Many of our clients are surprised when they realize how much water their irrigation system uses every week. The fact is, the typical residential property uses 2.000 to 5,000 gallons of water per week to irrigate turf and landscape beds. It’s a good thing Michigan is surrounded by the Great Lakes!
What many homeowners don’t know is that water usage can be reduced substantially by implementing simple, smart irrigation practices. Here are three tips to reduce water use by 30% or more and make your watering more effective.
1) WATER EARLY FOR BEST RESULTS
Set your irrigation system to start cycling between 4 A.M. and 8 A.M. In the early morning the winds are usually calm and the sun isn’t out yet, or is low in the sky. This will reduce water loss from evaporation, heat and wind. Soil absorption will be improved, so more water will get to the plant roots.
2) CUSTOMIZE ZONE RUN TIME
When an irrigation system is started up in the spring the timing for each zone is set to the average amount of time to deliver ½” inch of water per week. In the summer this amount should be adjusted upward to 1” of water per week. However, if the irrigation system puts out more water than your lawn can absorb the excess water is wasted through run off.
Each zone in your landscape needs to be evaluated on how long it should run based on factors unique to your property such as soil type, slopes, sun/shade exposure, maintenance practices, and the topography of your property.
3) IRRIGATE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY
Installing some type of sensor that keeps the irrigation system from coming on when it is raining is not only common sense, but it will start saving you money immediately. There are multiple options here, each with varying levels of complexity and upfront costs.
The least expensive rain shut-off device is a rain switch, also called a rain sensor. Secondly, and more precise, is a soil moisture sensor. Your third option is to install a smart timer that is connected to your local weather station via the internet.
Each of these steps to improve your landscape irrigation will either save you money or make the irrigation you supply to your plants more efficient. By implementing smart irrigation practices you will find that you can have a lush landscape all summer long without breaking your budget.
Call today for a Summer Check-Up of your irrigation system to learn how you can put smart irrigation to work in your landscape.
What many homeowners don’t know is that water usage can be reduced substantially by implementing simple, smart irrigation practices. Here are three tips to reduce water use by 30% or more and make your watering more effective.
1) WATER EARLY FOR BEST RESULTS
Set your irrigation system to start cycling between 4 A.M. and 8 A.M. In the early morning the winds are usually calm and the sun isn’t out yet, or is low in the sky. This will reduce water loss from evaporation, heat and wind. Soil absorption will be improved, so more water will get to the plant roots.
2) CUSTOMIZE ZONE RUN TIME
When an irrigation system is started up in the spring the timing for each zone is set to the average amount of time to deliver ½” inch of water per week. In the summer this amount should be adjusted upward to 1” of water per week. However, if the irrigation system puts out more water than your lawn can absorb the excess water is wasted through run off.
Each zone in your landscape needs to be evaluated on how long it should run based on factors unique to your property such as soil type, slopes, sun/shade exposure, maintenance practices, and the topography of your property.
3) IRRIGATE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY
Installing some type of sensor that keeps the irrigation system from coming on when it is raining is not only common sense, but it will start saving you money immediately. There are multiple options here, each with varying levels of complexity and upfront costs.
The least expensive rain shut-off device is a rain switch, also called a rain sensor. Secondly, and more precise, is a soil moisture sensor. Your third option is to install a smart timer that is connected to your local weather station via the internet.
Each of these steps to improve your landscape irrigation will either save you money or make the irrigation you supply to your plants more efficient. By implementing smart irrigation practices you will find that you can have a lush landscape all summer long without breaking your budget.
Call today for a Summer Check-Up of your irrigation system to learn how you can put smart irrigation to work in your landscape.
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