Preventing Water Runoff on Sloped North Texas Lawns
You've heard our recommendation for running your sprinkler rotors for 35-45 minutes per watering—but if you have a steep slope or incline in your Midlothian or Prosper lawn, you might have to change that up a bit.
The Problem with Watering Slopes
After a certain amount of time on a steep incline, water stops soaking into the soil and simply runs off. This runoff:
- Wastes water and increases utility bills
- Provides little to no benefit for your lawn
- Leaves sloped turf under-watered and stressed
- Can cause erosion and drainage issues
- Creates dry, brown patches on inclines
The Cycle and Soak Solution
To fix this problem, you need to use a method called cycle and soak. This irrigation technique splits your watering cycle into multiple shorter sessions with breaks in between, allowing water to absorb into sloped soil instead of running off.
How to Program Cycle and Soak
For Moderate Slopes:Split your normal watering time into two cycles with a break in between.
Example: If your rotor zones normally run for 40 minutes, split that into:
- First cycle: 20 minutes
- Break: 1-2 hours
- Second cycle: 20 minutes
For Very Steep Inclines:You may need to split into three shorter cycles to prevent any runoff.
Example: A 45-minute zone becomes:
- First cycle: 15 minutes
- Break: 1 hour
- Second cycle: 15 minutes
- Break: 1 hour
- Third cycle: 15 minutes
Why Cycle and Soak Works
During the break between cycles, water has time to soak deep into the soil. When the next cycle starts, the ground can absorb more water instead of allowing it to run down the slope. This is the absolute best way to make sure your turf on steep inclines gets the deep watering it needs!
Programming Your Sprinkler System
Setting up cycle and soak can be a little tricky, but it can be done on most modern irrigation controllers:
- Identify sloped zones on your system
- Create multiple start times for these zones only
- Reduce run time for each start
- Space start times 1-2 hours apart
- Test and adjust based on runoff observations
Some smart controllers have built-in cycle and soak features that automate this process.
Signs Your Sloped Lawn Needs Cycle and Soak
- Water pooling at the bottom of slopes
- Dry, brown grass on inclines despite regular watering
- Visible water running down slopes during irrigation
- Erosion channels forming on hillsides
- Wet areas at the base while slopes remain dry
Professional Lawn Care for Challenging Properties
Sloped lawns in Midlothian and Prosper require special attention beyond just irrigation. At Vista Lawn and Pest, we provide customized fertilization and weed control programs that account for your property's unique challenges, including slopes, drainage, and sun exposure.
Don't let poor irrigation waste water and damage your sloped turf!
Watch the video below to see cycle and soak irrigation in action and learn how to program your system for optimal results on slopes.
For expert lawn care and irrigation advice in Midlothian and Prosper, contact Vista Lawn and Pest.
