Irrigation Information

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Watering Guidelines
• Winterization Sign Up

Frequently Asked Questions

To receive our irrigation newsletter titled "Irrigation Systems 101" via email, please send us a request to:

Overstream installs Hunter Rotor Heads. To find out the type of rotor head used, look at the top of the rotor head and it will say "PGP" or "I-20". For help adjusting the sprinkler heads, please email our office at the link above and the information can be emailed/mailed per request.

For I-20 rotor heads, please see the following link to the manufacturer (Hunter Industries):
Hunter: I-10 and I-20 Ultra Rotary Sprinkler Instructions

For PGP Rotor Head Adjustment, please see the following page:
Hunter: PGP Rotary Sprinklers Installation and Adjustment Instructions

Watering Guidelines

Overstream Landscaping & Irrigation, Inc. takes great pride in our work and your individual needs. Based on our experience here in the Charlotte area, we have composed a schedule that can be used as a guideline in caring for your yard.

Please note that throughout areas of town the soil conditions change dramatically. Therefore, you will have to monitor your yard's individual level of absorption. The following recommendations will vary depending on:

• Warm or cool-season grass
• Weather
• Soil
• When to water
• Amount of fertilizer applied
• Mowing height
• Slope of the yard
• Use of city water or well water
• New seed or sod

For a detailed brochure explaining these factors, please send us an email at overstream@carolina.rr.com.

We hope that this guideline will assist you in your quest for the “perfect yard”.

Established Fescue Grass

• November thru Mid March
  • No water is necessary, as the irrigation system is winterized
• Mid March thru Late May
  • Watering will be necessary usually every other day, 1 time per day
  • Optimum watering time is between 4am and 1pm
  • Rotor heads: 6-20 minutes using each zone
  • Spray heads: 2-8 minutes using each zone
• June thru Mid September
  • Watering us usually necessary 2 times per day everyday
  • Optimum watering time is between 3am and 11am
  • Rotor Heads: 3-10 minutes using each zone
  • Spray Heads: 3-10 minutes using each zone
• September thru Mid November
  • Watering is necessary once per day everyday
  • Optimum watering time is between 4am and 1pm
  • Rotor heads: 8-20 minutes using each zone
  • Spray heads: 3-10 minutes using each zone
• If the yard was newly seeded in the fall, watering is necessary 3 times per day thru the September and mid October months
  • Optimum watering times are 3am, 9am and 3pm
  • Rotor heads: 6-12 minutes using each zone
  • Spray heads: 2-7 minutes using each zone

Newly Sodded Yards

Most times newly sodded yards will need more frequent watering but in shorter durations of time.

For example:

• Water a newly sodded yard 3 times per day for the first 5-10 days (3am, 9am and 1pm)
• Rotor zones: 10-35 minutes each time
• Spray zones: 5-15 minutes each time
• After 10-14 days, cut the watering times back to the regular season schedule, but still watch the grass for over-drying and over-watered areas.

**Do not over-water new sod, it will die**

The general rule for new sod is that when you fold up a piece of the sod, the ground and the bottom of the sod are moist and sticky, not wet and swampy. Once the grass takes hold of the ground the water could then gradually be cut back.

Established Bermuda and Zoysia Grass

• October thru mid April
  • No water is necessary as the irrigation system will be winterized and grass is dormant
• April thru mid June
  • Water every other day, 1 time per day
  • Optimum watering time is between 5am and 1pm
  • Rotor heads: 15-20 minutes using each zone
  • Spray heads: 4-8 minutes using each zone
• June thru early September
  • Water every other day, 2 times per day
  • Optimum watering time is between 3am and 11am
  • Rotor heads: 7-25 minutes everytime watering
  • Spray heads: 3-10 minutes every time watering
• September thru mid October
  • Since grass is going dormant, water every 2 or 3 days. The grass will not need much water.
  • Optimum watering time is between 5am and 2pm

New Shrubs and Trees (Gallons per week)

• October thru February
  • Shrubs: 1-3 gallons for the first 4 weeks
  • Trees: 3-5 gallons for the first 4 weeks, then taper off and watch for signs of stress
• March thru June
  • Shrubs: 7-12 gallons for the first 5 weeks
  • Trees: 10-20 gallons for the first 5 weeks
• June thru September
  • Shrubs: 10-20 gallons for the first 5 weeks
  • Trees: 15-20 gallons for the first 5 weeks

Existing Planting Beds

• Mid October thru late April
  • No watering necessary as the irrigation system will be winterized
• May thru June
  • Using the drip zones, water the beds 2 times per week for 10-25 minutes each time.
  • Optimum watering time is between 6am and 11am
• June thru August
  • Using the drip zones, water the beds 3-4 times per week for 15-35 minutes each time.
  • Optimum watering time is between 6am and 11am
• September thru October
  • Using the drip zones, water the beds 2 times per week for 10-25 minutes each time.
  • Optimum watering time is between 6am and 11am

Note: Flowers will need more frequent watering. Spray zones in planting areas will not use these recommended times.