• Environmentally Friendly Irrigation
• ET (evapotranspiration) Controllers: The Future of Irrigation is here now!
• Tips for Water Conservation in the Garden
• What is a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor?
• What About Landscape Lighting?

Environmentally Friendly Irrigation

Did you know that an irrigation system that is well thought out and properly designed will let you enjoy the benefits of a healthy landscape while using less water? Automatic irrigation systems are a convenient tool for homeowners in that when they are set up properly, they will deliver the right amount of water to the right place with minimal effort by the homeowner.

Although many homeowners still water by hand using hose-end sprinklers and soaker hoses, hand watering does not allow for an accurate measurement of the application rate based on the soil’s ability to absorb water. When using soaker hoses, many homeowners turn the water volume up too high and end up wasting water by applying too much. The excess, which is not absorbed, becomes runoff and is lost to the gutters and storm drains. Watering by hand or by soaker hose will both likely result in overwatering of the landscape area, wasting water through evaporation or runoff or by simply applying more water than is necessary to maintain the health of the plant. One of the greatest benefits of an automatic irrigation system is the ability to provide differing amounts of water to differing plants at a rate at which it can be absorbed.

In Vancouver's Lower Mainland, the greatest way to save water with your irrigation system is to install a Rain Sensor. Rain Sensors combat one of the greatest sources of water waste – over watering –by turning off the entire system when it’s raining.

Beyond saving water, a properly designed, well-maintained, water-efficient landscape is an asset in any neighborhood and brings the homeowner many conservation benefits:

• Lowered home-energy costs – Air conditioning costs can be reduced by as much as 50% when trees and vegetation provide cooling shade. During winter, the impact of cold winds can be significantly reduced when healthy plants act as a buffer.
• A more pleasant outdoor environment – Trees and surrounding vegetation can lower outdoor temperatures by up to 10 degrees and act as sound barriers to noise pollution.
• Fire-safety – A 100-foot buffer zone that incorporates low-lying ground cover, clustered plants, succulents and regularly-mown short grasses can prevent brush fires from reaching the home.
• Erosion control – Healthy landscapes are less prone to water runoff, helping prevent site and structure damage.
• Environmental contributions – Trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide from
  the air and return it to the environment as oxygen.

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Evapotranspiration Controllers: The New Standard in Weather-Smart Irrigation

In a world where water conservation is a necessity, the Rain Bird ET Manager™ harnesses the power of local precision weather stations, wireless technology, and powerful, accurate scheduling software to create unmatched landscape water efficiency.

Although over-watering has always been something homeowners, public water agencies, property managers and landscapers tried to avoid, increasing water scarcity has brought this problem into the spotlight. No matter how efficient an irrigation controller’s watering schedule is, it must take into account constantly changing weather conditions – specifically evapotranspiration (ET) and rainfall.

ET is the amount of water lost from the soil through evaporation plus the plant’s water loss (known as transpiration), both of which are dramatically affected by weather conditions. Rain Bird's ET Manager uses current weather information and ET to water your landscape only when it needs it. And precise landscape water management is key to preservation of our water resources.

This simple, powerful irrigation management solution works with virtually any controller, converting a conventional irrigation system into a weather-smart one that adjusts itself according to accurate real-time weather data. The ET Manager helps to maintain the optimum moisture balance in your soil. As the weather changes, your ET Manager receives updates automatically every hour and only allows your controller to water when needed. The result: significant water savings, deeper root systems, and a healthier landscape. Whether you are a water agency, contractor, specifier, or homeowner, the ET Manager is the smart choice.

Click here for more information on Rain Bird's ET Manager.

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Tips for Water Conservation in the Garden

Irrigation and the Environment Tip #1: Zone Defense

By dividing the landscape into watering zones, the watering schedule will not be dictated by the needs of the grass. Garden areas can be watered separately from grass areas, sloped areas separately from flat, sunny separately from shady, and so on. Separating areas that have significantly different watering requirements saves water by allowing the independent scheduling of areas that have vastly different watering requirements. University Sprinklers can design your irrigation system to do just that.

Irrigation and the Environment Tip #2: Plant Selection

Plants should be selected according to the water zones. The use of drought-tolerant and water conserving native plants will increase the water efficiency of an irrigation system. Spacing each plant far enough apart to account for its size at full maturity levels will contribute to optimum water efficiency.

Irrigation and the Environment Tip #3: Water Wisely

Water before 10 a.m., when less wind, lower temperatures and less sunlight reduce water loss from evaporation. Water deep enough to reach the root zone and water less frequently to encourage deep root growth. Check moisture levels regularly. Make sure root zones are saturated: Typically six to 12 inches (15-30 cm) deep for lawns, flowers and vegetables; one to two feet (60 cm) for shrubs and groundcovers; two to three feet (90 cm) for trees. Saturation below the root zone is not effective. Aerate soils, especially clay, once a year to relieve surface compaction and allow for better water penetration.

Irrigation and the Environment Tip #4: Don't Water When it's Raining!

Install a Rain Sensor, which will automatically disable your irrigation system when it's raining. Sometimes, it's the simple solutions that are the most effective!

Irrigation and the Environment Tip #5: Sensible Garden Maintenance

Mow regularly but keep lawn grasses long (up to 3 inches or 7.6 cm) to better shade the ground and conserve water. Mulch plants, bushes and trees to retain soil moisture, discourage weeds, provide nutrients and prevent soil compaction. Fertilize twice yearly, once in spring with a slow-release nitrogen and in the fall with a quick-release.

Irrigation and the Environment Tip #6: Consider Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation, also called micro-irrigation or Xerigation™, uses tubing and emitters
to apply a slow, steady trickle of water directly to the soil above the plant’s root
structure. Through gravity and capillary action, water spreads slowly down to plant
roots, reducing water lost to surface evaporation. Drip can often be a more efficient way to
water trees, shrubs, flower beds, ground cover or borders. A drip system can be 30%
to 50% more efficient than traditional sprinkler irrigation on landscapes for which drip is appropriate. Drip can also reduce runoff and plant disease, which can result from over-watering.

The above are excerpts from "A Homeowner's Guide to Water-Efficient Landscapes", a white paper by Rain Bird Corporation. Rain Bird is a leader in the field of irrigation, and they are world innovators in the Intelligent Use of Water™. More information on their educational programs, including podcasts on water conservation, are available on their Intelligent Use of Water™ web site.

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Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors

University Sprinkler Systems is proud to have two Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors in the organization, David Pfortmueller and Manocher Jooyaie. Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors are involved in gathering irrigation water-use data and testing landscape irrigation systems. Auditors compile water records, perform water-use studies, measure irrigated sites, identify plant materials by general groups, determine irrigation water requirements, estimate potential dollar and water savings, plus rank sites by net benefits.

These auditors represent the system of checks and balances that ensures we at University Sprinklers are doing all we can to protect the environment through conservation-minded irrigation practices.

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Landscape Lighting and the Environment

Because we, at University Sprinklers, also install landscape lighting systems, we cannot help but consider their impact on the environment. Fortunately, landscape lighting can also be installed in a way that supports conservation. For example:

• Landscape lighting can be installed to run on photocells and timers that turn on only as the sun goes down, and then turn off after a certain time period.
• Landscape lighting fixtures run on low voltage to cast a soft, subtle light. Many fixtures have an output of 20W each.
• LED lighting fixtures and retrofits are also available, further limiting power consumption and the resulting carbon footprint for landscape lighting.
• Landscape lighting provides your property with perimeter security lighting with less power than traditional outdoor lighting.
• Visit our lighting page for more information on how landscape lighting can enhance your garden enjoyment well into the evening!

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