How often?

If your landscape has adequate soil, it's best to water deeply once a week -- it allows roots to grow deeper in search of water, and builds a stronger lawn. If you have thinner, rocky soil, water for a shorter period of time twice a week. Remember to water only on your assigned watering days.

How much?

ET Watering Index: Evapotranspiration (ET) measures the amount of water your lawn loses to heat, evaporation and plant respiration. The ET Index Amount is all the water you need to replace to keep your lawn in balance. Austin's Daily ET numbers are provided courtesy of AccuWater from a weather station in central-west Austin; you can personalize them using information from your own rain gauge.

Too detailed? Just remember that even in the hottest summer months, your lawn needs no more than 1" of water weekly. Don't forget to take rainfall into account -- subtract the amount of rain you've received from the one-inch guideline.

How long?

How long you need to water depends on the type of irrigation method you're using, since each has different flow rates and distribution patterns. An easy way to tell? Set a few tuna or cat food cans on your lawn before you water. When they're full (or half-full, if you're watering twice a week), stop watering.

When?

Only when your lawn really needs it. You'll know when you can see a light footprint after walking across your grass.

From May 1 through September 30 each year, our watering schedule is mandatory for single-family customers, and outdoor watering is not allowed between 10:00 am and 7:00 pm except with a hand-held hose or watering can. (Customers may not use automatic irrigation systems between 10:00 am and 7:00 pm at any time of the year.)