irrigation
water lawn areas can signifi cantly reduce water
use without sacrifi cing the turf quality," says Peter
Lackner, irrigation product marketing manager,
Toro. "Similarly, for shrub areas or trees, switching
to a drip irrigation system from sprays can have an
equally effective impact in increasing effi ciency of
an irrigation system, allowing you to do more with
less during a drought."
Beyond checking irrigation systems and check-
ing the water output, landscapers need to be
checking the irrigation equipment for effi ciency.
Sometimes, a high-effi ciency sprinkler system will
have a lower precipitation rate, which means the
sprinklers will run longer than a traditional nozzle.
"That can come back and not be a good thing
because you're limited on how long you can run an
irrigation system," Gorowitz says.
When looking for effi cient irrigation equipment,
landscapers can look for items that are EPA
WaterSense certifi ed. "This means they have been
third-party certifi ed by organizations associated
with the EPA to minimize over or under watering,"
says Alexis Bookman, product marketing manager,
Irritrol. "Plants get just the right amount of water
when they need it."
If an area is prone to drought, it's a good idea to
stay up to date on legislation, rebates and restric-
tions in the area. Since 2005, the Irrigation Associ-
ation has hosted Smart Irrigation Month during the
M AY 2 014 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m 2 3
Text
INFO
to
205-289-3796
or
visit
TLC
request.com
By using drip irrigation on individual trees, fl ower beds and container
plants, landscapers can keep landscapes looking healthy, as well as
reduce water waste through evaporation or runoff.
PHOTO
COURTESY
OF
EWING
