How long should you run your sprinklers in North Texas?

Most North Texas lawns need about one inch of water a week in summer, including rain, and much less in spring and fall. Most cities in our area limit you to two watering days a week, so the goal is two deep waterings.

Find your minutes: the tuna-can test

1. Set 4–6 empty tuna or cat-food cans around one zone.
2. Run that zone for 15 minutes.
3. Measure the water depth in each can and average it.
4. If you got 1/4 inch in 15 minutes, you need 30 minutes per watering to put down half an inch.

Spray heads and rotor heads put out very different amounts, so test each type of zone.

Cycle and soak (clay soil)

Clay can't absorb water as fast as sprinklers put it down, so long run times just run off into the street. Split each watering into two or three short cycles about an hour apart. Most controllers can do this automatically.

Timing

Water before sunrise. Most cities in our area restrict daytime watering in the warm months, and morning watering also cuts down on fungus. Check your city's current schedule, since rules tighten during drought.

Signs you're overwatering

Mushrooms, soggy spots, brown patch in spring and fall, and a high water bill with a lawn that still looks stressed (shallow roots).

Watering trouble often shows up first as thin, patchy grass. If your lawn needs resodding, see sod installation.

More guides

• A month-by-month lawn calendar for North Texas
• Bermuda, St. Augustine or zoysia: which grass for your North Texas yard
• Why your backyard holds water after every storm (and how to fix it)
• When is the best time to lay sod in North Texas?
• How much does sod installation cost in North Texas?
• What does a French drain cost? (And when you don't need one)
• Lawn mowing prices around Rhome and north Fort Worth
• Why is my St. Augustine turning yellow or brown?
• 20 tough plants for North Texas yards (that survive August)
• When to trim trees and shrubs in North Texas (and when not to)