- Posted By: Tammy Majcherek
- Written by: Tammy Majcherek
You probably think this post is going to be about the leaves turning, or that you should plant spring flowering bulbs and native plant selections, but you would be wrong.
I want to remind everyone to adjust your irrigation controller, or turn it off altogether for the next few months. Think of the savings on your water bill!
The rain season officially started October 1st. Since that date, here at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, we have received approximately 1.25" of rain - this weekend alone we are expecting .75". You may not think that is very much, but mixed with the cooler temperatures, most plants will not need much more than that for the next week.
Check out BeWaterwise.com for a quick and easy program to adjust your irrigation schedule. Using their Water Calculator tool will allow you to customize a watering schedule to fit the needs of your landscape. Please remember that nothing is fail safe and you may need to adjust according to irregular weather or irrigation coverage.
In addition to adjusting your irrigation schedule, don't forget to repair or adjust the sprinklers themselves. No sense in going to all the trouble of reprogramming the clock if your spray heads are going every which way. Most often, you need nothing more than a screwdriver and a little brute strength to get things back in line.
Good luck, stay dry, and enjoy those savings!