The amount of water your plants need and when it is needed changes with the weather, length of day, and root depth. Regularly adjust the watering schedule of your automatic irrigation system (unless you have a smart timer) to maintain healthy, beautiful plants and avoid wasting water.
In the Pacific Northwest the watering season usually lasts from April to September. Check this page weekly for advice on programing your sprinkler timer for the upcoming week.
This week’s watering advice
Updated: Friday, June 13, 2025
Conditions: It’s been hot! However, the soil may still be wet under the surface, especially plants with deep roots like perennials, shrubs, and trees.
Watering Recommendation:
- Established high water use plants: If the soil is dry beneath the surface, water ½ inch once this week.
- Established deep-rooted plants with deep mulch over the soil: There is no need to water this week.
If you prefer to have a green lawn instead of a dormant lawn, consider “mulch mowing.” Mulch mowing entails leaving grass clippings on the lawn instead of capturing them in the bag. This practice improves the soil quality as the clippings quickly decompose, adding organic matter and nutrients to the soil. To mulch mow, set your mower at the highest setting and let the grass clippings stay on the lawn (don’t cut more than 1/3 of the length of the grass at a time). Healthy soil creates a healthy lawn, which requires less frequent watering.
Are you ready to replace your old sprinkler timer with a new weather-based sprinkler timer? Weather-based timers can reduce your landscape water use by up to 25%. You may be eligible for up to a $100 rebate! Learn more about the program and eligibility requirements.
Do you need professional assistance? Check out this short list of local certified landscape professionals!
Choosing the right run time for your system
Each watering should apply a ½ inch of water. The application rate of a sprinkler system depends on the water pressure, system design, and system efficiency. Below are some general ranges of typical run times based on the precipitation rate of your sprinkler heads:
| Head Type | Nozzle Description | Run Time* for a ½ inch | If Using Cycles** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Spray Head | Sprays like a fan | 15-23 minutes | 3 cycles of 5-8 minutes |
 | Rotor Head | Single spray that rotates | 30-75 minutes | 3 cycles of 10-25 minutes |
 | MSMT Head | Multiple single sprays that rotate | 50-75 minutes | 3 cycles of 17-25 minutes |
**Cycling Recommendation: To prevent runoff and ponding in areas with clay soils and/or slopes, divide the run times into three cycles to allow the ground to absorb the water. Additional cycles are created by utilizing more than one start time combined with shorter runtimes.
If you have drip irrigation, follow these guidelines that include how many minutes it takes to water ¼ of an inch:
Weekly watering advice straight to your inbox
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