Smart Water Management Practices
ValleyCrest Landscape Companies (@ValleyCrest) & Corona Tools (@CoronaTools) host #landscapechat every Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT on Twitter to discuss the latest tips, trends and innovation in the green industry.
On Wednesday, June 20, 2012, ValleyCrest’s Richard Restuccia (@H2Otrends), Director of Water Management Solutions, chatted with special guest Smartscape Arizona (@SmartscapeUA) on #landscapechat about how to adopt the smartest water management practices. Haley Paul, Program Director at Smartscape, shared how the program teaches responsible desert landscaping and the value of hiring a certified landscaper. Joining them was fellow blogger Martha Golea (@MargoH2o) and a host of water management enthusiasts. Here are the top takeaways from our chat. Please remember all messages in Twitter (“tweets”) are limited to 140 characters or less.
Achieve Water Conservation via Landscapes
Companies now pay even closer attention to properties’ water bills, want to manage water more efficiently.
Water isn’t just desert issue. Even wet regions must do better job of protecting, preserving this precious natural resource.
Smartscape encompasses smart water management, irrigation efficiency, and stewardship of desert-compatible landscapes.
We have an upcoming course that runs Mondays and Wednesdays, August 6-29, 3-5:30 PM in Chandler, AZ: bit.ly/LyCky2
Also, as part of @UofA, Smartscape delivers research-based, non-biased information on horticulture & water management
We target saving water outdoors, in landscapes, because that’s where biggest savings are often found.
Regional Ecology & Plant Tips
Essential to know the plant palette and base irrigation strategies on regional soils and climate bit.ly/NNKGC0
What are some plants you recommend for landscapes in Arizona?
For pros and homeowners alike, check out: bit.ly/Mo6VMV from @AMWUA.
Little-leaf cordia, red justicia, chuparosa, creosote…. Just to name a few! Beautiful colors with Arizona Yellow Bells and Cape Honeysuckle as well.
Check out these great trees for the Arizona Desert: amwua.org/trees.html
Educating Professionals & the Public
We train professionals on water-efficient landscapes, then they in turn install and maintain many sites. Ripple effect.
Product making the biggest impact in the shortest period of time for water savings is smart controller. bit.ly/IyELuT
Future success of industry depends on making water management a primary focus; we must educate and train accordingly.
We tell landscape pros to select smart controllers that can change watering intervals as well as run times.
This way, the controller has the potential to not only save water but water properly in the cooler months.
Cities around AZ have rebates: bit.ly/LCAHiM : Check with local/state water agencies abt rebates.
Please join us in the coming weeks for #landscapechat as we discuss July being Smart Irrigation Month and designing communities with nature in mind.
If you’re interested in seeing the whole conversation, you can read the transcript on Storify.
Richard Restuccia – Follow me on Twitter @H2oTrends
Martha Golea – Follow me on Twitter @MargoH2o
I have questions. If there is an irrigation system already set up and it’s in a somewhat arid region but it still gets rain, can you install a water detection system so the irrigation system doesn’t water while its raining? Also, For the best lawn maintenance and to help get the best irrigation, shouldn’t you rake the lawn to remove old and dead grass along with old leaves that didn’t decompose? Also, isn’t it better to have sharp blades on the mower so it doesn’t rip the grass instead of cutting it? Shouldn’t you also arrate your lawn, but not put 1 inch holes in it? If you do all these things, don’t you get the best from your irrigation system using less water?