Photo: California DWR

Despite a good amount of rainfall the last few days, we're still in a significant drought, with our drought rating listed as EXCEPTIONAL on the USDA Drought Index (http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/). That's like a DEFCON 1 rating, the highest possible- the maximum level on the scale !!!

Landscapes make up an estimated 70% of a homes water using during the summer months, and summer is just around the corner. So we'll soon be entering the summer months, and we're already facing maximum drought conditions. Aren't you alarmed yet?!

As drought becomes increasingly more common throughout the world, the investment in smart water systems is on the rise. Does your landscape irrigation system respond to daily weather factors in order to fine-tune water use and minimize the need for supplemental irrigation? If not, it's time to invest in some SMART IRRIGATION. Ask me how.

Landscapes Require Less Water Than You May Think

The Importance of an Urabn Forest.. Arbor Day is now a full WEEK!

It's Groundwater Awareness Week, March 11-17

Benefits of an Urban Forest

Urban Forests = Cleaner, Cooler Air from ASLA on Vimeo.

July 1st marks Smart Irrigation Month - Water Wisely

Today’s irrigation systems include sophisticated controllers that allow you to easily adjust
watering schedules to fit different needs.
• Get in the zone. Schedule each individual zone in your irrigation system to account for type
of sprinkler, sun or shade exposure, and soil in that section. Different zones will almost
always need different watering schedules.
• Consider soil type. Type of soil determines how quickly water can be absorbed without
runoff. Watering more than soil can absorb causes runoff and waste.
• Don’t send water down the drain. Set sprinklers to water plants, not your driveway,
sidewalk, patio or buildings.
• Water only when needed. Saturate root zones and let the soil dry. Watering too much and
too frequently results in shallow roots, weed growth, disease and fungus.
• Water at the best time. Watering during the heat of the day may cause losses of up to 30
percent due to evaporation. Prevent water loss by watering when the sun is low or down,
winds are calm and temperatures are cool — typically between the evening and early
morning.
• Water more often for shorter periods. For example, setting your system to run for three,
5-minute intervals lets soil absorb more water than watering for 15 minutes at one time,
reducing runoff.
• Adapt watering to the season. Familiarize yourself with the settings on your irrigation
controller and adjust the watering schedule regularly based on seasonal weather conditions.
Or invest in a smart controller so your system can make these changes automatically.

Smart Irrigation Month is an initiative of the Irrigation Association, a non-profit industry
organization dedicated to promoting efficient irrigation. Learn more at
www.smartirrigationmonth.org.

Trees Can Positively Impact Your Home's Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficient Home Landscapes from ASLA on Vimeo.

Lawn Be Gone Program

For quite some time now, water agencies have offered rebate incentives for converting those high water using lawns to drought tolerant plantings. Watching grass grow is like watching paint dry, not too exciting. So not only does the conversion save a bunch of water (which equals water bill reductions), but you will get far more enjoyment from the color, contrast, and texture of plantings, in addition to the wildlife it attracts.

For more information, please see the links below:

For Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (basically north of Palo Alto/Fremont)
http://bawsca.org/water-conservation/residential-water-conservation-programs/lawn-be-gone/

For Santa Clara County Water District (San Jose and surrounding areas)
http://www.valleywater.org/Programs/LandscapeReplacementRebates.aspx

With several lawn conversions under my belt, please let me know if you have additional questions I can answer....spring is coming!

July is Smart Irrigation Month

Landscapes require the largest amounts of water in July making July Smart Irrigation month. A plants water-loss through evapotranspiration, the combination of evaporation and transpiration into the air, is highest this month. If you have an irrigation controller with a seasonal adjustment that allows flexibility to change the watering durations to meet the seasonal water needs of the landscape, it can now be set to 100% ET. Supplemental water deliverance being the highest this month also means that if an irrigation system has efficiency issues, it will also waste high amounts of water. So here are some Smart water savings tips and items to check in your irrigation system to minimize potential water-loss.

- Water early in the morning, never in the middle of the day or early evening, and not when it’s windy

- Schedule individual zones in your system to meet the needs of the specific plant material in that zone. Established shrubs, for instance, require nowhere near the water a thirsty lawn does. And hydrozone, keeping plants with similar water needs together

- Lawn sprinklers need almost constant adjustment. Fine-tune them to minimize watering the pavement.

- Check for leaks, clogs, and sprinklers blocked by growing plant material

- “Drip Happens” … drip irrigation is more than 2x more efficient than spray so convert wherever possible

- Allow some dry-out days between waterings. Overwatered soils can lead to several issues, even plant death

- Get a weather sensitive Smart Controller

- Save water and money by getting an irrigation system audit! I have appointment times available.

An estimated 50%-70% of a properties monthly water usage is outdoors. By keeping up on the irrigation system, it can save a lot of water and money. If you have any questions or comments about what you’ve read, please let me know.