Larsen Landscape | Blog

Watering Conservation Tips continued

There is a type of irrigation control box, which has a miniature weather station as well as a rain override system. This efficient technology is know as a Smart controller. The sensors detect weather conditions and adjust watering based on needs. The technology has been around for almost twenty years but the cost of these has come down for residential use. The return on your investment will probably be seen in the first year if not the first few months. Remember driving past houses during a rainstorm when the sprinklers were going full blast?

There are a many companies offering smart irrigation control products. Some are: AccuWater, Green Leaf Mapping & Control Systems, HydroEarth, Irritrol, Rain Bird, Rain Master, Toro, and Weathermatic.

If you don’t have a Smart controller system, the next best option is to adjust your settings regularly. Turn off the system when it rains, use it less when it is cool or cloudy, and regularly check which areas need water the most and adjust those valves. Wherever possible, design the sprinkler system to water the shady and sunny areas separately.  This might mean investing in a few more sprinkler control valves, but it makes a difference in the long run.

Simi Valley Lawn

It is amazing how many lawns I walk across when visiting properties where I hear a squishing sound as I walk and my shoes are soaked when I get to the other side.  This is the most obvious overuse of water and is more common than you might think.  This is not only expensive and a waste of water, it is not good for the lawn either.