Utah urges residents to cut lawn watering amid worsening drought

SALT LAKE CITY — With Gov. Spencer Cox’s emergency declaration addressing Utah’s worsening drought conditions, Utahns are encouraged to do their part to conserve water at home.

Currently, 100% of the state is experiencing severe drought, and 22 of Utah’s 29 counties are in extreme drought. Utah residents are being asked to reduce lawn watering by 25%.

On the KSL Greenhouse Show, host Taun Beddes assured listeners that lawns can remain green even with 25% less watering if irrigation is managed properly. He recommends watering about twice per week, using approximately 15 minutes for pop-up sprinklers and 45 minutes for rotary sprinklers as baseline starting points.

Because soil types vary, homeowners may need to adjust these run times to ensure moisture penetrates about six inches deep. You can tell how deep the water got into the soil using a long screwdriver or similar tool. It will push in easily to the point where the water stops soaking into the soil.

For clay soils, Beddes recommends splitting watering into two shorter cycles, split by a few hours. This allows water to soak into the soil rather than running off into the street. Watering at or before sunrise can also significantly reduce water loss from evaporation.

For even greater accuracy, homeowners can perform a simple water check to determine where sprinkler adjustments are needed and how much water each sprinkler emits. Information on conducting a DIY water check is available through Utah State University Extension. 

In some communities, including Salt Lake City and several surrounding areas, residents may qualify for a professional water check. To see whether your area qualifies, visit the link. 

Besides checking your sprinkling system, the timer is another important consideration. Older “dumb” controllers are often not adjusted regularly, leading to unnecessary water waste as seasonal conditions change.

However, newer “smart” irrigation controllers can help maintain healthy lawns while using less water.

These systems use real-time weather data and user inputs to apply only the water needed when used correctly.

Tree watering is also an important consideration during drought conditions. Established trees that are not planted in lawn areas should be watered to a depth of approximately 18 inches twice per month.

Keep in mind that newly planted trees require more frequent watering because their root systems are not yet fully developed. Depending on tree size and soil type, this may mean watering two to four times per week.

Trees are generally considered established after about three years in the ground and benefit from less frequent but deeper irrigation.

The Utah Division of Water Resources also offers a variety of helpful conservation resources. As part of the state emergency declaration, all public buildings must follow the UDWR Weekly Watering Guide, which is also an excellent resource for homeowners.

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Related: Caring for your lawn through drought conditions