Irrigation Clock Tips

Learn how to set your irrigation clock.

Your irrigation system is the key to creating a healthy, water-efficient landscape. Use the tips in this section to know how to water and when.

Manage Your Clock

You should have an irrigation clock that has a program A, B and C. Using these programs correctly will save water and money.

Program A — Sprinkler Irrigation

For each assigned day of watering, water your lawn 3 times a day, 4 minutes each watering. Schedule start times at least one hour apart. See the cycle and soak page for more information.

Program B — High-water use plants on a drip system

Drip irrigation is usually needed less frequently than sprinkler irrigation. How much you water on your designated drip day(s) depends on the type of drip emitter you use, the types of plants you are watering and the condition of the soil. See the drip tips page for more information.

Program C — Water-efficient plants on a drip system

If your plants appear stressed, check the soil moisture. If the soil is wet, your plants may be overwatered. If the soil is dry, check that all emitters are working. Flush the drip irrigation lines and filters every time you change your irrigation schedule.

Set Your Clock

You should change your irrigation clock settings each season, both to comply with mandatory watering restrictions and for the health of your landscape.

How to set sprinklers (Program A):

Watering days - Find your "watering days" function and adjust it to ensure it is watering only on your assigned day(s) each season.
Start times - Find your "start times" function and adjust it so you run three sprinkler watering cycles, each about an hour apart. In warm weather, run cycles before sunrise.
Run time - Find your "run time" function and set it to four minutes per cycle.

How to set drip irrigation (Program B and C):

Watering days - Find your "watering days" function and adjust it to ensure it is watering only on your assigned day(s) for each season and no more than three days a week in the summer.
Start times - Find your "start times" function and adjust it so you run just one cycle in the early morning.
Run time - Find your "run time" function and set it to a single run time of 12 to 90 minutes, depending upon your drip emitter flow.