There’s a more efficient way to water that prevents water waste and is better for the health of your lawn. Cycle and soak is a method of irrigation where water is applied in multiple, short cycles. This allows the water to be applied more slowly, allowed to soak into the soil and prevent run off, promoting deeper roots and healthier plants. 

To program your controller for Cycle and Soak, simply take the total time for each zone and divide it into multiple cycles. For example, instead of watering a single zone for 15 minutes, set your sprinklers to water three times at 5 minutes. As a general rule, 30 minutes is all you need to wait between cycles. 

Cycle and soak not only eliminates runoff, it provides more water to the roots. The first cycle will break the surface tension of the soil and allow the water to penetrate. The second cycle is absorbed even further into the soil, reaching the roots. The third cycle allows additional absorption, filling the root zone, and promoting a healthier landscape. For sloped areas, additional cycles may be beneficial.

Need help determining the total time to water? Check out the Run-Time Calculator.