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Change Your Irrigation Controller For The Seasons

If you live in the Las Vegas valley and want to know when to Change Your Irrigation Controller, keep reading.

Irrigation Solutions of Las Vegas is here to serve our community, and we want to help serve by providing information on how to keep your sprinkler system in compliance with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) watering schedule. By following their schedule, you can avoid paying unwanted and unnecessary fees or dealing with violations.

Where to Find Your Watering Schedule and Days to Water

Every zip code is assigned a watering group. To locate your watering schedule, you will need to know the letter of your watering group. This can be identified by going to the SNWA water schedule website and enter your home address and zip code or you can locate it on your monthly statement. If you are not in the Las Vegas area, for example Henderson, North Las Vegas or Boulder City, it will direct you to those respective sites, but for those residents in the city of Las Vegas or county, enter your home address and zip code and click “Submit”. The next page will display the following info:

Your water group (This is indicated by a letter between A-F)
Your approved scheduled days (Monday – Saturday). Watering on Sundays is NOT allowed for anyone, anywhere, anytime of the year in the Las Vegas Valley area.
Current schedule for either your sprinkler or drip irrigation system
View more details – Includes information on your sprinkler vs drip system, including flow rates and length of times they should be running

Know the Dates To Change Your Schedule

In Las Vegas, the seasons can blend into each other and it may be difficult to know when to change your sprinkler or irrigation system based on the temperature. Below is a quick list of the start dates to change your controller for the seasons. Also, you can set these dates in your calendar as a reminder to change your controller accordingly.

Summer – May 1st through August 31st (No watering between 11a.m and 7p.m.)
Spring – March 1st through April 30th (Water for 3 days of the week only)
Winter – November 1st through February 28th (Water for 1 day of the week only)
Fall – September 1st through October 31st (Water for 3 days of the week only)

Sprinkler watering on Sundays is prohibited.

Shower Your Plants

If you think your plants and trees, especially young trees, lose their leaf elasticity or seem less happy, check your irrigation system. You can do it by running a manual test for each irrigation zone to make sure they get enough water. Additionally, you can also give them a quick shower after the sun goes down. To do that, use a garden hose with an adjustable head. Set the head to the shower setting and run water over the plants and young trees. Make them feel like it is raining on them. You will notice, even in the morning, that they start looking better and seem to be reinvigorated.

Cover your pipes and hose spigots

Pipes should be buried in the ground. However, if you have any exposed irrigation pipes and hose spi, irrigation lines, you should make sure they are covered and protected against freezing. Once they freeze, the water inside expands and makes them crack. When thawed, they will start leaking and will have to be replaced. Insulation options for pipes are available to buy. However, if you cannot get them, cover them with blankets and that will add a layer of protection to prevent the pipes and lines from freezing.

Check Your Watering Clock

September 1 to October 31

It is that time of the year again to check your watering clock. Every Fall the Southern Nevada Water Authority tells us to reduce the number of watering days from 6 to 3 per week. Reducing watering days in the Fall helps with the water preservation. "It's a desert out there!" The water resources are limited and we have to use them responsibly.

Changing the irrigation timers

It should be easy to change the irrigation timer. However, the many options on the dial or the electronic screen can make it confusing. You may have to read the manual every time you need to change the timer settings. And changing the watering clock must be done 4 times a year in Las Vegas.

We can set the irrigation timers for you. Call us.

Heat and Watering

Heat and watering plants are common subjects during summer days in Las Vegas.

The SNWA restricts the outdoor water irrigation to 6 days a week, 7PM to 11AM during the summer months. The irrigation watering is prohibited on Sundays.

What should I do if I have plants that require a wet soil to survive?

You can set the irrigation clock to water twice a day in the evening, after 7pm, and morning, before 11am. If needed, you can also manually water sprinkle the soil during the day to keep it wet, without wasting water.

Desert landscapes are an excellent option in Las Vegas. Plants and green elements can be added to your desert landscape. There are many plants that thrive in the desert with just little watering every day. You can have the irrigation system installed to provide the right amount of water to each plant without wasting water on rocks.

Keeping your lawn green

Hot weather kills beautiful green grass unless it is hydrated properly. The mandatory watering restrictions imposed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority allows sprinkler watering in the summer (May to August) any day of the week, except Sunday, and according to watering group schedule. Additionally, no watering is permitted between 11AM and 7AM during summer. The watering days are posted on water bills or they can be found on the SNWA website. That being said, it is also important not to waste water while running the sprinklers. So, adjusting sprinklers is important, as well as it is important what type of irrigation system is installed in the yard.

Be sure to properly care for your outdoor oasis by developing and maintaining a watering and irrigation system that will protect your yard even during the hot days of summer.

Materials needed for a drip irrigation system

Drip irrigation is an efficient watering system that works by applying water slowly and directly to the plant and soil. Drip irrigation works great on desert landscapes in Las Vegas. The water is directed to each plant, in controllable amounts, without spraying rocks and other landscaping elements that don't need watering.

In order for drip irrigation to be implemented, specific materials are required, including garden hose, drip irrigation tubing, micro bubblers, back-flow valve, tees & wyes, elbows.

Do I Need A Licensed Contractor?

Do you need to hire a licensed contractor for the irrigation work you need to have done? The Nevada State Contractors Board requires that contractors must have landscape licenses in the state of Nevada, if a job is $1,000 or more or if the job requires a building permit.

Irrigation or drainage systems installation and service require that the work be performed by a licensed contractor.

You can verify if the service provider is licensed and in good standing on the Nevada State Contractors Board website. Additional information related to landscaping contractors can also be found on the NSCB website at: https://www.nscb.nv.gov/landscaping_guide.html

Cover Your Pipes

Weather started cooling and, every year, we have few days of freezing temperatures that could do a lot of damage to your exposed pipes and outside faucets. Don't wait, take action now then you don't have to worry about freezing irrigation lines or hose bibs. You can use blankets or different insulation materials, or for few bucks, you can buy the pipe insulation and Standard or Hard Faucet Covers from Home Depot. Don't forget about your backflow preventer. If it is located in your front yard, throwing a blanket over it may not look too good... So you could place a Resin Landscape Rock on top, available at the home improvement stores.

How To Maintain A Healthy Lawn

Core aeration, spike and liquid aeration are the most common methods used on lawns nowadays. The first one, core aeration, is the most famous ones, being used for heavily compacted earth.

For treatments, spike aeration method is used as it guarantees an optimal absorption. Finally, the best method to cover the entire lawn, liquid aeration method is most common.

Aeration is one of the most important processes you must take into consideration when looking for lawn improvement as it guarantees the health of your lawn.

See below a checklist of how to maintain your lawn healthy:

Sow new seed over diminished regions, or pick other ground covers for predicaments.
Water your grass profoundly to advance the development of deep roots. Apply about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) of water, just when required (generally close to one time per week). Spot a little pet food or fish can on the yard to help you measure how much water has been applied. Quit watering when the can is full. An excess of water keeps the dirt from oxygen and welcomes infection.
Check your grass frequently to distinguish bothers and different issues early.
Aerate compacted soil, preferably in the fall. This aides water, air, and supplements arrive at plant roots all the more without any problem.
Feed your yard with fertilizer. Let grass clippings stay on your yard to give nutrients
Replace grass with clearing stones or mulch in hefty rush hour gridlock regions.

Where to Find Your Watering Schedule and Days to Water

Know the Dates To Change Your Schedule

Sprinkler watering on Sundays is prohibited.

Scorching Hot Sun

Raining in Las Vegas

Additional care for your plants

For all your irrigation needs

Call us

Freezing

How to cover hose bibbs?

How to cover exposed pipes and hose spigots?

Is it expensive to fix frozen pipes and hose spigots, outside faucets?

For all your irrigation needs

Call us

Mandatory watering schedule

September 1 to October 31

Changing the irrigation timers

Irrigation Systems

We install and maintain them

How many times should I water plants when the temperatures are 100(+)F?

Irrigation Systems

We install and maintain them

Maintain a correct irrigation system that will protect your yard

What is drip irrigation?

Garden hose ________

Drip irrigation tubing

Micro Bubblers

Back-Flow Valve

Tees and Wyes

Elbows ________

Irrigation Systems Installation and Repair

Call 702.370.2828

I need irrigation work. Who should I hire?

CALL US

If you need help, we can help

Don't wait for the freezing temperatures

CALL US

If you need help, we can help