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To determine how long to run your sprinklers, place several empty, straight-sided cans or cups at different distances within one zone. (Uniform coffee mugs work well.) Run the sprinklers for 15 minutes and measure the amount of water collected in each can. Calculate an average water depth and determine how long it will take to apply a Â½ to Â¾ inch of water. Example: Â· Â¼â average depth of water after 15 minutes â water 35-50 minutes in that zone. Â· Â½â average depth of water after 15 minutes â water 20-30 minutes in that zone.
Run your sprinklers for 15 minutes. Use a ruler to measure the depth of water in each can. Add all the numbers, and then divide by the number of cans to find the average output. This average number is your sprinkler number. It is the average amount of water your sprinklers apply in 15 minutes.