Sprinklers...ON or OFF right NOW?

We're in a transitional season, from the dry to the wet, but a high pressure ridge has kept the rain away, high temperature records for November are being broken this week, and it looks like there's no precipitation in our immediate future.

"Shorts weather" in November?
Yep. And a t-shirt and sandals even. And don't forget the shades....how's a Thanksgiving picnic at the beach sound?

Does it mean we're at the beginning of a new drought?
I don't know yet. We'll have to wait and see. Droughts are a part of the natural cycle where we live.

So, should I be watering?
Even though it feels like September in the middle of the day, we have fewer hours of daylight, a lower sun angle, and cooler nighttime temperatures. In other words, plants' water needs are still lower than mid Summer or early Fall. The best thing to do is check the soil. You'll probably find that it's damp and cool.

Remember that when we water we are replacing water lost to evapotranspiration, called ET for short. ET is a measure of the combined effects of wind, temperature, humidity, day length and local factors such as the shade pattern of a tree or building on the landscape at different times of the year. Farmers have benefited from the collection of ET data for years.

Landscape ET calculations and the adjustments one makes to irrigation scheduling are not as simple because the formula includes something called the "crop coefficient", which basically refers to the water needs of a particular species of plant.

A lot of agriculture is monoculture, or one kind of crop over a large planted area. Most landscapes are a mix of lots of plants. It makes a big difference.

So, what kind of watering do you recommend?
Well, as I mentioned a few days ago, I still water once per week through the Winter, unless we have several days of rain in a row. I'd water less time for areas with a northern or eastern exposure, and more on the south and west sides. I'd also make sure that plants under eaves or other obstructions to rain falling, and plants in containers made of materials that dry faster (like terra cotta or wood) get sufficient amounts of water.

And as far as the difference between sprinklers vs. drip irrigation goes, I like them both, depending on the situation.

And maybe do a rain dance.

And check out this Rainbird page on water conservation tips, just in case this really is the start of a drought.