Best Time of the Day to Water

[Fred R]

In the last year I'll bet I have received 40 suggestions on this subject. I have been advised not to set my system at early daylight since the sun will burn up the wet grass. I've been advised not to set it in late evening since it will possibly cause diseases to the grass. I have been advised not to water in the early evening or during the day.

Question to those of you that wish to respond...What time is your system set at and WHY?

[laceylady]

Sumter County Extension Office agent Jim Davis says between 2am and 7 am. Zoysia green fertilization co. Says after 10 pm. Both times have worked well for me over the past four years. However, you will have to turn your Sprinklers on in the daytime two or three times a year just to walk around and check for geysers and to be sure all the heads are covering the entire area they are mean t to cover.

[DonH57]

Sumter County Extension Office agent Jim Davis says between 2am and 7 am. Zoysia green fertilization co. Says after 10 pm. Both times have worked well for me over the past four years. However, you will have to turn your Sprinklers on in the daytime two or three times a year just to walk around and check for geysers and to be sure all the heads are covering the entire area they are mean t to cover.

Ours are set around 4:30 am. I've done walk arounds to make sure all sprinklers are spraying properly, not leaking, and I'm not watering my neighbors yard or the street.

[Chi-Town]

Massey sets mine around 2:00 a.m.

[kittygilchrist]

Sumter County Extension Office agent Jim Davis says between 2am and 7 am. Zoysia green fertilization co. Says after 10 pm. Both times have worked well for me over the past four years. However, you will have to turn your Sprinklers on in the daytime two or three times a year just to walk around and check for geysers and to be sure all the heads are covering the entire area they are mean t to cover.

Trust Jim Davis! He relies solely on research from UF which is a huuuuuge institution providing extension in every county.

The reason to water in a.m. Rather than p.m. is that plants absorb water in daytime. That means if watered at night, the roots are soaked but not benefitting.

The reason to not water in daytime, it gets mighty hot and windy, evaporating your precious agua.

[Bay Kid]

2 am twice a week.

[villagetinker]

Also, Sumter County has an irrigation schedule (at least for homes south of 466a, not sure about houses North of 466a). This tells you what days and times you can water your lawn and gardens. All times are at night, and prior to 7 am, no daytime watering.

Here is the link to the watering schedules (hope it works)
CDD 1-11 Irrigation Schedule | Water Wisdom (http://www.thevillageswaterwisdom.com/cdd-1-10-irrigation-schedule/)

[bagboy]

4am. That suggestion comes from co-workers who were golf course superintendents and irrigation techs, a neighbor of my son-in-law who installed residential irrigation systems for decades, and my son-in-law who does that type of work and besides he knows everything ��
The time has worked out well for centipede in SC and zoysia here I FL.

[NotGolfer]

during the night....that said, even when we lived up north we never watered during the daytime hours as it's a waste for one thing, the yard doesn't benefit much for another as it evaporates rather than giving the soil the much-needed "drink".

[wdonze]

Check to see when your neighbors on each side are watering and choose days to water different than both of them; otherwise, you may end up with a swamp between the houses.

[rexxfan]

Also, Sumter County has an irrigation schedule (at least for homes south of 466a, not sure about houses North of 466a). This tells you what days and times you can water your lawn and gardens. All times are at night, and prior to 7 am, no daytime watering.

Here is the link to the watering schedules (hope it works)
CDD 1-11 Irrigation Schedule | Water Wisdom (http://www.thevillageswaterwisdom.com/cdd-1-10-irrigation-schedule/)

I believe 4PM is the earliest time. That's what said schedule specifies for our lot in Winifred. Tuesdays and Fridays at 4PM. So that's what I set it to.
--
Bob C

[KittyKat]

I wouldn't do that, Rex. It's still daytime & hot. When we moved in to our new house in 2007 our programmer was already set for Wed night/Thurs morning at 2:30. Every house on the street had a day to water based on their address. After reading the Univ of Fl extension news online, I changed to 4:30am for awhile then compromised at 3:30. I don't know why they came out with this new watering schedule but it goes against all the literature.

[jimbo2012]

4-4:30, I was told that time gives the water time to get into roots before the sun evaporates it.

Golf courses, may do it earlier so it's not dripping wet when they start playing.


I also run drips 4 times a day for 5 min, 3 times a week on all our palms.

they are growing fast along with Lesco fertilizer.

[Topspinmo]

I water at 4:47:26 AM. I feel that is the exact time that my plants wants water. Yep! They told me so!:D

[jimbo2012]

Did they tell you to adjust for daylite saving also? :1rotfl:

[JoMar]

2 AM, now twice a week

[rexxfan]

I wouldn't do that, Rex. It's still daytime & hot. When we moved in to our new house in 2007 our programmer was already set for Wed night/Thurs morning at 2:30. Every house on the street had a day to water based on their address. After reading the Univ of Fl extension news online, I changed to 4:30am for awhile then compromised at 3:30. I don't know why they came out with this new watering schedule but it goes against all the literature.
I know nothing about watering schedules. I'm generally a follow-the-rules sort of person and so, if the official schedule says to do it then, that's when I do it.
--
Bob C

[Allegiance]

In Lake County odd numbered house have two days to water I forget the days let's say Wednesday and Saturday, even houses say Tuesday and Friday. I assume the water pressure would be higher other days? What is the penalty for watering on an off day?

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[jimbo2012]

The sprinkler police don't get up that early

[billethkid]

related question.

Summer length of watering times?

[jimbo2012]

there is percentage setting, 100% or more in summer

set 50% winter etc

[big guy]

Trust Jim Davis! He relies solely on research from UF which is a huuuuuge institution providing extension in every county.

The reason to water in a.m. Rather than p.m. is that plants absorb water in daytime. That means if watered at night, the roots are soaked but not benefitting.

The reason to not water in daytime, it gets mighty hot and windy, evaporating your precious agua.

Jim Davis' info is University of Florida research based!