Quick answer: Common signs of excessive irrigation include persistently soft soil, standing water, runoff, frequent puddling, and a schedule that waters regardless of recent rainfall. Some lawn problems can resemble overwatering, so check irrigation coverage and drainage before assuming runtime alone is responsible.
Watch the soil and runoff
If water begins running onto pavement before a cycle finishes, the soil may not be accepting water as quickly as the sprinklers apply it. Shorter cycle-and-soak watering can sometimes reduce runoff.
Rainfall should change the schedule
Automatic irrigation should not blindly replace water that rainfall has already supplied. A working rain sensor or weather-aware controller can help reduce unnecessary cycles.
Uneven coverage can cause both wet and dry areas
Increasing runtime to fix one dry spot can overwater the rest of a zone. Correct coverage problems before simply adding minutes.
