131031 WATER MATTERS

During this time of the year we usually experience cooler and wetter weather. Irrigation systems should be running no more than one day a week; I prefer to leave everything off unless the weather is drier. Although most plants and turf enter a dormant phase and stop growing above ground, below ground their root zones are still expanding. Should temperatures decide to be milder, a one day a week schedule will provide adequate water to sustain it through the winter. Remember to turn the controller off if anticipating rain or freezing temperatures.

WATER SAVING TIPS

• ·         When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
• ·         Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground cover appropriate to our region.
• ·         Teach your children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
• ·         Remember to check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep sprinkler heads in good shape.
• ·         Soak pots and pans instead of letting water run while you scrape them clean.

131031 Eblast

Happy Halloween! We’ve had over 2.5 inches of rain this week. All controllers should be turned off. It’s also a good time to verify that rain sensors are working. Try running a manual test of your system. If it comes on, then either your rain sensor is not hooked up correctly, or it is bypassed. Contact your irrigation professional or a water ambassador if you are unsure.

With more rain forecasted next week, it would be appropriate to leave the controllers in the OFF position. Over watering during these moister, cooler days can lead to unsightly fungus and mold patches in your landscape. Also a reminder that controllers need to be set to no more than 2 days a week per the city’s request. I think we would be safe given our current and projected weather to reduce that even further to 1 day a week. If you would rather keep you program at 2 days a week, consider reducing the water budget to 50%, or half of your regular run time.