The Complete Guide to Watering Your Lawn, Landscape & Irrigation System

Keeping your landscape healthy in North Texas isn’t just about watering more—it’s about watering correctly. Every irrigation system is different, and watering schedules should be adjusted based on your sprinkler type, soil conditions, sun exposure, slope, and current weather.

At Peterson’s Landscaping, we’ve serviced irrigation systems throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for years. The recommendations below provide an excellent starting point for most residential irrigation systems.

Recommended Irrigation Run Times

Irrigation Component Recommended Run Time Why It Works
🌿 Spray Heads 20 Minutes2 Days Per Week Spray heads deliver a high volume of water quickly and generally require shorter watering cycles than rotor heads.
💧 Rotor Heads 40 Minutes Rotor heads rotate slowly while applying water at a lower precipitation rate, requiring longer run times for proper coverage.
🌱 MP Rotators 50 Minutes MP Rotators are extremely water-efficient but apply water very slowly, making longer watering cycles necessary.
🌼 Drip Irrigation 50 Minutes Drip irrigation applies water directly to the root zone, maximizing efficiency while minimizing evaporation.
🌳 Bubblers Plant Specific Run time varies depending on whether the bubbler is adjustable or fixed-flow, along with the size and water needs of the plant or tree.

Upgrade to a Smart Irrigation Controller

If your sprinkler controller is over 10–15 years old, you’re likely wasting water.

Modern smart irrigation controllers automatically adjust watering schedules based on current weather conditions and seasonal changes.

Benefits of Smart Controllers

✅ Automatically adjusts watering based on local weather

✅ Seasonal watering adjustments happen automatically

✅ Prevents costly overwatering

✅ Reduces water bills

✅ Operates from your smartphone

✅ Helps maintain healthier lawns and landscapes year-round

Peterson’s Landscaping Recommendation: Smart controllers typically pay for themselves through water savings while providing healthier landscapes with less effort.

General Plant Watering Guide

Check Your Plants Before 10:00 AM

Morning is the best time to determine if plants truly need water.

If a plant appears wilted before 10:00 AM:

  1. Apply a moderate amount of water.

  2. Wait and observe the plant.

  3. If it perks up, you’ve confirmed it needed moisture.

  4. Wait until it begins showing early morning stress again before watering.

Avoid watering simply because a calendar says it’s time.

Don’t Judge Plants During the Heat of the Day

Many North Texas plants naturally droop during the hottest afternoon temperatures.

This temporary wilting is often a natural defense mechanism—not necessarily a sign that the plant needs water.

Always evaluate plants in the early morning before increasing irrigation.

Check the Soil Before Watering

One of the easiest ways to avoid overwatering is to simply check the soil.

If the soil is:

  • ✅ Moist a few inches below the surface → Wait before watering.

  • 🌵 Dry several inches deep → It’s probably time to irrigate.

Want Even Better Accuracy?

A soil moisture meter is an inexpensive tool that measures moisture levels around the root zone and helps eliminate the guesswork.

Peterson’s Landscaping Pro Tip

Water Deeply—Not Daily

Deep, infrequent watering encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil.

Benefits include:

  • Stronger root systems

  • Better drought tolerance

  • Healthier turfgrass

  • Improved plant performance during Texas summers

  • Reduced disease caused by excessive moisture

Shallow daily watering encourages weak roots and increases stress during extreme heat.

Why Proper Irrigation Matters in North Texas

North Texas experiences:

  • Extreme summer heat

  • High evaporation rates

  • Heavy clay soils

  • Water restrictions in many communities

Proper sprinkler programming can significantly improve your lawn’s health while reducing unnecessary water use.

Every property is unique. Your irrigation schedule should be adjusted throughout the year as temperatures and rainfall change.

Let Peterson’s Landscaping Optimize Your Irrigation System

Whether you need a simple sprinkler adjustment or a complete irrigation system upgrade, Peterson’s Landscaping can help.

Our Irrigation Services Include:

  • 💧 Irrigation system inspections

  • 🌿 Sprinkler repairs

  • 📱 Smart controller installation

  • ⚙️ Seasonal watering adjustments

  • 🌳 Drip irrigation installation

  • 🚿 Sprinkler head upgrades

  • 🔍 Leak detection

  • 📅 Water-saving irrigation programming

Serving North Texas

Peterson’s Landscaping proudly serves homeowners and businesses throughout:

  • Fort Worth

  • Keller

  • Southlake

  • Colleyville

  • Grapevine

  • North Richland Hills

  • Haltom City

  • Watauga

  • Saginaw

  • Azle

  • Aledo

  • Weatherford

  • Burleson

  • Benbrook

  • Arlington

  • Denton

  • And surrounding DFW communities.

Need Help With Your Irrigation System?

Contact Peterson’s Landscaping today for a professional irrigation inspection. We’ll help you optimize your watering schedule, conserve water, protect your investment, and keep your landscape looking its best throughout the year