<h1>Weekly Watering Number</h1>
<p>The Weekly Watering Number is the amount of water <em><strong>in inches</strong></em> that your lawn will need that week.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can also use the Weekly Watering Number for watering other types of plants, by using these general guidelines.&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
	<li><a name="ET"></a><strong>Shrubs</strong>: 50% of the Weekly Watering Number</li>
	<li><strong>Perennials</strong>: 50% of the Weekly Watering Number</li>
	<li><strong>Vegetables</strong>: 75% of the Weekly Watering Number (new starts&nbsp;may require more water)</li>
	<li><strong>Trees:</strong> Newly planted trees need regular watering for up to the first couple of years, while established trees may need a deep soak or two&nbsp;in summer.</li>
</ul>
<p>Be sure to check with your local garden center or landscape professional for more specific information on how much water your plants needs.</p>
<h2>Who Should Use The Weekly Watering Number?</h2>
<p>Home gardeners and landscape professionals alike can use the Weekly Watering Number to fine tune the amount they water their gardens and landscapes each week.</p>
<h2>Why does the Weekly Watering Number change each week?</h2>
<p>The Weekly Watering Number changes with local weather conditions.&nbsp; So, in the cooler, wetter spring it tends to be lower, and in the hotter drier summer it tends to be higher.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>How,&nbsp;do I&nbsp;use the Weekly Watering Number?</h2>
<p>The key to <a href="http://www.conserveh2o.org/watering-landscapes-efficently">watering efficiently</a> is to adjust your watering schedule as the weather changes throughout the irrigation season.</p>
<ul>
	<li><strong>Automatic sprinkler systems</strong> &ndash; First, determine your sprinkler&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.conserveh2o.org/measure-your-sprinklers-water-use-watering-gauges" title="output">output</a>, or how long it takes to water 1 inch of water.&nbsp; Then, set your <a href="http://www.conserveh2o.org/program-your-sprinkler-system">base schedule</a> and use the &quot;water budget&quot; or &ldquo;percent adjust&rdquo; <a href="http://www.conserveh2o.org/program-your-sprinkler-system">feature</a> to adjust your weekly watering schedule.</li>
	<li>
		<p><strong>Watering with a hose or a non-automated sprinkler system</strong> - First, determine your sprinkler&rsquo;s <a href="www.conserveh2o.org/measure-your-sprinklers-water-use-watering-gauges" title="output">output</a>, or how long it takes to water 1 inch of water. Then, use the Weekly Watering Number as a guideline to manually adjusting your watering duration or frequency.</p>
	</li>
</ul>
<h2>Why A Zip Code-specific Weekly Watering Number?</h2>
<p>By narrowing the number down to a specific zip code, the Consortium is able to better take into account any variations in weather and rainfall that within your specific area.</p>
<p><em>For example, the Sellwood neighborhood in Portland might receive significant rainfall from several showers while the nearby Hawthorne area might not receive any rainfall. As a result, their Weekly Watering Numbers would likely vary greatly that week.</em></p>
<h2>Where Does The Weekly Watering Number Come From?</h2>
<p>The Consortium contracts with a weather forecasting service to provide a free weather forecast and Weekly Watering Number each Thursday (April - September).&nbsp;</p>
