Stay up-to-date on water usage and recommendations.
Ashland purchases a small proportion of our domestic water from the Medford Water Commission, so we get to take advantage of their services. One of the services the Commission provides is a weekly watering advisory report during the dry season.
Published every Monday during the irrigation season, the Water Efficiency Coordinator provides up-to-date recommendations on how much water to use in your landscape based on the temperature and precipitation forecast for the coming week. This useful tool can be found on the City of Ashland website — note that forecasting is only provided during the dry season when landscapes most need irrigating. Check periodically for updates.
This sample lawn watering schedule (pdf) from the City of Ashland describes weekly watering needs in inches as well as total watering time. (Run times are based on an average application rate of 1.5 inches per hour for standard spray heads, and 0.625 inches per hour for rotating sprinklers.) This guide is based on average trends in local weather and will vary year by year.
For more precise recommendations, the City of Ashland offers a week-by-week watering guide based on the weather forecast. (As of May 12, 2025, the guide hasn’t yet been updated for the new year. Thanks to continued wet weather, it’s not quite time to begin regular watering.)
You don’t want to deliver all that water at one time. Instead, divide the total watering time by the number of days you plan to water. Three times a week is a good schedule. If you start seeing runoff, that could mean you’re watering too long. If that’s the case, try breaking up the time further. For example, based on the watering recommendations, standard spray heads, you’d run the irrigation system for a total of 38 minutes, May 1-15. That breaks down to 13 minutes, three times per week. If you’re seeing runoff, try two cycles of six or seven minutes each.
Most lawns and landscapes can handle reduced watering times, but they will not be as lush. If you are just trying to keep your landscape alive this year, you can reduce the recommended watering time by up to 30-40%.
Additional tips for irrigating wisely
In the summer, Ashland’s average residential water use is approximately five times higher than in the winter, mainly due to landscape irrigation. Here are some tips on how to save water:
Provide only the water plants need. Automatic irrigation systems are a home’s biggest water user. To make sure you’re not overwatering, adjust your irrigation controller at least once a month to account for changes in the weather. Install a WaterSense-labeled irrigation controller, which uses local weather and landscape conditions to water only when plants need it. Install a rain shutoff device or soil moisture sensor to further control irrigation. The City of Ashland offers rebates when you purchase a smart irrigation controller. Learn about the Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate Program (pdf).
Plant the right plants
Whether you are installing a new landscape or changing the existing one, select plants that are appropriate for your climate. Consider landscaping techniques designed to create a visually attractive landscape by using low-water and drought-resistant grass, plants, shrubs, and trees. Learn more at Ashland Saves Water.
The Ashland Water Wise Landscaping website also highlights water-wise gardening strategies tailored to the climate of Ashland and includes hundreds of diverse photos providing a wide variety of attractive examples.
Schedule a free sprinkler evaluation.
Ashland offers free sprinkler system evaluations to help you use water efficiently in the landscape.