrozones for your irrigation needs. To provide adequate water to all plants without over or under-watering some, group plants with similar irrigation needs in one zone. Once your plants are grouped into zero, low, medium and high water groups, you should plan your irrigation schedule to apply the appropriate amount of water to each zone.

You can learn a great deal about plant-water requirements simply by observation. Signs, such as wilting, will let you know when many landscape plants require watering, but be careful not to overdo it. Plant roots need just as much air as water and you don’t want to drown them. If you are using an automatic irrigation timer, be sure to adjust it seasonally as the weather changes.

A great deal of water is wasted when automatic irrigation systems are continually programmed for the hottest part of the summer without adjusting for times when temperatures are cooler and more natural precipitation is occurring. Another important aspect of irrigation planning includes routine maintenance of the system.

Monthly examination of the irrigation system, while in use, will help you to find and repair any broken, misaligned, or clogged sprinkler heads and keep your system running efficiently.

Drip Irrigation

Drip Irrigation systems consists of plastic pipes with emitters that deliver water directly to plants. These types of systems are great for water-efficient landscapes as water goes directly to the plants roots and is not wasted on areas that do not need to be watered.

Drip irrigation can be used to water shrubs, trees, perennials, annuals and even vegetable gardens and potted plants.

Benefits of drip systems include:

• Minimizes disease by minimizing water contact with plant parts
• Avoids watering soil in between plants, thus reducing water use and weed growth
• Saves time, money, and water due to higher efficiency
• Increases effectiveness on uneven ground
• Reduces leaching of water and nutrients below root zone
• Maintains a desirable balance of air and water in the soil
• Provides a more even soil moisture than the often wet-to-dry fluctuations of sprinklers

Irrigating Trees and Shrubs

Trees and shrubs have much deeper and more extensive root systems than turfgrass so they should be watered less frequently but for longer periods of time.

The optimum time to water is just before you can observe any water stress. Therefore, it is important to determine sub-surface soil moisture. Soil moisture can be determined using a soil moisture probe.

Trees or shrubs should be watered to a depth of 18-20 inches. The amount of water to apply in any situation depends on the soil type. Sandy soils absorb water the fastest (about 2" per hour), followed by loam soils (3/4" per hour). Clay soils have the slowest absorption rate (1/2"per hour).

By allowing water to penetrate deeper into the soil profile, you are encouraging deeper rooting and a more drought tolerant plant. Frequent, light irrigation will lead to plants that have a shallow root system and that are more prone to water stress. When using sprinkler systems about 1/2 -1 inch of water may be required weekly for shrubs and smaller trees (<4" trunk diameter).

For drip irrigation about 5-50 gallons of water may be required. These amounts would be higher in southern Utah and lower in northern Utah and would also depend on plant size. Large trees (>4" trunk diameter), depending on the size of the tree, may require hundreds of gallons of water per week.

Water newly planted trees and shrubs more frequently until the root system is established. Also, mulch and control weeds and grasses around the trunk of trees and shrubs to reduce competition for water and nutrients.

Maintaining an Irrigation System

Irrigation system maintenance is necessary to ensure the most efficient use of water that is being applied.  Irrigation controllers should be checked at the beginning of each growing season before running sprinklers for the first time.

• Programming: Set-up an irrigation schedule. The following basic irrigation schedule is recommended for use in Utah. Consult USU county extension offices for irrigation schedules that are directly applicable to your county.
• Inspect Sprinkler System: Once the irrigation schedule is programmed, inspect the sprinkler system by checking the valves,sprinkler heads, and emitters. Before running the system, remove the last sprinkler head in each line and let the water run for a few minutes to flush out any dirt and debris. Replace the sprinkler head and turn the system on, running one valve at a time.
• Inspect Drip System: As with sprinkler systems, flush the drip system before running it by removing the emitters and letting water run through the tubing for a few minutes to flush out any dirt and debris. Replace emitters and run the system, one valve at a time, to check for problems.
• Winterization: Basic winterization of a sprinkler system is quite simple. The water supply should be turned off at the main valve and the irrigation controller should be set to the “rain” or “off” setting. Each valve should be turned on to release pressure in the pipes and water should be drained from the system to protect any components that could freeze. Your system may have drain valves that can be opened for drainage, or you may have to blow out the system using air. You may wish to have your irrigation system blown out by an irrigation professional.
• Check Your System: Check your water system at the start of the season to adjust any heads and make sure there was no damage over the winter.  The Water Check program offers free irrigation checks in many Utah counties.  To find out more, or to find out how to check your system yourself, go to the CWEL Water Check page.

Irrigation Resources

Extension Fact Sheets

CWEL Books

Links

• eXtension: Landscape Irrigation for Water Conservation
• Irrigation Tutorials
• Water Check Program