A method and apparatus for a battery powered networked irrigation controller that communicates with a backend server to implement updated watering schedules as needed, rather than the irrigation controller waiting until the next scheduled watering event of the obsolete watering schedule. A local wireless network transceiver can be accessed locally by a mobile device to prompt the irrigation controller to wake up from a sleep mode and communicate with the backend server to verify or obtain the updated watering schedule, allowing for changes in the horticultural conditions in the region watered by the irrigation controller, such as the laying of new sod.
