Cycle and soak: a response to runoff, not a universal timer recipe

Notice when runoff starts

If water leaves the planting area before the soil has absorbed the intended amount, record when and where it happens. Check for a broken head or overspray first; a scheduling change cannot repair those faults.

Give water time to infiltrate

EPA’s irrigation management guidance describes breaking an event into shorter applications with a waiting period between them. This approach can help where the application rate exceeds infiltration. The useful interval depends on the site rather than a universal number of minutes.

Observe the next event

After a professional or controller-specific adjustment, watch the complete sequence. Confirm the breaks occur and water stays on the intended area. Keep the total application and plant response under review instead of simply multiplying the old schedule.

Separate the sequence from the total

Write down the program before discussing a change: which zone operates, how long each application lasts and where the waiting periods occur. Ask the professional to show the full sequence on the controller. Multiple start times and a dedicated cycle-and-soak feature may behave differently, so use the actual model documentation.

For example, runoff that appears beside a path during a zone’s operation is a location and timing observation. Photograph the area and note when it begins. Check whether water is landing directly on the path before concluding that the soil needs a different interval.

Review the result on site

Stay for the next complete event and record whether the symptom returns. Keep notes of soil and plant observations afterward, and ask what would justify another adjustment. Seek a professional review if runoff persists, a slope carries water toward buildings or a change affects several zones. Do not keep adding intervals without checking the overall application and drainage conditions.