Spring is here and across Arizona homeowners are starting to think about our outdoors. Outdoor landscape that is.
We thought it would be a good idea to give every Arizona homeowner a refresher course on how to make sure our plants are getting the water they need to thrive.
We asked Rosie Certified Partner, Aaron Merkow, owner of Core Landscaping to help us get you some tips on what you can do to prepare your irrigation system for the warm, or hot, months ahead.
Start with the Brain
The time clock is essentially the brains of the irrigation system. As the command center, it tells the system what to do, when to do it, and how long to do it.
- Make sure the current time setting is correct. If this is off, then watering will happen when you don’t want it to. The day, AM or PM, hour, and minute settings should reflect real time before you program the controller.
- Set the start time(s). If your system is zoned, say for trees, shrubs, grass or cactus, a start time for each will be needed.
- Set the ‘run’ time for each zone. This determines the length of time each plant is watered and sets the amount of water each plant in a zone will receive.
- Interval setting is next. This is where you choose which days you want to water. If your landscape irrigation is zoned, each zone will probably have a different setting. If you have settings already programed in, reusing them is best.
- Your controller may have a backup battery. Typically, these are either a 9 volt or the round flat batteries. By removing the front face plate on the controller, you will see the battery there. This would be a good time of year to replace it.
- If you are unsure of the timing you need to set, call one of our landscaping Rosie on the House Certified Partners, like Aaron to get guidance. Asking up front may cost a little, but surely less than buying new plants.
Next Step, Valves and Filters
With the controller all squared away, your next task is to check the valves and filter. The valve is commonly in a plastic enclosure underground near the controller box. Remove the cover and look:
- There should be no standing water in the box. It will be moist, but standing water is indicative of a leak. If there is standing water you next step is to search for a leak, and that leak is usually near the enclosure. If there is no leak then let’s move on to another next step.
- The system filter is a ‘Y’ shaped black piece that can be easily unscrewed from the piping. In side you will see a filter that can usually be cleaned. Run a hose over it to dislodge and debris or sediment that might inhibit the flow of water. When done, simply screw the ‘Y’ piece back where you got it from.
Emitters and Such
The working end of every irrigation system is the emitter. This may come in the form of a drip emitter, slow steady stream emitter, or sprinkler head emitter. The type used is decided by the type of plant the system is supplying water to. A cactus will need much less water than a Cottonwood tree. Aaron’s tips start with a visual inspection of each emitter.
- Turn the system on so it is fully operational before you inspect.
- You may have to get under the shrubs to locate each emitter. That may also take some clearing and digging.
- Emitters can become clogged with debris, and even plant roots. Have a thin piece of metal that will fit in the emitter outlet to clean out any such build up.
- Have extra emitters with you for replacement if necessary. These are typically compression fittings that you can push into the open end of the irrigation line.
- For sprinkler emitters, the kind that usually water turf, look to see if the spread or arc is accurately covering the area needed and not producing over or under coverage.
The goal of any irrigation system is to conserve water. Making sure our systems are working properly is a huge part of achieving that goal.
Aaron leaves us with a parting tip. Often we remove plants. There are a variety of reasons of course, the plant died, grew too large, or you just wanted a change. A common oversight is making sure the emitter that was feeding that plant should be removed and the irrigation line plugged. A good thought!
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Homeowner Handbook | #CheckYourIrrigation
PODCAST
Our Weekly To Do on checking your irrigation from the timer to the sprinklers and drip lines. Homeowner questions from listeners include the source of dust collecting in a home, surface moisture on a cement slab, patio sloping water and mildew toward the home, a solution to deflect a neighboring tree’s leaf drops, emergency pendant battery check for the elderly, texting scams and more things around the house!
Original Broadcast Archive Page With Expanded Content
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