Irrigation Tips: Saving Water While Keeping Grass Green

The Challenge: Green Grass Without Wasting Water

Central Florida homeowners face a unique irrigation challenge. Our hot, humid climate demands regular watering, but water restrictions, rising utility costs, and environmental concerns make efficiency essential.

The good news? You can have a beautiful, green lawn while using significantly less water. Here's how.

Understanding Your Lawn's Water Needs

Before optimizing irrigation, understand what your grass actually needs:

How Much Water?

Most Florida lawns need 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water per application. This is less than many people think! The key is deep, infrequent watering rather than frequent shallow watering.

How to Measure

Place several empty tuna cans around your lawn, run your irrigation, and measure how long it takes to fill them to 1/2 inch. This tells you exactly how long to run each zone.

Signs of Overwatering

• Fungus and disease
• Spongy, soggy areas
• Mushrooms growing in lawn
• Yellowing grass despite water
• Pest problems (mosquitoes love standing water)

Signs of Underwatering

• Grass blades folding in half lengthwise
• Footprints remaining visible after walking on lawn
• Blue-gray color instead of green
• Wilting in the afternoon

The Best Time to Water in Florida

Water between 4 AM and 6 AM. Here's why:

Why Early Morning?

• Reduced evaporation: Cooler temperatures mean more water reaches roots
• Dry by nightfall: Grass blades dry quickly, preventing fungal disease
• Lower wind: Less water lost to wind drift
• Better pressure: Utility water pressure is typically highest early morning

Why Not Evening?

Watering at night keeps grass wet for hours, creating perfect conditions for fungal diseases like brown patch and dollar spot. This is one of the most common mistakes we see in Central Florida lawns.

Why Not Midday?

You can lose 30-50% of water to evaporation when watering during the heat of the day. It's literally money evaporating into the air.

Smart Watering Schedule

Summer (June - September)

• Water 2-3 times per week
• Adjust based on rainfall
• Skip watering after significant rain

Spring/Fall

• Water 1-2 times per week
• Monitor grass for stress signals
• Reduce as temperatures cool

Winter

• Water once per week or less
• Many lawns need minimal irrigation
• Watch for dry periods without rain

Technology That Saves Water

Rain Sensors

Required by Florida law and incredibly effective. A simple rain sensor can reduce water usage by 15-30% by preventing irrigation after rainfall.

Check yours: Many rain sensors stop working due to debris or age. Test by holding a hose over it while the system runs—irrigation should stop.

Smart Controllers

Modern "smart" irrigation controllers can:

• Adjust watering based on weather forecasts
• Account for soil type and sun exposure
• Allow remote control via smartphone
• Track water usage over time

Investment: $150-400 for the controller, but can pay for itself in water savings within a year.

Drip Irrigation for Beds

Flower beds and shrubs don't need sprinkler coverage. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots, reducing waste by up to 50% compared to spray heads.

Zone-by-Zone Optimization

Not all areas of your lawn need the same amount of water:

Sunny Areas

• Need more frequent irrigation
• May require longer run times
• Consider drought-tolerant landscaping for hotspots

Shaded Areas

• Need less water (less evaporation)
• Often have different grass varieties
• Watch for overwatering (common mistake)

Slopes

• Water runs off before soaking in
• Use cycle-soak method (short cycles with breaks)
• Consider drip irrigation or different landscaping

Near Buildings

• Often overspray onto hardscape
• Adjust heads to eliminate waste
• Foundation areas may need less water

Common Irrigation Problems We See

Problem 1: Sprinkler Heads Watering Sidewalks

Fix: Adjust spray patterns or install different heads. You're paying for water that does nothing.

Problem 2: Mismatched Heads

Fix: Ensure all heads in a zone spray similar amounts. Mixing rotors and spray heads causes uneven coverage.

Problem 3: Broken or Clogged Heads

Fix: Inspect monthly. One clogged head can create a brown spot; one broken head wastes hundreds of gallons.

Problem 4: Running During/After Rain

Fix: Install or repair rain sensor. This is free money—literally.

Problem 5: Watering Too Long

Fix: Use the tuna can test and time your zones. Many systems run twice as long as needed.

Water Restriction Awareness

Central Florida has water restrictions that vary by county and drought conditions:

Typical Restrictions

• Watering limited to 2 days per week
• Specific days based on address (odd/even)
• No watering 10 AM - 4 PM
• Additional restrictions during droughts

Penalties

Violations can result in fines from $50 to $500 or more. Check with your local water management district for current rules.

Calculating Your Savings

Let's do some math:

Average household irrigation:

• Uses 20,000-30,000 gallons per month in summer
• At current rates: $40-80/month just for lawn irrigation

With optimization:

• Reduce usage by 25-40%
• Save $10-30 per month
• Annual savings: $120-360

Plus, you reduce the risk of lawn diseases caused by overwatering!

When to Call an Irrigation Professional

Consider professional help if:

• Water bill suddenly increases
• Brown spots despite regular watering
• Obvious breaks or flooding
• System more than 10 years old
• Uneven coverage across lawn

Our Irrigation Services

At Proverbs Landscape, we offer:

• Irrigation system inspections
• Repair and adjustment
• Smart controller installation
• System optimization for efficiency

Start Saving Water Today

Efficient irrigation isn't complicated—it just requires attention and the right setup. Start with the basics: water early morning, check your rain sensor, and use the tuna can test to calibrate your system.

Questions about your irrigation system? We're happy to take a look.

Call (904) 749-9658 or request a free estimate.