1. Roberta Tolan Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Larimer County

2. Make Small Changes for Big Water Savings 10 Tips

3. #1 Evaluate Your Expectations

4. Expectation? High expectation = High water use Low expectation = Low water use

5. #2 Change irrigation controller for the season

6. Cool season turf* April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Per week 0.50” .75” 1.25” 1.50” 1.38” .88” 0.38” *Figures from Colorado Springs Utilities. Typical Turfgrass Water Requirements in Inches of Water per Week

7. Base irrigation scheduling on July water requirements Cool season turf* April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Per week 0.50” .75” 1.25” 1.50” 1.38” .88” 0.38” % July 33% 50% 83% 100% 92% 59% 25% *Figures from Colorado Springs Utilities.

8. Get to Know Your Irrigation Controller

9. #3 Determine Precipitation Rate for Each Zone

10. Calculate Precipitation Rate Step 1 -- Place 6 identical, straight sided, flat bottom cans randomly between sprinklers in zone. Do not use short cans like tuna, water may splash out.

11. Calculate Precipitation Rate Step 2 -- Run sprinklers exactly 10 minutes

12. Calculate Precipitation Rate Step 3 -- Pour all the water into one can Step 4 -- Measure depth of water in can This is the precipitation rate in inches per hour

13. Calculate Precipitation Rate Note: If the amount of water in some containers is significantly more or less than others, it indicates that the system is poorly designed or heads are malfunctioning.

14. Converting Inches to Minutes Formula Water to apply (inches) Run time = ------------------------------- X 60 minutes/hour PR (inches/hours)

15. Converting Inches to Minutes Formula Water to apply (inches) Run time = ------------------------------- X 60 minutes/hour PR (inches/hours) 0.5 inches Run time = -------------------------------- X 60 minutes/hour 1 1/2 inches/hour

16. Converting Inches to Minutes Formula Water to apply (inches) Run time = ------------------------------- X 60 minutes/hour PR (inches/hours) 0.5 inches Run time = -------------------------------- X 60 minutes/hour 1 1/2 inches/hour = 20 minutes

18. Converting Inches to Minutes Zone PR Amount Run Time 1 1 1/2”/hr 0.5” 2 2”/hr 1.2” 3 1/2”/hr 1.0” Adjust run times to match water needs of each zone 20 min 36 min 120 min

21. #4 Try Applying Water at 80% of ET

22. #5 Turn Off Sprinklers in Rainy Weather

24. #6 Soak & Cycle Slopes & Compacted Areas

25. Most compacted/clayey soils can’t absorb water as quickly as sprinklers apply it. Typical Front Range clayey soils = 1/4” per hour. If applying more than 1/4 inch: Use multiple short runs an hour apart Soak and Cycle?

26. #7 Hand Water Dry Spots

27. #8 Maintain With Good Horticultural Practices

29. #9 Let the Plants Tell You When to Water

30. Turf Leaves gray/ blue to brown and wilted.

32. #10 Mulch, Mulch, Mulch

34. Mulching to Reduce Evaporation Mulch Soil Amendment Applied on surface Mixed into soil