Turn "one inch per week" into gallons and minutes for your actual bed.
Convert weekly water need and rainfall into gallons and estimated runtime.
What this tool decides
Decides how many gallons and minutes turn a weekly water target into a real watering session.
Step 1
Set your inputs
Step 2
Calculate the number
Step 3
Read the plan
Care inputs
Delivery
Diagnostic panel
Weekly water to add
51.9 gal
Net need after rainfall is 0.75 inches.
Rainfall offset
Target
1.00 in
Rainfall
0.25 in
Net
0.75 in
Estimated runtime
26 min
Based on 2 gallons per minute, drip efficiency, and loam soil. Loam usually holds enough moisture for one or two deep sessions.
Read the plan
What it means
The gallons answer tells you the weekly deficit after rainfall, soil adjustment, and delivery efficiency.
Next action
Split the runtime into one or two deep sessions unless heat, containers, or sandy soil demand shorter cycles.
Risk note
Adding water because plants look tired can hide root, heat, or disease problems; check soil moisture first.
Common mistakes
Runtime only works when the flow rate is realistic for your hose, drip line, or sprinkler.
Light rain can wet leaves and mulch without refilling the root zone.
Field note
Most garden advice says one inch of water, but your hose, rainfall, soil, and bed size decide what that means. Use this calculator for the gallons and runtime; use the watering guide hub when symptoms point to timing, drainage, or moisture-check problems.
Container groups and sandy beds dry down faster than the same square footage in loam. If a plant keeps wilting even after the math looks right, compare symptoms with Plant Problems before adding more water.