How do I create a watering schedule?
Last Update:Sep 17 2024 1:56pm • Est. Read Time:Est. Read Time: 6 MINSummary
If you are unsure about which steps to take to create a watering schedule, this article has detailed instructions that will help you.
Need to duplicate a schedule? You'll find all the necessary information on that in our How to Duplicate Schedules article.
Trying to edit an existing schedule? You can find the detail in our How do I edit a watering schedule article.
Creating Rachio Watering Schedules
Rachio Sprinkler Controllers
Offers 3 schedule types:
- Flex Monthly - Adjusts monthly based on historical climate data; watering duration & interval (frequency) change takes place after the first watering in the following month.
- Flex Daily - Adjusts daily based on soil moisture; watering schedules dynamically update on a zone by zone basis.
- Fixed Schedule - Waters when you want - either on particular days of the week, a set interval, or odd/even days. Ideal for users with strict watering restrictions.
Rachio Smart Hose Timer
Has a single schedule type, which offers the following features:
- Watering by day of the week, or on an "every X days" interval
- Smart Soak
- Multi-Valve Schedules
- Yearly start and end dates
- Rain Skip
Video Overview - Controller Schedule Types
Learn about our different schedule types in the video below!
Tip
Still not sure which schedule is right for you and your yard? Take our quiz to find out!
Step-by-Step
Want to create a new watering schedule? Follow the steps below!
Please Note
Schedule customization options vary based on schedule type.
- Schedule Type
In the Rachio app, select the "Schedules" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Tap on the "Create Schedule" button. You will then be asked to select the type of schedule you want to create.
- Zone Selection
You will be asked to select which zones you'd like to add to the schedule.
- Name your schedule
Choose a name for your schedule (we recommend a name that is descriptive and memorable). After your schedule is set up, your notifications will contain this schedule name.
- What days will you water?
Select which days you will allow the schedule to water (any days, specific days, or even/odd intervals). If you do not have watering restrictions, we recommend selecting "any days" for optimum water savings!
- When do you want your schedule to run?
Select when you would like your schedule to start or end watering. Choose one of the following: end before sunrise (recommended), start after sunset, end before a specific time, or start at a specific time.
Note
The option to “end before a specific time” or "end before sunrise" can only be applied to one schedule per controller; this is to prevent multiple schedules from being stacked and eventually moving out of the 24-hour period of your selected watering day. As a result, once this option has been applied to a schedule, the option will not appear when creating additional schedules. To change which schedule makes use of the "end before" option, go to the "Schedule" tab> Tap on the desired schedule > "Times" > select when to start your schedule after or end it before
- Select your dates
When would you like the schedule to start - today, or a later date? When would you like your schedule to end? (Never is also an option!).
You can also set the schedule to repeat every year on a certain date, or not to repeat at all after the End Date. - Smart Cycle
Decide whether you would like to activate Smart Cycle, Rachio's version of "Cycle and Soak." Smart Cycle breaks up watering times by zone to prevent runoff and improve plant health based on soil type. Smart Cycle is recommended; however, you can also select "Manual cycle and soak" or opt out of both features. For more details, please see: Smart Cycle FAQ.
- Weather Intelligence
Here you can select which Weather Intelligence features to activate. Weather Intelligence is a collection of weather-rich "virtual sensors" that use forecast data to productively skip your schedules, helping you save water and make every gallon count! With these features, Rachio uses local weather data to keep your schedule from running in suboptimal conditions. Go here to learn more about Rachio Weather Intelligence.
- Watering Duration
Next, determine how long you would like your schedule to run. Based on previously entered information, Rachio calculates your ideal watering duration(s). You can elect to change the suggested watering durations, but this could make your schedule less effective.
- Schedule Created
You're now the proud owner of a new Rachio schedule.
You can edit your schedule at any time - see here for details. Happy watering!
Rachio Smart Hose Timer
In May 2024, Rachio added multi-valve support for the Smart Hose Timer, allowing users to seamlessly integrate multiple timers into a single schedule. Read on for more details concerning schedule setup, features, and adding multiple valves.
Step-by-Step
To begin creating a schedule, open the Rachio app and select your Smart Hose Timer. From there, tap the Schedules icon.
Tap + Create Schedule.
Then, name your schedule. Feel free to use one of the suggested names, or choose your own.
If you have more than one valve connected to your hub, you’ll be able to select them here. If you have just one valve, you'll bypass this screen automatically. If you're not sure which valve corresponds to a particular location on your property, you can test your valves directly from this screen to easily identify where the water begins to flow.
This is what you'll see in the app during a valve test:
On the next screen, you'll choose the type of interval you'd like your schedule to run on. You can choose either By day of week, where schedules will run on the days of the week you choose, or On a daily interval if you prefer the schedule to run every X number of days.
An example of the By day of week option:
On the next screen you'll see a summary of your watering durations, which can be changed by tapping on them. Tap Time of day if you’d like to change start or end time of the schedule. You can also add multiple runs to this schedule by selecting Add another run towards the bottom of the screen.
Open valves at the same time
Available under the More Options dropdown menu, this feature will allow your schedule to open all valves simultaneously at the beginning of each run. Keep in mind that this can have a serious impact on water pressure depending on the type of irrigation devices you have connected to the Smart Hose Timer Valves.
Smart Soak
- Also, available under the More Options dropdown menu, Smart Soak splits up schedule runs to allow water time to soak into the ground. It also improves watering in clay-rich soils and/or long schedule runs.
- Smart Soak splits the total watering time for any individual cycle into two equal parts. At the start, it waters for the first half of the total duration. Then, it pauses to let the water soak in for at least the same duration as the first watering session, potentially extending this soaking period if multiple runs or valves are active in the schedule. After the soak, it resumes watering for the second half of the total duration to complete the cycle.
- When using Smart Soak, each valve will soak for at least 50% of the runtime of the longest-running valve included in that schedule.
- When a schedule includes multiple valves, the system enhances efficiency by cycling between them to reduce total runtime, operating one valve while others soak.
- If you’re using the Open valves at the same time feature in your schedule, you can expect to see even more soak time; as your valves will not resume their watering until the longest-running valve included in that schedule has completed its soaking.
Start/End Dates
With the Rachio Smart Hose Timer, you can customize annual watering schedules which will only operate between your selected dates each year. Tap Yes at the Add Yearly Start and End Dates for this Schedule? screen to add your Start and End dates. There’s also an option to get notified one week before starting or ending a schedule. If you’d like your schedules to run in perpetuity, tap No. In either case, you can always enable or disable your schedule from the Schedule settings screen.
Skip this schedule when it rains?
If you select YES, Rachio will use the weather skip thresholds you’ve established for your device at the Home level in your Account settings. You can also access your weather skip thresholds for the Smart Hose Timer by editing any of your schedules: Tap the Kebab icon (3 vertical dots) next to your schedule and tap Edit Schedule, then scroll down and tap Weather thresholds.
Note
This will change the weather skip threshold for all schedules (present and future) on all valves paired to your Smart Hose Timer Hub.
Review your schedule summary, and tap Finish Schedule to finalize. That’s it!
Avoiding Scheduling Conflicts
Are you running lots of schedules? Here are some simple guidelines you can follow to avoid scheduling conflicts and get the most out of your smart hose timers:
- Schedules will only ever conflict with other schedules if they contain the same valve(s), and also have overlapping run times.
- Schedules set to start at a specific time will always override schedules set to “end before” or “start after” sunrise/sunset if they have overlapping run times.
- The most efficient method to prevent schedule conflicts with minimal effort is to set up your schedules using consistent criteria, such as “end before sunrise” or “start after sunset.” By doing so, the system identifies the overlapping requirements (e.g., completing tasks “before sunrise”) and organizes them accordingly. This ensures that all schedules adhere to the established criteria and execute seamlessly.
Do you still need help?
We have a chat support team ready to assist you! You can submit a support request by selecting the chat icon in the bottom right of this page and a member of the support team will contact you live.
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