How Often Should Sprinklers Run in a Georgia Summer?

The most common irrigation mistake we see is running every zone for a few minutes every day. Shallow, daily watering keeps roots near the surface, where they cook in August. Lawns do better with deeper, less frequent watering, about an inch of water per week from rain and sprinklers combined, split into two or three sessions.

Timing matters as much as volume. Georgia's statewide watering rules allow landscape irrigation between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., and the best window inside that is early morning. Water applied at dawn soaks in before the heat, and leaves dry off quickly, which keeps fungus down.

Turf and beds should never share a zone. Shrubs and perennials need far less water than Bermuda in full sun, and drip lines in the beds put water at the roots instead of on the foliage.

Once a month, walk the property while the system runs. Look for heads that are tilted, clogged or spraying the driveway, and for dry arcs where coverage overlaps poorly. A controller with a rain sensor will skip cycles after a storm, which saves water and prevents the soggy patches that invite disease.

If your system was installed years ago and has never been adjusted, or the lawn has dry spots no matter how long it runs, we can audit the coverage and reprogram the controller for your property. Call 678-735-1270 to schedule it.