Moving into a newly built home is very exciting, but it can come with a list of unexpected expenses. Use these tips to keep irrigation costs off that list:
- If your sod still is being established, be sure that your irrigation schedule conforms with current water use restrictions for new landscape establishment.
- Consider adhering to the 30-day sod establishment irrigation schedule suggested by the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Using that schedule can reduce your water use (and water expense) significantly without sacrificing your lawn.
- Check to be sure that your contractor installed a working rain sensor (or other rain sensing device) with your new irrigation system. This will ensure that you are able to take advantage of rainfall to help you irrigate your new lawn. Note to self: It is required by state law and local ordinance.
- Once your new lawn is established, use the UF/IFAS seasonal watering schedule to maintain a healthy lawn.
- Become familiar with the operation and maintenance of your irrigation controller. An error or oversight when adjusting the settings can result in unplanned water use and unexpected expense.
- Use our online irrigation calculator to estimate the amount of water used (and the approximate cost) when you irrigate. NOTE: When using the online irrigation calculator, if, after using your control box settings to complete the calculations, your system uses significantly more water than estimated, you may have extra settings on your controller causing additional irrigation events or you may have leakage in your system.