Dr. Sprinkler, (385) 226-5764
Water Saving and Lawn Care Tips
If you know how to take care of it, your lawn and garden can give you years of enjoyment for surprisingly little effort.
When
it comes to watering your yard, you may be able to save yourself some
“green” without your lawn turning brown — by using an automatic
irrigation system. If that system is correctly designed, installed and
maintained, it can keep your landscape looking lush on the least amount
of water.
Proper
watering is a simple step, but it is one of the most important things
you can do to keep your lawn healthy—and experts say a healthy lawn can
raise your home’s value by as much as 14 percent. Here are some tips,
from gardening expert Paul James, to help you see to it that you’re
watering right:
Divide By Zones
Different
plants need different amounts of water. Divide your yard into separate
irrigation zones so the grass can be watered separately and more
frequently than groundcovers, shrubs and trees.
Keep It Balanced
Put
measuring cups in various places around your lawn and run the
sprinklers for 15 minutes. This will give you an idea of how much water
the grass is getting and where. You’re looking for about one to two
inches—depending on the soil—evenly distributed. An underground
sprinkler system is probably the best way to be sure the lawn is evenly
covered.
Waste Not, Want Not
The
greatest waste of water comes from applying too much, too often—much of
it runs off and is never absorbed. Instead of watering for one long
continuous session, try splitting the watering time into shorter periods
and take 15-minute breaks in between each session. This will let the
water soak in, while minimizing runoff.
Watch The Clock
Water
between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.—when the sun is low, winds are calm and
temperatures are cool. Midday watering tends to be less efficient
because of water loss due to evaporation and windy conditions during the
day. Watering in the evening isn’t a good idea either because leaves
can remain wet overnight—an open invitation for fungus to grow. By
watering in the morning, you give the leaves a chance to dry out during
the day.
Adjust The System to the Season and Be Rain Smart
Adjust
your irrigation system as the seasons and weather change. You can also
install a shut-off device that automatically detects rain or moisture.
These devices are inexpensive and let you take advantage of nature’s
free watering service.
Water Only What Grows
if
you have an underground sprinkler system, make sure the heads are
adjusted properly to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways. A properly
adjusted sprinkler head should spray large droplets of water, not a fine
mist, to minimize evaporation and wind drift.
Consider Drip
When
it comes to watering individual trees, flowerbeds, potted containers or
other non-grassy areas, you can apply water directly to the roots with
low volume drip irrigation. This will reduce water waste through
evaporation or runoff and keep weeds from growing.
Do Routine Inspections
Periodically
check your sprinklers to make sure everything is working properly. A
clogged head or a torn line can wreak havoc on your landscape and water
bill.
Broken or cracked sprinkler pipes
The 8 Steps
a thorough examination of the lateral supply lines. Check sprinkler heads and risers for proper process and direction. Appraise each area for correct coverage and accurate performance pressure. Any alterations, modifications, or repairs needed will be noted. Several common repairs/adjustments are:
