Did you know your sprinkler system could be running at only 50% efficiency? I was shocked to hear our Colorado State University Cooperative Extension turf specialist Tony Koski say that lawns only receive about half of the water meant to reach them.

So, where does the water go? Evaporation, runoff and broken irrigation equipment are the most likely avenues. Thankfully, there are several ways to improve your irrigation efficiency.

First, you can reduce evaporation by running your sprinkler system at the least windy and least sunny time of day, usually right before sunrise. Wind and sun can carry away large quantities of the fine mist emitted from most pop-up sprinkler heads.

Runoff is also easily controlled, even on slopes. As you know, runoff occurs when soil cannot absorb water as quickly as it is applied. There are two main causes of poor water absorption in lawns: quickly saturated clayey soils, or, water cannot penetrate the thatch layer, which is made up of roots and other vegetative structures naturally occurring in sod.

Most of the soils along the Front Range are clayey. Microscopic clay particles stick together and do not leave room for air space. Clayey soils can become saturated near the surface very quickly due to the lack of pore space.

If you have clayey soils, the solution to quick surface saturation is using the soak-and-cycle technique. The idea is to run your irrigation system for a short time, let the moisture sink into the soil profile, and then run the system again. I usually run my irrigation system for 5 to 7 minutes, leave it off for 15 minutes, and then repeat this cycle three more times.

Besides runoff, we've established that thatch can affect water absorption. When the thatch layer becomes too thick, it is water-repellent. Core aerating your turf and applying a wetting agent will alleviate this problem.

Check your irrigation equipment for any breakages or leaks. These problems are easily overlooked if the system runs at night. Most standard irrigation parts are easy to replace.

Making the small changes listed above will certainly increase your irrigation efficiency. However, if you would like to improve your system even more, check out this Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet #7.759 Irrigation Management: Irrigation Audit at www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07759.html to do a thorough audit on your system.

Improving your irrigation efficiency should help get rid of those pesky brown spots. If they still remain, you may want to do a simple 'catch can' test by setting cans of the same size on different areas of your lawn. Run your irrigation system and check the water levels. Typically, cans from the brown areas contain less water when compared to cans from green, healthy areas of turf. Adjust your system accordingly.

For any additional questions on efficiently irrigating your landscape, contact the Colorado Master Gardeners of Douglas County at mgardenr@douglas.co.us or Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 720-733-6935.

Jennifer Bousselot is the Horticulturist for Colorado State University Cooperative Extension in Douglas County. Among other duties, Jennifer manages the Colorado Master Gardener volunteer program for the county.

Note: this article is sent for publication to other local newspapers.