We had a new sprinkler system installed a few weeks back. 8 zones with a variety of heads.

The original setting was made by the guys who installed it. It's set for every day starting at midnight. The length of watering by zone varies, but the spray heads (not rotating) run for 15 minutes or less on those zones. Drip zones and oscilating obviously run longer.

So, here's my question(s):

1. How often should I be watering in the north DFW area?
2. What time should I water? Midnight seems like it's a bit too early and leaves the grass wet for too long before the sun comes up.
3. Is there a way to test the moisture of the soil to determine whether I need to cut down my watering times, days?

My lawn is in a bit of a 'growth stage'. We've had some areas that were almost completely dirt that are now seeing the grass creep in. I can buy sod, but it's spreading pretty quick at this point, so I'll just leave it alone. Plus, the grass is growing into the trenched areas where the sprinkler system was put in.

Twice a week when it does not rain.

When there are no watering restrictions, my neighbor waters 4-7 times a week. I water 0-2 times a week, but usually only when the lawn starts showing signs of some stress. You could stand at the street and couldn't tell who waters their yard more.

Also, the good thing about my watering schedule is that I mow my yard a lot less than my neighbor.

I have bermuda.

Better check what watering stage your city is following. Here in Frisco, we are in stage 3, so you can only water 1 day a week (your trash day), and can only water between 9:00am and 10:am, and 6:00pm to midnight. Anything additional watering other than hand watering will get you a ticket and fine.

no more than twice a week is needed. Water longer so that you can get the water deep into the roots.

Put a cup out there and see how much water you get in 15 min. Probably not much.

Didn't Dallas go on permanent water restrictions?

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When there are no watering restrictions, my neighbor waters 4-7 times a week. I water 0-2 times a week, but usually only when the lawn starts showing signs of some stress. You could stand at the street and couldn't tell who waters their yard more.

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Boy this sounds awful familiar.

[This message has been edited by MasterAggie (edited 5/22/2012 8:32a).]

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Didn't Dallas go on permanent water restrictions?

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Depends on where in the DFW area the OP is. Lewisville is currently in Stage 1, which is strictly voluntary - we haven't had mandatory water restrictions in the 6 years we've been in our house.

In Allen we can only water 1x a week, and not between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. I recently had Andy's Sprinkler come out and "tune-up" my system and this is how he set it.

Monday morning it runs 3 cycles at 6 minutes per zone starting at 3:30 am. So, will go zone 1 - 10, then start over again, and do that 3 times. Ends before 10:00 sometime.

Monday evening starting at 8:30 pm, it does the whole 3 cycles at 6 min per zone thing again, ending before midnight.

You should only need to water your lawn about 2x per week. Watering for a longer period of time less frequently will get your roots to grow down deeper, making your lawn more drought tolerant in the long run. But don't just set your stations to run longer or you will most likely just have a lot of water run off into the street.

Do what chocolatelabs suggested and put a bunch of cups out in various spots of your yard and run the sprinkler so you know what rate you are watering at and adjust your station run times accordingly.

As far as what time of day to water. I always set my sprinklers to come on in the morning with enough time so that all of the stations have watered and the system is done by the time my wife and I have to walk outside to go to work. That way it's still cool in the morning so that you don't lose so much to evaporation and the grass and other plants don't sit with wet leaves during the night (less cases of disease).

as I said in the HI thread, watering early morning will prevent most fungal problems.

Once my lawn recovers from the sprinkler installation and grass as spread a bit more, I'll reduce the days and increase the time where applicable.