Watering turf grass on a steep slope can present some unique challenges. Slopes naturally lead to higher runoff (and other forms of water waste) and more uneven watering compared to flat areas. Read on for tips on how to minimize these issues:

 

Use Cycle and Soak

If you don’t already, be sure to use a Cycle and Soak watering method, where your sprinkler system waters in intervals for 3 cycles (water, rest, water, rest, water, rest). This will allow the water to soak into the ground instead of running off to the bottom of the slope.

 

Install Pressure Regulating Heads

For every foot of elevation drop, water pressure increases by about 0.433 pounds per square inch (PSI). So, the heads at the top of your zone will likely have a slightly lower pressure than the heads at the bottom. To help your system compensate for these pressure differences, you can install pressure regulating heads.

 

Install Heads with Check Valves

After your zone turns off, if you don’t have check valves on the heads at the bottom of your slope, you’ll notice that water will leak out of them for several minutes. Heads with check valves will keep water in your pipes, rather than running down the street.

 

Install High-Efficiency Rotary Nozzles

If you have pop-up sprinklers with spray nozzles, consider swapping them out for high-efficiency (HE) rotary nozzles. HE nozzles have a lower precipitation rate, meaning they emit water at a slower rate. They also produce larger water droplets and they spin, which helps deliver water more evenly on a slope.