Autumn is deceptive. The days are still pleasant, the course looks good and it is easy to leave the controllers as they were in August. Yet turf water demand drops quickly, and an autumn irrigation schedule that is not adjusted in time causes waterlogging, disease, nutrient leaching and water consumption that nobody needs.
Below we go through five adjustments worth making at this time of year: calibrating to evapotranspiration, redistributing run times and start times, using rainfall sensibly, watching problem areas and taking the opportunity to check the system.
Adjust autumn irrigation scheduling to the pace of evapotranspiration
The basis of any autumn irrigation scheduling is understanding how much water the soil-plant system actually loses. Evapotranspiration drops markedly as days shorten and nights cool, and irrigation should follow it closely, not wait for the turf to show signs.
If you have a weather station or nearby reference data, use it to recalculate run times weekly. If not, a practical approach is to reduce inputs in steps, checking with the probe and by visual inspection that the soil profile keeps enough moisture. Avoid abrupt jumps: it is better to lower a little each week than to cut all at once and find dry areas.
- Review the controller’s percentage adjustment, instead of reprogramming station by station.
- Note each change and its date, so you can compare afterwards.
- Distinguish between greens, tee boxes, fairways and rough: they do not all drop at the same rate.
Redistribute run times and start times in autumn irrigation scheduling
In summer you irrigate at night to minimise losses and respect play. In autumn the nights are colder and longer, and the turf takes longer to dry. If irrigation finishes very late, the leaf stays wet for hours at dawn, just when pathogens thrive best.
A good practice is to bring forward the start of the cycles, so they finish earlier and leave room for the dew to dry in the sun. In addition, autumn irrigation scheduling allows lower frequency and greater depth in areas where the soil permits, which encourages rooting. On sand greens it may be necessary to keep lighter, more regular inputs, because they store little. Adjust this with the help of the team that knows each sector.
A detail that gets forgotten: changes of schedule also affect staff. If there is mowing or treatment first thing, coordinate with the team so irrigation does not coincide with it and nobody has to work on waterlogged leaf or walk over freshly watered areas.
Make use of rainfall without being fooled by it
Any autumn irrigation scheduling plan must account for rain. Autumn rain episodes in the Mediterranean can be intense and infrequent. A heavy shower is not the same as a useful input if the water runs off or ponds instead of infiltrating. So, before suspending irrigation after a storm, check how much water has really entered the profile.
If the course has a rain gauge, record rainfall by event. Without one, the moisture probe or simply a soil core gives you reliable information. A good protocol for autumn irrigation scheduling includes:
- Pausing automatic irrigation when the forecast is reliable and the soil is well supplied.
- Resuming with reduced run times after a few days, not with the old ones.
- Checking the low areas, where water takes longer to drain.
That way you avoid wasting water and also avoid the course going into winter saturated.
Watch problem areas and dry spots
Reviewing autumn irrigation scheduling is also a good moment to detect anomalies that summer masked. With less general water stress, localised dry spots, faulty overlaps and waterlogged areas become more obvious. Walk the course first thing and note which sectors do not respond to the adjustment made to the rest.
Three situations tend to appear: areas that keep drying out because of poor sprinkler coverage, areas that waterlog because of excess input or poor drainage, and areas where shaded turf never dries. Each requires a different response and, often, specific scheduling by sector. A simple inspection report, with a photo or sketch, helps the team avoid relying on memory to return to them.
This review of autumn irrigation scheduling is not just about touching the controller: it is about looking at the course with fresh eyes and correcting what summer hid.
Use the moment to check the system before winter
The lower pressure of play and water demand opens an ideal window for system maintenance. A well-thought-out autumn irrigation schedule includes inspection tasks that avoid breakdowns the following spring:
- Sprinklers: check rotation, nozzles, throw distance and arcs; clean filters.
- Valves and solenoids: verify opening, closing and watertightness.
- Pumping and pressures: compare flows and pressures with the usual values.
- Pipes and valve boxes: locate leaks and repair what is outstanding.
- Controllers: check sensors, wiring and backups of the programming.
If winter brings frost in your area, also plan the protection of exposed elements and the draining of vulnerable sections. Leaving it to the last moment usually proves expensive.
Keep a record of what was checked and what is outstanding. A short list, with an owner and date, prevents minor repairs from piling up until they become irrigation shutdowns in the middle of the season.
Further reading: AEMET. To anticipate rain episodes and consult climate data for your area, you can rely on Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).
Frequently asked questions
When should you start adjusting autumn irrigation scheduling?
As soon as you notice temperatures dropping and daylight hours shortening, without waiting for the first rains. The prudent approach is to lower in steps each week, relying on evapotranspiration data and soil moisture checks. That way you avoid both excess and dry spots from a cut that is too abrupt.
Should irrigation be reduced equally in all areas?
No. Sand greens, fairways with clay soil, shaded areas and slopes respond differently. Autumn irrigation scheduling should differentiate by sector and type of surface, and be reviewed through visual inspection and probes. A linear adjustment for the whole course usually leaves some areas dry and others waterlogged.
What records are worth keeping during autumn?
It is useful to note programme changes with their date, the rainfall collected, system incidents and the problem areas detected. With that data, the following season you can start the adjustment with more judgement and compare real consumption between years without depending on memories or loose notes.
Keep reading
- what evapotranspiration is and how to use it Evapotranspiration in golf: 5 keys to watering just right
- sprinkler maintenance Sprinkler Maintenance: 8 Key Inspection Tasks
- advantages and limits of night irrigation Night Irrigation: 5 Benefits and 3 Risks on Golf Courses