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Water is an essential element that we can’t survive without.  But when we go into our gardens, we waste more of it than we know. We’re offering these 5 ways to prevent water waste in the interest of encouraging more sustainable practices.  If we all do our part, whether we’re under restriction due to drought…

Backflow can have several causes.  Unauthorized connections to the water system are just the beginning.  Back pressure and back siphonage are two other causes of the phenomenon.  When connections to systems with superior pressure to the water service provider are added, backflow can result from back pressure. The whys. In the case of back siphonage,…

If you have a sprinkler system in place, you have an irrigation controller.  This is an essential component of all sprinkler systems, allowing you to set your system to come on at the same time, for the same cycle, each day. Timing is everything. Irrigation controllers are the brains of the operation.  They’re mechanisms which…

Every systemic set up has a heart or core and with irrigation systems, that’s the irrigation valve.  In almost every system you can name, you’ll probably have two different types, even though there are many types of valves on the market. Not a garden valve. While many refer to irrigation control valves as “garden valves”,…

It’s that time of the year.  While kids going back to school may signal Autumn for some, it’s still summer and lawns everywhere are parched. Many of you reading may be living in areas where the grass appears to have turned to straw.  That means it’s dormant, because moisture levels have decreased to a critical…

Selecting a contractor for an irrigation system renovation can be a complex task, but making a good decision will help prevent trouble for years to come. There are three key steps to an irrigation project: Determine the system design Choose a system manufacturer Select a contractor to install the system Each step is essential for…

Before installing a permanent irrigation system, you’ll need to: See if your locality requires a building permit. Check for underground utilities before digging. Before you begin any excavation (that means even digging a hole), you’ve got to call and check for underground utilities. This isn’t just a good idea, it’s the LAW. Call your local…

You probably want 1-2″ of water per week, depending on your vegetation. Measure water by placing a cup or other container in each zone. Run the system for a regular cycle and measure the amount of water in the container. This will tell you how long your system needs to run to get the right…