Properly programming your irrigation controller and making regular adjustments to the schedule helps ensure you are watering your garden as efficiently as possible.
The Weekly Watering Schedule provides a recommended irrigation schedule each week, based on irrigation equipment, plant type, and weather conditions. It is not a forecast and may need adjusting due to hot or cold weather, and other factors. The schedule is updated every Friday during the irrigation season.
You can also subscribe to receive the Weekly Watering Schedule in your email inbox during the irrigation season.
How To Use The Weekly Watering Schedule
To use the Weekly Watering Schedule, just follow the instructions for one of the two options below. More detailed information is provided in the Weekly Watering Schedule User Guide.
Option 1
Ideal for irrigation controllers with a “Seasonal Adjust,” “Watering Percentage” or “% Adjust” feature.
- Program controller for June/July. For suggested June/July schedule, consult Page 3 of our User Guide.
- Use the Watering Index to adjust your controller each week.
Note: Your controller will automatically increase or decrease all zone run times based on the index percentage.
Watering index: 78%
Option 2
Use the schedules published below to adjust your controller throughout the irrigation season.
- Select either Inland/Upland Zones or Coastal Zones below for the city/climate zone where you’re located.
- For each area in your garden, decide what type of plants are being irrigated (whether they are low water-use, medium water or high), then select your irrigation type (drip, microspray, etc).
Notes: The run times provided are for individual irrigation zones, as each zone or area in your garden may have different requirements. Additionally, weekly run times are often split into multiple, shorter run times to help reduce runoff — allow 30 to 60 minutes between run times to allow water to soak into the soil.
Your Climate Zone:
Zones 15 & 16 – Inland, Upland: Fairfax, inland areas of San Rafael, Terra Linda, Lucas Valley, Novato, Mill Valley, Inverness, Point Reyes Station, San Anselmo, Lagunitas, Ross, Kentfield, Larkspur
| Low Water-Use Plants |  |
 |
 |
| Irrigation Type | Drip Emitters | Inline Drip | Micro Spray |
| Run Times (minutes) | 16 | 12 | 8 |
| Cycles (or Start Times) Per Day | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Days Per Week | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Weekly Runtime (minutes) Run Time x Cycles x Days/week | 48 | 24 | 16 |
| Moderate Water-Use Plants | |
|
|
| Irrigation Type | Drip Emitters | Inline Drip | Micro Spray |
| Run Times (minutes) | 20 | 10 | 7 |
| Cycles (or Start Times) Per Day | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Days Per Week | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Weekly Runtime (minutes) Run Time x Cycles x Days/week | 80 | 40 | 28 |
| High Water-Use Plants (Lawn) |  |
 |
 |
| Irrigation Type | Muti-stream | Rotor | Fixed Spray |
| Run Times (minutes) | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| Cycles (or Start Times) Per Day | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Days Per Week | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Weekly Runtime (minutes) Run Time x Cycles x Days/week | 120 | 78 | 56 |
All photos courtesy of Hunter Industries Incorporated
Zone 17 – Coast: Sausalito, Tiburon, Belvedere, Tomales, Bolinas, Corte Madera, eastern San Rafael, Novato
| Low Water-Use Plants | |
|
|
| Irrigation Type | Drip Emitters | Inline Drip | Micro Spray |
| Run Times (minutes) | 16 | 8 | 6 |
| Cycles (or Start Times) Per Day | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Days Per Week | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Weekly Runtime (minutes) Run Time x Cycles x Days/week | 32 | 16 | 12 |
| Moderate Water-Use Plants | |
|
|
| Irrigation Type | Drip Emitters | Inline Drip | Micro Spray |
| Run Times (minutes) | 14 | 14 | 5 |
| Cycles (or Start Times) Per Day | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Days Per Week | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Weekly Runtime (minutes) Run Time x Cycles x Days/week | 56 | 28 | 20 |
| High Water-Use Plants (Lawn) | |
|
|
| Irrigation Type | Muti-stream | Rotor | Fixed Spray |
| Run Times (minutes) | 14 | 14 | 6 |
| Cycles (or Start Times) Per Day | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Days Per Week | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Weekly Runtime (minutes) Run Time x Cycles x Days/week | 84 | 56 | 36 |
All photos courtesy of Hunter Industries Incorporated
Additional Resources
- Looking for even more detail? Download the Weekly Watering Schedule User Guide.
- Review the various Climate Zones in Marin with this detailed Sunset Climate Zone map.
- For water supply, reservoir levels, and rainfall data, visit the Water Watch page.