The frustration with irrigation, and rain

[BG1977]

I know this isn’t just a problem in Maryland, but it’s so damn hard to know when I should or shouldn’t water. We had half an inch of rain yesterday. Five days before that we had an inch and a half. Yesterday, the forecast was for 3 inches of rain next week. The models have now shifted south and show maybe 0.1 inches at best.

But I feel like if I do water, we will get a deluge. And if I don’t, we won’t get a drop.

Like, I find it amusing how people have sprinkler systems that cancel a watering if rain is in the “forecast,” which to me is pretty meaningless.

Yes, if there’s an 80% chance of rain, and you have a 33 second shower, (I can’t tell you how many times that has happened here ), technically the forecast was “right”. However, it’s not enough water.

[CA_Poppy]

I wish I had your problem. Our rain here is done for the season (Mediterranean climate). I don’t expect any more rain until Oct/Nov timeframe. Now I have the $150 a month water bills to look forward to until then. Most of that water use is irrigation, not household use. And it’s not like I’m watering a farm; I just have a normal suburban lot.

[RichardRoundTree]

For me it will only rain if i actually water, its just how it goes.

Hunter and rainbird both have external moisture sensors to override your irrigation systems based upon what your lot gets. The hunter one is cork and you can adjust it to accept more or less water based upon how your soil dries out. For me it took a while to get attuned cuz it just doesn’t rain enough here. However it made me feel better that i would waste less water, I have never set my irrigation system on auto and instead control it manually cuz i am a freak and am trying to get my trees to live with as little supplementation as possible. This year i am kind of throwing that out and watering more so i could make things automated.

@CA_Poppy Thankfully the greywater movement is gaining traction in the usa and usually you can do a quick conversion for kitchen sinks / dishwashers to go outside easily. A lot of the work for a greywater system you can do yourself, leave your work open for inspection and then pay a plumber to connect and call it good. The real goal is to hook it into your shower system as that is where i use most of my water but is a larger job.

[galinas]

My husband always says: If you need rain, wash your car and go for a walk without umbrella. This way the chances of rain increase dramatically

[GardenGekko]

Hi There - are you talking about trees or garden? What rootstocks are your trees on?

For the first two years of my apple trees - which are on mm111 or b18, I irrigated routinely and had a timer set up. Now I think they’re big enough to fend for themselves unless the situation is dire so I have pulled out the irrigation lines and repurposed them.

For my garden I am very deliberate about irrigation.

I generally go by the trailing rainfall and ignore the forecast. If it’s irrigation day and we haven’t gotten target rainfall in the past however many days, I generally irrigate. Too many times the forecast has been completely wrong. We are basically in a drought here now, with only about an inch of rain since April. According to the forecasts over that time, the rivers should’ve been in flood stage…

[BG1977]

Mostly referring to the veggies. For fruit trees I typically only find I have to water them fairly regularly the first season. Other than that I’ve only done it if there’s been a notable drought.

[Chikn]

The first golf course superintendent I worked for told me the super who waited for rain was looking for a job. I water until it rains!!

[TrilobaTracker]

It’s crazy here in middle TN. We got about 0.4” over the last 2 Weeks or more.
I’m watering a lot for this time of the year

[fruitnut]

Hasn’t rained here in months and I love it. No weeds and I’m expecting high brix nectarines to start ripening this month. I’ve been watering about an inch a week in 90-95F heat and low humidity.

Nobody who depends on rain gets it when they want it…nobody.

[BG1977]

We get 41” per year on average. ON PAPER, it looks great - 3 - 4” every month.

Reality is usually 0.52” one month and 7.92 the next…averages are only averages.

[fruitnut]

Reality is usually 0.52” one month and 7.92 the next

You water when the soil gets dry. You don’t when it rains. It’s the same here. Many months with nothing and others with 4 to 6 inches. After a rain I delay the next irrigation. Is it really that difficult?

[TrilobaTracker]

My issue is I’m trying to get trees established.
I guess I’m growing high brix leaves