Abstract: An irrigation system having a microprocessor-based controller for providing a desired degree of watering to an area which is divided up into zones, with each zone including a solenoid water valve in series with one or more water dispensing devices, such as spray heads or a drip irrigation tube. Also associated with each of the zones is a moisture sensor which is arranged to be periodically interrogated by the microprocessor-based controller and, when interrogated, provides an electrical signal proportional to the degree of moisture in the soil proximate the sensor. A feature of the invention is that the microprocessor-based controller is extremely easy to program due to the combination of a display screen on which various menus can be presented and a minimum quantity of push-button keys for calling up the menus and for altering sprinkling parameters that are displayed on the menu screens.