Total Landscape Care

irrigation well as under watering. "My recommendation is to do it in the springtime when you're firing the system back up in the colder climate markets," says Warren Gorowitz, vice presi- dent of sustainability, Ewing Irrigation. "It's turning on the irrigation valves, running the sprinklers to make sure it's running as efficiently as possible and making adjustments. You might find leaks that you can fix before you get into the summertime." As the weather begins to change, so should ir- rigation systems. Plants and lawns will need differ- ent amounts of water throughout the summer, and the equipment should meet the minimum irrigation needs. In a normal season, it's typical for a landscaper to check irrigation systems at least once during the summer months. "If they do two, they're re- ally ahead of the curve," says Jed Price, marketing manager, Rain Bird Corporation. "My recommenda- tion would be to do two – one in the June time- frame and one in the August timeframe." Dealing with drought Many states and cities will deal with different levels of drought this summer. Some states, like California, are already feeling the pressure of wa- tering restrictions. Irrigation systems need to be working at their top efficiency when dealing with a drought situa- tion. "When droughts come, that's when you need to change your schedule and have it optimized," Price says. "Droughts will show uneven coverage where it's not set correctly, and the mid-season check is the No. 1 thing a landscaper can do to help with the drought." Because drought can be widespread, many cities and municipalities are offering incentives or exemptions for drip irrigation systems or smart controllers. "Using high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles to 2 2 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m M AY 2 014 When installing irrigation equipment, paying attention to the details is key, including focusing on proper installation and using the right tools for the job. Cutting corners or rushing through the process can lead to serious problems later on. PHOTO COURTESY OF EWING

• Cover
• Breaking Ground: Stop Playing It Safe: Why and how you should change your mindset about failure
• Field Report: 8 Lawn Care Myths: Exposing landscape realities-plus, " Pets We Dig"
• Editor's Picks: Stay Cool: Manage the heat, designs, irrigation systems and more with these new products and equipment.
• Safety Watch: Falling Fronds: What to do when trimming around power lines
• Equipment Matters: Max Out Your CTL: Ways to get the most from your compact track loader
• ProPickUp: Making Green: How propane autologs id hitting full stride
• Portfolio: Evolving Edibles: Landscaper seamlessly blends garden with hardscape elements
• Cover Story: Going Social: How to gain followers- and what to do once you have them
• Landscaper of the Year Finalist: Works of Art: Small company has big success because of landscaper's design skills, marketing and relationships
• Irrigation: Summer Irrigation: Keep lawns looking their best by following these water tips.
• Chemical Care : What To Do When Turf Goes A-Rye: It's hard to be selective when taking perennial ryegrass out of the mix.