Commercial Landscape Irrigation - Sustainable Practices

Commercial Landscape Irrigation-Sustainable Practices

In the last several years there has been a call for green practices to be implemented on both a consumer and commercial level. This includes landscapes, mechanical systems, and automobiles to name a few. Certain areas of the country have completely eliminated the watering of lawns and landscape due to their lack of water supply. As a commercial landscaper, we have made many changes to our own facilities and we have charged ourselves with ways to help you as well. Continue reading to discover options that might help you on your commercial or residential property.

The right system for the right landscape

When considering an irrigation system to water your landscape, it is imperative that it is designed to match the plant life established. Under or over watering can quickly ruin your landscape, wilting plants, causing the leaves to yellow or turn brown. Too often we see irrigation practices that hurt more than they help. You should consider speaking with a professional about your system and possible changes to improve water management on your property. They might be able to offer suggestions that could improve irrigation and offer sustainable practices to save you money.

Rain Sensors

We have all seen that property that has the irrigation system working during heavy rain showers. “They should turn that off”, you might have thought to yourself. As a property manager, how are you supposed to know when there is enough rain to skip an irrigation cycle? You can take away the worry with one simple, low cost upgrade… a rain sensor. With multiple options and levels of sensors, they are able to detect moisture levels and temperatures in the ground, which will alert the controller to skip a cycle. These can typically cost as little as $50.

Drip VS Sprinkler Irrigation

Sprinkler irrigation systems are commonly used on commercial landscapes but there has been a movement to drip irrigation to improve sustainable practices. Sprinkler systems have maintained popularity due to its ability to uniformly distribute water, adjust spray patterns and adapt to smart irrigation systems. Drip irrigation systems are gaining notoriety among property managers focused on sustainable practices as they can be 90% more efficient by targeting plant life. I can write a separate blog on this topic alone but it might be worth a review with a professional to see which system might work best for you.

Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance!

Like any mechanical system, maintenance is key to successful long term use. At the beginning of the watering season, you should have your system backflow tested, preparing a report to send to your county. Once the backflow has passed testing, a system activation should be completed which charges your system, tests each zone, and sets system clocks. Depending on the size of your irrigation system, you may want additional inspections to reset clocks (depending on season) and make sure it is in good condition. At the end of the season you will want to have a qualified technician complete a winterization by removing the backflow and blowing water from the lines to assure there is no freezing during cold weather seasons which will damage your system.

Save Water, Save The Environment
We can help you by providing affordable, sustainable irrigation solutions.