Could Someone Give me Advice on Optimal Watering Schedule for Different Plant Types?

Archive
1

Hello there,

I have recently installed a Rachio irrigation system; and I am trying to fine tune my watering schedule to get the best results for my garden. I have a variety of plants; including grass; shrubs; flowers; and a few small fruit trees. I want to ensure each type of plant gets the right amount of water without over watering or under watering.

I have set up zones for the different areas; but I am unsure about the best approach to setting the watering duration and frequency for each plant type. For example; I know that grass typically needs more frequent watering; but I am not sure about how to adjust for my shrubs and trees; especially considering seasonal changes and local weather conditions.

For my flower beds; should I set the watering duration to be longer than grass; or does it depend on the specific types of flowers? How should I adjust watering for shrubs and trees in the winter months when they are not actively growing but still need water?

Also, I have gone through this post; https://community.rachio.com/t/much-confusion-on-how-rachio-calculates-watering-times-for-different-schedules-devops which definitely helped me out a lot.

Is there a best practice for setting up seasonal adjustments to prevent over watering during cooler months or dry spells? Lastly; how accurate is the weather intelligence feature in predicting water needs based on rain and evaporation rates in my area?

Thanks in advance for your help and assistance.

2

Browse this Community a bit more using its Search feature. Read the online (and in-app) help information about how Rachio works best for your situation(s). If you really want to let Rachio handle it all - water requirements, weather monitoring, smart scheduling, saving water - learn all you can about Flex-Daily scheduling. Take the time initially to accurately describe each zone, then turn the whole thing over to Rachio.

I can’t speak for your particular situation, but my experience is that grass takes far less water to thrive than you probably imagine. Professional grass growers water infrequently to harden their crop and drive the roots of the plants to significant depth over time - making it work to prevent heat and drought damage when natural irrigation is sketchy. Rachio is adept at understanding the whole soil profile and treats it like a reservoir to be maintained as needed in all seasons, without you having to intervene. As a bonus, you’ll spend considerably less on commercial water supply to support your irrigation. Good luck, and hang around here to get all your questions answered.

1 Like
3

Are you intending to just run fixed schedules, or are you wanting a true smart watering schedule like Flex Daily?

1 Like