Watering in the desert can feel like guesswork, especially when our summer heat and sudden monsoon rains hit North Park. You want a healthy yard without wasting water or breaking city rules. This guide shows you how to set a smart, simple irrigation schedule that matches El Paso’s climate, soil, and watering ordinance. You’ll learn trusted settings, easy checks, and how to use a smart controller to save time and money. Let’s dive in.
North Park climate and soils
El Paso sits in a hot desert climate with very low annual rainfall and a summer monsoon pattern that brings short, intense storms. That means plant water demand peaks in late spring and summer, then drops sharply in fall and winter. Local rain during the monsoon can meet a big share of weekly needs, so your schedule should pause or adjust after storms.
Many North Park yards sit on calcareous, loamy to sandy soils with a layer of hard caliche beneath. This can limit root depth and cause fast surface drainage. The fix is simple: water less often but more deeply, and use cycle-and-soak so water can soak in instead of running off. You can read more about local soil behavior in the USDA description of Delnorte soils common to the area.
El Paso watering rules
El Paso allows residential irrigation up to three days per week on an odd/even schedule. No watering is allowed on Mondays.
- Even addresses: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
- Odd addresses: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
- From April 1 through September 30, watering is prohibited between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Review the current rules and tips on the city’s official watering schedule page from El Paso Water. Always program your controller to match these days and times.
Smart controllers that fit El Paso
Weather-based controllers use local weather data to adjust run times automatically as temperatures and evapotranspiration change. According to EPA WaterSense, properly installed weather-based controllers can significantly reduce overwatering while improving plant health. Soil moisture sensor systems measure moisture at the root zone and stop watering when the soil is still wet, which works well for drip zones and shrub beds.
For extra savings, check EPWater’s smart-controller rebate. The rebate requires a WaterSense-labeled device and your programming must follow the city’s watering ordinance.
Step-by-step scheduling
1) Measure sprinkler output
Run a quick catch-can test so you know exactly how many inches your system applies per hour. Texas A&M AgriLife’s bermudagrass guide explains how to do this and how to convert inches of water into minutes per zone. This simple step makes your schedule accurate.
2) Set weekly water targets
For established bermudagrass, start with about 1.0 to 1.5 inches per week in peak summer, then adjust based on lawn response and recent weather. New Mexico State University’s turf guidance supports these ranges and seasonal adjustments. For drought-tolerant shrubs on drip, aim for deeper, less frequent watering on a 7 to 14 day cycle in summer, extending to longer intervals as plants mature.
3) Program days, times, and cycles
- Use only your allowed city watering days and water before 10:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. in warm months.
- Use cycle-and-soak on spray zones: split each session into 2 to 3 shorter cycles to reduce runoff on our loamy-sandy, caliche-affected soils.
- Set realistic root depths for each zone. Shallower roots need shorter run times per cycle.
- Enable rain shutoff and connect your controller to a reliable local weather source or soil sensor.
Monsoon adjustments
Smart, weather-based controllers can automatically pause or reduce watering after rain. As a rule of thumb, if your yard receives about 0.5 to 1.0 inch of rain, skip the next irrigation or reduce the week’s minutes. Local precipitation patterns show that summer storms can deliver a large share of weekly needs in one event, so let the soil dry before watering again.
Weekly templates for common zones
Use these as starting points, then refine with your catch-can results and plant health.
- Bermudagrass lawn: 2 days per week, delivering the weekly total of about 1.0 to 1.5 inches split evenly across days. If your zone applies 0.25 inch per 15 minutes, expect roughly 30 to 90 minutes per week divided over your two or three allowed days. Always verify with your audit.
- Drip shrub beds: 1 to 2 deep irrigations every 7 to 14 days in summer. Place emitters at the root zone and expand the wetting area as plants grow. Soil moisture sensors at root depth work well to prevent unnecessary cycles.
Maintenance and compliance checklist
- Confirm allowed watering days and time-of-day limits with El Paso Water and update your controller.
- Audit zones: run a catch-can test, note precipitation rates, and fix coverage gaps or overspray.
- Choose WaterSense-labeled smart tech and apply for the EPWater rebate if eligible.
- Program plant type, soil, slope, nozzle output, and root depth for each zone.
- Inspect monthly: repair leaks, clean or replace clogged nozzles, and realign heads away from sidewalks and streets.
A thoughtful schedule protects your North Park landscaping, keeps you in compliance, and can lower your bill. If you’re prepping a home for sale or settling into a new one, a healthy, water-wise yard adds everyday value and curb appeal. For local guidance and a trusted, no-pressure real estate partner in El Paso, connect with Tracie Musshorn today.
FAQs
What are El Paso’s watering days for homes in North Park?
- El Paso allows up to three watering days weekly with no watering on Monday; even addresses water Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and odd addresses water Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, with no watering from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. April 1 through September 30; see El Paso Water’s watering schedule for details.
How many minutes should I run my sprinklers in summer?
- Run a catch-can test to find your zone’s precipitation rate, then calculate minutes to deliver about 1.0 to 1.5 inches weekly for bermudagrass at peak season; Texas A&M AgriLife’s bermudagrass guide shows how to convert inches of water into run time.
Are smart irrigation controllers worth it in North Park?
- Yes; EPA WaterSense reports meaningful water savings with weather-based controllers when properly set up, and EPWater offers a rebate for WaterSense-labeled devices that follow the city ordinance.
How should I adjust for monsoon storms?
- Use a weather-based controller’s rain skip or manually skip the next run after about 0.5 to 1.0 inch of rain; local summer precipitation can cover a large part of weekly needs in one event, so let soil moisture drop before watering again.
Do xeric plants need much irrigation compared with turf?
- Drought-adapted shrubs generally prefer deeper, less frequent watering, often every 7 to 14 days in summer once established; soil moisture sensors and mulch help target water at the root zone and avoid unnecessary cycles.
