Sadly, I do not have a sprinkler system, nor a yard to call my own. So, you can imagine my confusion when I learned of a widespread problem among those far more sprinkler-savvy than myself; namely, people are often intimidated and, yes, even a bit nervous to go near their sprinkler control box.

Why? Frankly, sprinkler timers can seem complicated if you’re not familiar with them, but that’s no excuse to ignore them. Come with us as we uncover the mysteries of the sprinkler system and show you how to get cozy with your timer. It’ll save you money and water!

When it comes to watering your lawn, it’s critical you don’t just “set it and forget it” all summer. Be sure to check back and adjust often, depending on the month and the recent weather conditions. For example, you should water less in May than in July.

Diligence is key to saving water while keeping your lawn healthy.

And make sure you’re using the appropriate watering techniques like the recommended cycle-and-soak method.

Remember, use your irrigation controller to add multiple start times and reduce each zone’s watering time.

Leave up to an hour between start times to allow for the last cycle to soak into the soil.

Cycle and soak. Makes sense.

Learn more about the cycle-and-soak method from the Colorado State University Extension.

In case you missed it, check out our original Twilight Zone parody — a journey into an underground vault.

Contributing: Rick Alvarado, Jay Adams, Matt Bond and Big Foot the cat.