Recently in Summer Category

Is one of the many questions I receive from Rain Rich clients. The truth is there is no definitive answer. I have systems I service that are 30 years old and I have replaced systems that were less than 5 years old (not my installation!). There are many factors and variables related to the lifespan of a sprinkler system, and the following is a list of my experiences and observations in the irrigation industry:

1. Quality of the components, the better the manufacturer and the grade of equipment the longer it will last.

2. All manufacturers make different grades of equipment for different economic markets. Always choose the better grade.

3. The irrigation design. Choosing the proper design, the correct pipe and pipe size, proper head spacing, the right equipment for the application, match the correct pressure with the equipment are important factors to consider before a shovel is ever placed in the
ground.

This summer has been a challenge on many levels, the weather being the most extreme. Scheduling sprinkler systems to run, the frequency,  and duration has been the focus the last several weeks.  When we schedule the calls for controller adjustments we are also finding many other issues being discovered for the first time. To compound the situation is that the past several seasons have seen above average rainfall in June - August which has masked many of the problems in the system and in the yard. 

Every year your sprinkler system should be evaluated for proper coverage due to the fact that as sprinkler systems age the following occurs:

1. Sprinkler heads go out of adjustment.

2. Sprinkler heads are crooked and do not spray properly.

3. There are broken or partially broken sprinkler heads and pipes.

4. Sprinkler pipe is chocked off due to root growth.

"I water all the time and my lawn still looks terrible!"

This is the most common complaint from many of my clients that have been calling during this hot and dry period.  When I respond to the call I first  look to make sure that the sprinklers are coming on and running. Second,  I check the program to see that the  watering is more frequent  and for a longer run time. July is the hottest and driest month of the year. Lawn and plants are under great stress to stay healthy  and look their best. 

Here are the top 10 problems I find :

1. Not watering enough. The average evapotranspiration rate of a plant on a sunny hot day could be 0.25"/day or greater. Equal amounts of water need to be replaced with an irrigation cycle. Check the coverage of the sprinkler heads and make sure that they are covering from one sprinkler head to the next sprinkler head and overlap each other.

2. The water pressure may be to low to allow sprinklers to operate properly   due to high demand by all consumers during specific times of the day. 

3. Watering during the day when sun is the strong and evaporates most of the water before it penetrates into the soil.

4. Lawns are cut too short. Grass should be cut 3" and higher each time it is mowed in the summer. Cutting it shorter that 3" allows sunlight to bake the soil and roots.

Here is a really great article which we thought everyone should read, especially considering the HEAT WAVE and LACK of PRECIPITATION.

Information on Wetting Agents and Drought/Heat Stress on Turf

written by NaEx Corp.

July is the peak month for water usage in the U.S.

Sprinkler system usage accounts for an estimated 70% of all water used. It is the goal of Rain Rich Sprinklers and the National Irrigation Association to conserve water at all times. Clean fresh water is a precious commodity and should not to be wasted, especially with a growing population and an increase demand for agriculture and landscape use.

Rain Rich has been leading the way for more than 28 years to use water conserving designs and efficient sprinkler equipment to help save water, reduce cost, and provide a healthy landscape.

DUE TO HIGH HEAT AND PROLONG DRY PERIOD WE ARE ADVISING ALL OF OUR CLIENTS TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

1. Increase the run time on your rotary sprinkler zones to 60 minutes per day.

2. Increase your SPRAY sprinkler zones to water for 20 minutes every day. 

3. Increase your DRIP IRRIGATION zones to water for 60 minutes every day.

4. Increase the water budget key on your sprinklers to 120% or more.

5. Water as early in the morning as possible. Start at 1 am if possible. This will give your system the greatest pressure and volume and operate at the highest efficiency. It will also finish the cycle before you are up and using water in the home.

6. Try not to use water in the house at the same time you are using your sprinkler system. There is not enough water to handle the demand.

Many Rain Rich clients have been adding flower pots, flower boxes, and hanging baskets to their homes, patios and pool areas only to find difficulty watering them regularly. I resolved this situation several years ago by adding drip irrigation to all of the above. It was so successful that I took it one step further by installing a separate drip zone for the flower pots which is independent of the existing sprinkler system having the ability to run the cycle more frequently and for a longer period of time. Now when your sprinklers are on the flower pots are automatically being watered.

Generally speaking, for the north shore of Long Island, the program that works the best is watering every other day and/or watering on odd or even days of the month. The soils on the north shore are typically heavy clay or a heavy clay loam and are compacted. They do not accept water very well and have poor drainage. The positive characteristic of this is that clay soils hold water better and longer making it available to many types of trees and plants. The sprinkler system can operate less frequently and for shorter periods of time in these conditions.

We have turned the corner on spring and heading into summer, trees and shrubs are in their annual growth spurt. It is one of my favorite times of year when all the plants leaf out, the lawn is green, and almost every plant is flowering. As the weather turns significantly warmer the sprinklers should be operating on a frequent schedule - not like July but at about 70% of what would be normal summer watering. One of the more numerous service requests we hear is when a zone or section of sprinklers is not operating as it should.

If you have been dreaming of enhancing your property with automatic lawn sprinklers, lighting or any of Rain Rich services, flexible financing is now available.

Rain Rich has teamed up with John Deere Credit to offer our customers affordable financing. John Deere offers two different financing options and we are sure either one will work for you.