|
If you use larger, rotating sprinkler heads to water your
lawn, you usually have to run them about three times longer each
cycle than pop-up sprinklers to apply the same amount of water.
 |
 |
Rotating sprinklers need to run about three
times longer than pop-up sprinklers.
|
The Southern Nevada Water Authority
recommends watering grass using the cycle
and soak method. For example, instead of using the typical recommendation
of three cycles for four minutes each, you may need to run rotating
sprinklers for about 12 minutes during each cycle.
If your landscape's roots are shallow, you should put down about
a third of an inch of water with each watering. If your root system
is deeper, you can put down more water at one time and water less
frequently.
To find out how much water your sprinkler puts out, check with
the manufacturer. Many manufacturers have this information on the
internet, or you can check the Water Authority's handy links to
major
manufacturers.
The performance of sprinkler heads depends on many variables,
including the pressure and the design of the system. For a quick
test of your sprinkler system's output and efficiency, try the
"six-can test."
Testing your system
Most big rotors apply about one-half inch per hour. Follow these
steps to see how much water your sprinklers put out:
- Place six tin cans of equal size in various places on the lawn.
(Empty tuna or soup cans work well.)
- Run your system for 10 minutes.
- Combine the contents of all six cans into one.
- Insert a ruler and measure the water depth. The depth of the
water indicates the rainfall equivalent in inches per hour.
You should see a similar amount of water in each of the six cans
before you combine them. If some cans have more water than others,
it means your sprinkler system is not very efficient and may benefit
from adjustment or repair.
During the test, watch closely for runoff. Although it's alright
to have run-off when you are testing and adjusting a sprinkler system,
it could result in a water waste fine during normal operation. Make
a note of how long the system can run before run-off begins, then
set your cycle times to be several minutes shorter.
If you want additional technical information on sprinkler scheduling,
visit www.wateright.org.
|
