How To: A Watering Guide For Southern Utah In Summer

As Southern Utah heats up going into May, watering needs are going to change a bit, especially for those looking to conserve water.  

May through August are the hottest months of the year in Southern Utah which means that your lawn, gardens, flowers etc., are THIRSTY. Basically, you’ll struggle between conserving water and keeping your plants alive, depending on what you care about and what plants you have.  

The Washington County Water Conservancy District recommends watering your grass, plants trees and shrubs four times a day May through August.  

Sprinklers in Washington County Summer 

If you have a sprinkler system, it's best to leave at least an hour in between cycles and to only have them run for 5-10 minutes. The overall recommendation for sprinkler cycles is three times per day.  

The benefit of a sprinkler system is that the water gets deep down to the roots and prevents runoff water, the Washington County Water Conservancy District said. 

Drip Irrigation in Washington County Summer 

Depending on the rate of your water flow, you’ll need different times to let the water get down to the roots. For higher flow emitters 20-40 minutes should be enough. For slower flow emitters, 30-90 minutes is recommended.  

To conserve water and make sure that it actually gets to your plants during the hot months, water either early in the morning or late at night. Also, make sure that your sprinkler/irrigation system is covering all the areas that you want it to. It can miss causing you to have brown patches if you aren’t keeping an eye out.