Being knowledgeable in smart irrigation
products can help your business weather
water restrictions and challenges, and ca-
ter to sustainability-focused clients, espe-
cially in areas dealing with drought.
At Ewing, we're always on the lookout
for irrigation trends and products that
help landscape and irrigation profession-
als use water more efficiently and keep
landscapes healthy.
From maintenance to new installa-
tions, here are some products to know
about that can help save water and devel-
op more drought-proof landscapes.
SMARTER SOIL
Soil quality is often an overlooked factor
when it comes to saving water in land-
scapes.
Without a good soil in which to grow,
plants can struggle to develop good root
systems and healthy growth. This can even
be mistaken for lack of water, leading to
over watering.
Starting with good soil can help save
water, and we've found two products that
can help improve the soil and contribute
to water savings.
Holganix offers plant-based, organic
compost teas and granular fertilizers that
are full of beneficial ingredients for plants
that go beyond the usual fertilizers.
Using Holganix can help improve turf
color and density, develop deeper and
thicker root systems, and help soil to bet-
ter retain water, helping lawns and plants
during drought.
A number of Holganix ingredients can
help reduce water use by improving soil
quality and plant health:
Endo and ectomycorrhizae fungus
improve root development and water and
nutrient uptake.
Humic and fulvic acids promote
root development and micronutrient ab-
sorption.
Kelp aids in uptake of plant nutri-
ents.
Yucca extract acts as a soil condi-
tioner.
Liquid or granular options of Holga-
nix are available with special formulations
for turf, flowers, trees and shrubs, golf
courses and more.
Another great product for soil is
Aquasmart Pro, an absorbent polymer-
coated sand that helps soil retain more
moisture and nutrients. The polymer
soaks up water, so less water is lost to
drainage and evaporation. Then the water
is released slowly back to the soil, so you
can water less frequently and still main-
tain healthy plants.
Aquasmart Pro can help safeguard turf
in plants in areas with one or two day a
week watering restrictions, reduce wa-
tering frequency and improve success of
new sod, seedings and plantings. And us-
ing Holganix with Aquasmart Pro is even
smarter.
DRIP DEVELOPMENTS
Drip irrigation is well-known for high-
efficiency, with about a 90 percent water-
efficiency rate.
In some drought-stricken areas, drip
irrigation is becoming a requirement for
irrigation systems installed on narrow
strips to prevent water waste.
Some drip products are becoming even
smarter, like Landscape Products EZ-ID
CV Dripline, which includes water-saving
emitters.
Each emitter has a built-in check valve
feature that stops the flow of water when
the pressure drops below 2 psi, prevent-
ing excessive drainage, watering and back
siphoning. This dripline also features
On the Lookout for Smart
Irrigation Products
IRRIGATION AND WATER MANAGEMENT
10 Smart Irrigation Special Edition www.landscapeirrigation.com
■ BY LAURA ORY