Your irrigation system is the key to creating a healthy, water-efficient landscape. Find your assigned watering schedule and use the tips in this section to ensure you know how to water and when.

Are you overwatering your plants?
Drip irrigation systems deliver water more slowly and efficiently, and they should run longer but less frequently than sprinkler systems. The length of each watering should be determined by the emitter flow rate, soil type, and weather conditions.
It's easy to accidentally overwater your plants on drip systems! Browse our drip tips to determine the correct run times for your landscape.

12-minute sprinkler watering
Our parched desert soil makes it tough for water to soak in very deep. That's why we suggest three, 4-minute watering cycles.
The type of grass you have will determine how much water your lawn requires. Adding or removing one minute from a 4-minute sprinkler cycle, for example, will change the amount of water you use by 25 percent, which can have an impact on your water bill.

Trade in your old controller
Replace your old irrigation controller with a smart clock!
Smart irrigation clocks automatically adjust your watering according to the weather and many provide convenient access via mobile applications.
Investing in a smart irrigation controller is now easier than ever, thanks to our rebate, which offers 50 percent off the purchase price or up to $100, whichever is less.
Get more tips on how to set your irrigation controller.
Maintaining new landscapes
New plants need extra attention and watering as they take root in your yard. Mandatory watering restrictions allow for the extra watering of new plants for the first 14 days and hand-watering is allowed anytime.
During the first eight weeks, establish low-water-use and desert-adapted plants by following these watering suggestions.
- Weeks 1 & 2: Water every 1–2 days in summer, every 3–4 days in fall, winter and spring
- Weeks 3 & 4: Water every 3–4 days in summer, every 6–7 days in fall, winter and spring
- Weeks 5 & 6: Water every 4–6 days in summer, every 7–10 days in fall, winter and spring
- Weeks 7 & 8: Water every 7 days in summer, every 10–14 days in fall, winter and spring
- After week 8: Check plants for proper drainage and signs of stress and water based on need. Water new plants if the first two inches of soil is dry and check drip emitter placement.
Landscape tips
In summer, protect your heat-stressed landscape with these smart, efficient watering tips.
- Mandatory summer watering restrictions: From May 1 through Aug. 31, mandatory watering restrictions prohibit landscape irrigation between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Watering is allowed Monday through Saturday. Watering on Sundays is always prohibited. Find your watering group.
- Drip watering: Drip irrigated landscapes need far less water than grass. You may only need to water plants and desert landscapes every other day in summer. The length of watering depends upon the type of drip emitter. Learn more about drip irrigation.
- Ramp up summer watering gradually: The impulse to crank up landscape watering is strong when temperatures get hotter, but grass, trees and plants don't need as much water as you might think. In May, while nights are still cool, gradually increase your sprinkler watering from three days to four. From there, keep an eye on your landscape and increase watering only as needed into June, July and August.
- Water before sunrise: Water in early morning hours before sunrise to minimize the amount of water lost to evaporation and daytime winds.
- Run sprinklers for 12 minutes: We recommend watering lawns three times a day for four minutes during each watering.
- Save water on rainy days: Turn your irrigation clock off on rainy days or replace it with a smart irrigation clock to do the work for you.
- Brown spots: Most brown spots are caused by faults in the sprinkler system. Mixed types of sprinkler heads, blocked spray patterns, improper spacing and the system's pressure can all affect your lawn. Check your irrigation system to ensure it is providing "head to head" coverage, and hand-water brown spots until the issue can be resolved.
- Leaf scorching and burning: Leaves usually are stressed because of improper watering or improper fertilization. Since both over watering and under watering can damage plant leaves, the best solution is to water deeply and infrequently. This allows oxygen in the soil, washes salts away and encourages deep rooting. Make sure you have the right fertilizer both for your specific plants and for the time of year. Some fertilizers release much faster in hot weather, increasing the potential for damage.
🌳Tree maintenance
Tree care during conversion
Existing, mature trees are a valuable and attractive part of any landscape. Unfortunately, a tree's root system can be disturbed during a landscape conversion or other construction project. Roots left behind lose the temperature buffer and water source provided by the lawn and the sprinkler system, which leads to drying and additional root loss.
Follow these tips to ensure trees are protected:
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Convert during the cool season, if possible
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Identify and protect major roots
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Use weed killer and a de-thatcher to remove grass around trees
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Establish a protective barrier around the tree to avoid damage
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Avoid trenching under the canopy
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Use a drip system to supply water under the canopy and out to the drip line
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If a weed barrier is needed, use landscape fabric
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Install mulch correctly
Caring for trees after turf removal
As you transition from a water-intensive grass lawn to desert landscaping through our Water Smart Landscapes Rebate, there are crucial steps you need to take to protect precious trees.
Haven't applied for the rebate yet?
SPEAKING FOR THE TREES: Star Nursery experts share tree tips for landscape upgrades
Episode 36 - March 6, 2023
Trees are an important part of our community and urban environment, especially as we face a hotter, drier future in Southern Nevada.
To protect our water supply, many residents and business owners are replacing water-thirsty grass with water-smart landscapes, but the upgrade process can put trees in jeopardy.
On this episode of the Water Smarts podcast, Star Nursery experts Dr. Q and Joey Lynn Watt talk about how to shield trees during a landscape conversion and best practices to keep the trees thriving after completing the upgrade.