Watering Lawns
 

Being new The Villages I am not familiar with lawn watering. How often should I run our sprinkler system? Are there certain days that I am suppose to restrict watering to? About how long to water each time? Any advice appreciated.

Have you checked on the inside of your water control panel??........probably a sticker with recommendations. But...........better to water less three times per week than the recommended twice per week.

The rule is that you are supposed to water no more than two times per week, and only at times after dusk and before dawn. If you water for less than about 10 minutes per zone, it will probably be sufficient, but it may need to be adjusted as needed. You can monitor the amount of irrigation water used per month on your water bill. The amount of irrigation water used should be between about 2,000 and 5,000 gallons per month, depending on the size of your lawn. These are just estimates, based on my experience. I think a lot of people tend to overwater their lawn.

By the way, water bills are public information. So, you can view your neighbor's water bill by entering their address onto the utility website and compare their water usage to your usage.

On our sprinkler box in the garage has the days for watering. Typically it is 2 days a week, spaced 3 to 4 days apart. You are trying to get about an inch of water on the lawn each week. The length of time you water each zone should adjust throughout the year (at least in the newer areas). Watering more in summer and less in winter. This is a seasonal or solar adjustment. If you have a rain sensor then the system will turn off when it has recently rained.

I recommend finding a neighbor to assist you or calling a professional if you are unsure how to operate the system. There should be online manuals you can google for your system. If you are handy around the home you will have no issues. Look at the grass often, if it is nice and green the system is probably working fine, if brown areas it could be a problem with sprinkler heads.

If you are south of 44, I can assist if you like to check the system. Pretty easy and quick to do. I used to work on sprinkler systems just after high school.

The number of days changes with the season. It will depend on the water district you are in.
In general, in the summer, you probably want 2 days a week with about 3/4 of an inch to an inch of water each time for new lawns. You want the roots to grow down into the ground. In the rainy season (yes in the summer) I turn my system off unless the grass shows signs of stress. Saves a lot of water. I would not cut back on water on a new lawn.

If you see river of run off Water running down the storm drain you’re watering too much, plus you’re wasting water watering the storm drain. You may need adjust you’re sprinkler heads so you’re not watering the street, driveway or the neighbors house or yard?

2 x's a week (unless you have new plantings) try to program to water before 7am....watering earlier may cause fungus to develop....avoid watering in the heat of the day as it will evaporate rather than soak into the ground

I water as much as I want. When I first got my plants and palm trees went in I watered every other day. Our front yard faces the sun much of the day. So I water when I want I don’t want my stuff to die. We have cut it down now. But my plants and grass look great.

Use a hose and sprinkler, lot cheaper

It depends on rainfall. Just got water bill today and we used zero gallons this past month, due to LOTS of rain.

Wow, just Wow.

Advice is worth less than you pay for it, case in point. Not all of us reside in CYV or patio villas some stone or no stone so simply disregard a 2k to 5 k gallons per month recommendation. Some parameters need to be addressed first OP like what type of grass you have, size of lot, do you have the original sprinkler controller or a smart controller and any other relevant details.

I have developed a spreadsheet of several neighbors water usage, 23 I believe, I can tell you unequivocally I could not draw any conclusions except no one used as little as 5,000 gallons per month during the growing (non rain) season, no one.

Using your irrigation system is best - do not shut it off in the winter. 1 day a week- your lawn is a living plant

The Villages Water Wisdom Website
 

You'll likely find the link below helpful in answering your questions. It is the irrigation schedules, but go the main front page to see more info.

The Villages Water Wisdom.
https://www.thevillageswaterwisdom.c...tion-schedule/

We moved here June 15. (Just N of BV & 466) Ran the system 2 times the end of June. It's been off since then. If we get one good rain per week I keep it off. I'm sure your grass type will have something to do with your frequency. We used less than 3000 gals, in July & Aug. Same as when we lived in MN.
I checked the neighbors water bills before we moved to get an idea of what the water/sewer would cost. They use 8000-13000 gals/mo.

You made a spreadsheet of 23 of your neighbors water usage? :shocked

.

I love statistics. Very helpful thing to do for investments. I looked to water usage to determine occupancy rates for those who rented out their homes. I tried to replicate those who claimed they "always" had their home rented it turns out such claims were a stretch of the truth. I used owner occupied homes as a baseline for water usage.

The most interesting thing I researched in TV was how many paid off the bond and what sort of home they had.

Summer settings in March increase zone setting times & winter settings in December decrease zone setting times. Call Superior for sprinkler system; also termite, insect & lawn chemicals 352-751-3389.

This is me.
2 times aweek in winter, Oct. to April. 3 times aweek in summer with rain sensor on.
At 5 am. 30 minutes on front lawn and 15 for all else. On mormings when trash is not picked up.

If you live in districts 5 thru 13, this document tells you when to water:
http://www.thevillageswaterwisdom.co...trict-5-13.pdf

When you water is based on your lot number, so your water times will be different than your neighbors.

You may like statistics, but I love technology. I have a Flume water monitor on my meter. Minute by minute, I can tell you my water usage. I know that my biggest zone uses just over 11 gallons a minute, my smallest uses 6. With 5 zones, 20 minutes a zone, it comes out to right around 1583 gallons per watering cycle. I have a CYV. I only run it once a week. That's 6600/month. I installed a hunter wifi controller that won't water if it's going to rain or be cold, so it averages a less than that as usually one of the cycles will get cancelled.

I also know that when a contractor parked his truck off the street and broke a head off completely, I never knew about it and the massive water bill was a bit of a shocker. I moved that head, but the Flume would have let me know anyway.

Go districtgov.org and check irrigation schedules You need to know what district you live in If you live in district 3 watering days are Tuesday and Saturday

I was watering 30 minutes per zone for 3 zones. Last year, I cut it back to 5 minutes per zone and I didn't notice any difference in the lawn.

Water wisdom for the villages
 

Search the internet for this and there is a link to the recommended usages and watering days

And you get to pay the sewer fee on water that gets dumped on your lawn.

The sensor you mentioned doesn’t sense the water and stop the Sprinklers

I’ve driven through here and watch sprinkler heads running while it was pouring

It is alleged that there’s a sensor on the roof but was never shown to me

Water 2 times a week 10 min in each zone. There is no rainy season anymore you may have to add an additional day with high humidity and heat

Water bills are eye popping

Head output ranges are significant.

Ohiobuckeye
 

Yes, I agree!

You have to remember that the type of spray head you have will determine the amount of water distributed per minute. Thus the time used by one person may not be the time another should use.

Have you heard the saying that you know that you have given great advice when someone gives it back to you? I have had Flume for years, two units, and one stream labs (for hot h2o). Back when I first posted about Flume people on this forum were amazed, glad to see the product is gaining wider acceptance.

Water Wisdom information
 

CDD Home Address Watering Days Watering Hours

1 Even Addresses
(ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8) TUE/ FRI 12 am -10 am & 4 pm -12 am
Odd Addresses
(ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) MON/ THU 12 am -10 am & 4 pm -12 am

2 Even Addresses
(ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8) TUE/ FRI 12 am -10 am & 4 pm -12 am
Odd Addresses
(ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) MON/ THU 12 am -10 am & 4 pm -12 am

3 Even Addresses
(ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8) TUE/ SAT 12 am -10 am & 4 pm -12 am
Odd Addresses
(ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) WED/ SUN 12 am -10 am & 4 pm -12 am

4 Even Addresses
(ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8) THU/ SUN 12 am -10 am & 4 pm -12 am
Odd Addresses
(ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) WED/ SAT 12 am -10 am & 4 pm -12 am

5-13 If you live in districts 5 thru 13, this document tells you when to water:
http://www.thevillageswaterwisdom.co...trict-5-13.pdf
WHEN you water is based on YOUR LOT #, so your water times will be different from your neighbors.

Did you do statistics on how much run off goes down the storm drain?

I think you’re best advice will come from a landscape professional or sod company. After reading some of the answers here, I believe you should listen to an expert before you waste too much water or just as bad, to wait until the lawn is stressed, and try to nurse it to recover. A lot depends on your grass type, the frequency of mowings and other variables such as direct sun, part or full shade, etc. I think you get the picture, talk to several professionals and you will know what to do to have a great looking lawn. Good luck.

Well considering that I have a controller that looks at weather predictions, what has occured what the temp was, humidity was, added to the soil type, type of lawn (shrubs or grass) to determine the evaporation rate I am in pretty good shape. The controller can even water some now, some in a few hours to avoid run off. I certainly do not blindly follow some webpage from the source that profits by promoting consumption of water.

The purpose of looking at water consumption by me was not even irrigation usage, as I have said I wanted potable water data. Irrigation usage was just another column.

I can tell you this, without a doubt, everyone thinks they are an expert. It is unfortunate that when new ideas are posted here they are often ridiculed, it is sad.

I work, no time for that and I don’t find the amount I pay a lot. And it gets water better that is why we have sprinkler system.

I think you’re best advice will come from a landscape professional or sod company. After reading some of the answers here, I believe you should listen to an expert before you waste too much water or just as bad, to wait until the lawn is stressed, and try to nurse it to recover. A lot depends on your grass type, the frequency of mowings and other variables such as direct sun, part or full shade, etc. I think you get the picture, talk to several professionals and you will know what to do to have a great looking lawn. Good luck.

When we moved into our pre-owned home 5 months ago the prior owner settings on the Hunter unit was generating 30,000 gallons a month for well established landscaping.

Superior established - set - and controlled the Hunter unit (with owners consent) remotely.

If u have a full contract with superior then u have irrigation assistance at no additional charge. If the technician comes to ur home for service - $75 an hour plus parts.

The house is 12 years old and sits on a half acre lot - regardless...7,500 gallons a week was absolute insanity.

Disagree if u want but Superior is inferior - based on my experience.

This is my first irrigation system. I spent the last 5 months learning the system - tracking zone paths - adding new zones - uncovering long since grown over and buried heads - replacing heads and mastering the Hunter software program.

I use programs that run the system automatically. But I real time monitor usage almost every day (a stroll around the yard) checking leaf curl, wilting and browning. Then adjust accordingly.

I’m now down to 18,000 a month - much of which is attributed to new plantings.

It can be a lot of work to fine tune an established 12 year old irrigation system - or a lot of money paid out to others.

I chose the work path cause I have buy-in to a long term benefit. To many service folks it’s just an hourly buy-in that they want to extend for as long as possible.

Lawn watering
 

You want to put about a inch a week as far as runtimes there is a lot of difference depending on the head you have in you yard. If you are south of the turnpike MP rotators are used they have a precipitation rate of 0.4 in/hour which means it will need to run 2.5 hours. 150 minutes divided by the number of days you want to water will give you the run time per day. Spray heads have a a lot higher precipitation rate and will only need to run for 12-15 minutes.