Tierra Verde Landscape

Helping Hand
Tips and Techniques on Creating and Keeping the Perfect Lawn

Project Enhancement: Irrigation

Oh, Those Pesky Weeds! | President's Message | Odds and Ends | Arborist Corner | Protecting our Waterways | Project Enhancement Irrigation | Project Enhancement Summer Color | Rooting in the Root Zone | What is a CLT?

As the weather gets warmer, the days get longer and the temperature rises, it becomes evident that summer is almost here Measures should be taken in order to accommodate the changing needs of a landscaped environment.
Focus is placed on the importance of a well functioning irrigation system and it's effects on the aesthetic value of a property. Normally during the winter months, controllers are off. This year the rainfall levels have not been what they normally have been in the past. During most of this past winter, irrigation systems that are normally off, have been working over-time due to absence of rain.

Irrigation evaluations are most definitely needed and should be performed as necessary. An experienced technician should evaluate the property paying special attention to surface plant material as well as color. These tend to be the first to show signs of stress due to lack of water or any dramatic changes in the system. Turf will show signs of stress on an average of about four to five days without adequate irrigation, depending on the type of turf.

With consideration to climatic changes, normally irrigation controllers can be set at one cycle per day, four to five days per week for turf areas with the number of cycles per minute varying according to the landscape. Special areas with runoff will require multiple start times in order to alleviate this particular condition.

Here is a small checklist of items to take into consideration when performing an irrigation evaluation:

-Broken nozzles
-Clogged nozzles
-Valve problems
-Coverage problems

An often overlooked contributing factor to the decline in plant material on a project is the lack of uniformity throughout the irrigation parts on a property Manufacturers vary in their specifications and production, therefore allowing for variations when dealing with even the same type or category of part. It is highly recommended that when replacing or adding parts to the system, that using one manufacturer be the ideal.

Keeping these concepts in mind, will most certainly provide a near fool proof method of obtaining maximum results from your property's irrigation system. This will in turn benefit the existing plant material improving the overall appearance of your investment.

-Steve Beckstrom, Tierra Verde's Irrigation Specialist, is one of three Certified Landscape Technicians on the Tierra Verde staff.

Helping Hand Tips and Techniques on Creating and Keeping the Perfect Lawn
	Project Enhancement: Irrigation
Oh, Those Pesky Weeds! \| President's Message \| Odds and Ends \| Arborist Corner \| Protecting our Waterways \| Project Enhancement Irrigation \| Project Enhancement Summer Color \| Rooting in the Root Zone \| What is a CLT?
As the weather gets warmer, the days get longer and the temperature rises, it becomes evident that summer is almost here Measures should be taken in order to accommodate the changing needs of a landscaped environment. Focus is placed on the importance of a well functioning irrigation system and it's effects on the aesthetic value of a property. Normally during the winter months, controllers are off. This year the rainfall levels have not been what they normally have been in the past. During most of this past winter, irrigation systems that are normally off, have been working over-time due to absence of rain. Irrigation evaluations are most definitely needed and should be performed as necessary. An experienced technician should evaluate the property paying special attention to surface plant material as well as color. These tend to be the first to show signs of stress due to lack of water or any dramatic changes in the system. Turf will show signs of stress on an average of about four to five days without adequate irrigation, depending on the type of turf. With consideration to climatic changes, normally irrigation controllers can be set at one cycle per day, four to five days per week for turf areas with the number of cycles per minute varying according to the landscape. Special areas with runoff will require multiple start times in order to alleviate this particular condition. Here is a small checklist of items to take into consideration when performing an irrigation evaluation: -Broken nozzles -Clogged nozzles -Valve problems -Coverage problems An often overlooked contributing factor to the decline in plant material on a project is the lack of uniformity throughout the irrigation parts on a property Manufacturers vary in their specifications and production, therefore allowing for variations when dealing with even the same type or category of part. It is highly recommended that when replacing or adding parts to the system, that using one manufacturer be the ideal. Keeping these concepts in mind, will most certainly provide a near fool proof method of obtaining maximum results from your property's irrigation system. This will in turn benefit the existing plant material improving the overall appearance of your investment. -Steve Beckstrom, Tierra Verde's Irrigation Specialist, is one of three Certified Landscape Technicians on the Tierra Verde staff.