Turn Off Irrigation During the Rain
Published: 01/15/2019
Rainy weather is upon us, which makes it a great time to turn off your irrigation system. Watering your plants is not necessary when nature is doing it for you. It’s also not necessary for at least two days after it rains, and often for much longer.
Determining how long to keep your timer off depends on the speed and amount of rainfall. It is recommended that you do not begin watering again until the top two inches of soil are dry. The screwdriver test is an easy and cost effective way to check if the soil is still moist. Take a screwdriver and stick it into a patch of soil. If it goes in all the way, there is enough water in the soil. If not, then it is time to water. You can also purchase moisture meters that can probe into the soil.
Below are a few more tips for rainy days
- Monitor your sprinklers with a Weather Based Irrigation Controller. These devices account for changing weather, soil conditions, and plant types. Rebates are available!
- Use a rain barrel to harvest rainwater from gutters for watering gardens and landscapes. Rebates are available!
- Timing is everything when it comes to irrigation. Learn how to set your controller properly.
- Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street.
