Category: Resources

  • Four Tips For Painting Your Lawn Green

    grassIf you still want a green lawn but don’t want to pay the high cost for water ,  or have water restrictions that don’t allow for you to keep it green or maybe you just want to do your part for water conservation, painting your lawn green is an option.  Aesthetically I believe having your lawn all one color is important.  I don’t think it matters much if that color is all brown or all green.  When we discuss brown is the new green, the key is to have a uniform appearance for the lawn.  Water restrictions allowing water on certain days for short periods of time often result in wide variety of color in your turf.  Painting your lawn all one color results in the desirable uniform look while giving you the option to grow your lawn in the future when the water situation is more favorable.

    GRECIAN FORMULA FOR YOUR LAWN

    There are several products on the market that allow you to paint your lawn green using non hazardous chemicals.  They are not hazardous to plants, humans or animals.  It will even be okay if your pet eats the grass that has been treated.  In addition, if you walk on the grass or if the grass gets wet you don’t have to worry about tracking the paint on your shoes into your home.  These paint products typically dry in less than an hour, are easy to apply and for the average homeowner something they can do at about the same expense (time and money) as a fertilizer application.

    • Be sure to use a product that a naturally occurring pigmented dye that is 100% safe for the environment and 100% biodegradable.  Stay away from latex paint.
    • Mow the lawn before application and make sure it is free of weeds
    • You can apply most paints with a garden sprayer.  Use a circular pattern and be sure to mask off any areas adjacent your lawn you do not want to paint.  Achieving a uniform color is the key here.
    • Even though the product is non-toxic it is a good idea to wear protective clothing such as latex style gloves, safety goggles and a cloth breathing mask.  Also, please read and follow all label directions.

    The lawn should stay green for 2 weeks to 6 months depending on several factors including: weather, new growth, type of grass, mowing, and the condition of your lawn.  If you apply this to your lawn now and let it go dormant for the winter you should be able to get by with one or two applications.  There are many strategies to reduce the expense and scarcity of water and this is just another option.   As we continue with the new normal of always either going into a drought or coming out of a drought we are going to have to keep developing new ways of dealing with the cost and scarcity of water.
    Learn More About Richard Restuccia.

    If you like this post please consider subscribing to the blog or follow me on twitter at @H2oTrends.

  • 4 Ways To Kill Your Lawn

    Everyday I read about the benefits of killing your lawn and converting turf to a more drought tolerant landscape.  However, even my friends  who claim to have no green thumb at all still have a hard time killing turf.  So if you are ready to channel your inner Norman Bates and kill your lawn,  this post provides four ways to help you.  Just remember it might resist more than you expect, and what we need is turf reduction not turf elimination.  Reduction will be much more palatable to most property owners.

    The Easy Way Out – Poison

    Killing your existing lawn by applying a nonselective herbicide, such as glyphosate,  (trade name Roundup) over the entire area is one of the easiest methods. Glyphosate is a post-emergence herbicide that effectively kills turf and weeds in the turf. Glyphosate spreads rapidly in actively growing plants. For best results spray your turf when your lawn is actively growing. Do not water after treatment, the grass will absorb the herbicide rapidly.  Depending on the type of turf you have it may take up to a week after the application for the grass to show signs of dying.  Temperature plays a role as well and it might take as long as two weeks for the entire lawn to die.  In some areas you may have to repeat the application.

    Smother the Lawn

    One of the best ways to smother a lawn is the sheet composting method or what I like to call making lawn lasagna.  Mom did not teach me this recipe.  I like to make a four layer lasagna.  The first layer is nitrogen for the soil.  This can be in the form of grass clippings or manure or a nitrogen rich organic fertilizer. We are removing turf, but we also want to replace the turf with a vibrant drought tolerant landscape so we want to start with fertilizer.  The next layer needed is a  weed barrier.  Cardboard works great as a weed barrier and so does layers of newspaper.  This weed barrier has to be thick because so you might have to use many  layers of newspaper if you select this method. The next layer ideally should be a good growing medium, a layer of compost, or manure would be great. You can also use leaves or garden trimmings.  The key here is to make sure what you are using is weed free.  Otherwise those weeds (grass) are going to grow in your new yard. Finally the last layer should be a layer of mulch.   This will be aesthetically pleasing and help keep your bed from blowing away.  Roots from your new plantings will be able to work through the cardboard or newspaper to find nutrients and water.

    The Hatchet Job

    Another effective albeit labor intensive way to remove turf is to dig it out.  You can attempt this yourself or hire a crew, either way the labor is tough, but you will see the results almost immediately.  Do this process in the winter when the temperatures are lower make this much easier.  You can use a shovel or fork for the removal. I recommend cutting the turf into workable strips and slide the shovel or spade under the turf cutting through the roots and pry the turf up from the soil.  You will have workable strips you can roll up and remove.  Unfortunately you will be removing a lot of soil nutrients with the turf, but just think how much you will save on a gym membership.

    Hire Muscle

    In this case the muscle is in the form of a mechanical sod cutter.  These can be rented at places like Home Depot for less than $100 a day.  You will probably need to rent ramps and have a truck to transport it.  Using the sod cutter is a lot like mowing the grass except you are going to stop every few feet and roll and remove the strips the cutter has made.

    Finally, remember to make changes to your irrigation.  The time to do this is right after you kill the turf.  Most turf areas are irrigated with sprays and this  is the ideal time to change those sprays to drip or something else much more water efficient than sprays.  I am sure you have other effective methods as well and I look forward to hearing your best practices for removing turf.

    Many thanks to Seth Van Der Linden, currently a student at Cal Poly Pomona in Landscape Architecture with minors in irrigation and regenerative studies, and irrigation intern at ValleyCrest in our Oceanside Branch.  Seth supplied much of the research for this article and is headed back to school soon.  We hope he enjoyed his internship as much as we enjoyed working with him this summer.

    Learn More About Richard Restuccia.

    If you like this post please consider subscribing to the blog or follow me on twitter at @H2oTrends.

     

  • How To Make Smart Irrigation Month Work For You

    For those of us who subscribe to the blog, every month is Smart Irrigation Month.  The good news for us is the Irrigation Association created Smart Irrigation Month as an initiative to increase public awareness of the value of water-use efficiency and grow demand for water-saving products, practices and services.   July is the selected month because it is typically the month water requirements are highest for landscapes, it’s typically the hottest month of the year, and a great time to check how well your irrigation system is watering.

    Smart Irrigation Month is an industry campaign to increase public awareness of the value of water-use efficiency.  It’s an opportunity for all of us to:

    Smart controllers are a great idea for Smart Irrigation Month.  They deliver exactly the right amount of water at the right time. Below are just a few of the advantages of using smart controllers:

    • Minimize overwatering while keeping your lawn and garden beautiful and healthy
    • Adjust watering automatically to account for rain and other conditions
    • Provide internet access making it easier to manage water
    • Provide flow sensing so you can eliminate water waste from breaks and leaks

    With just a few simple strategies, it’s easy to save water, save money and see better results.

    The Irrigation Association makes the following recommendations:

    Plant Right

    • Landscape to suit your lot –Choose grass or plants that have low water requirements and will thrive in your local climate. Consider your lot’s exact features, including sun and shade, dry and damp areas, plant size, and how you plan to use each section of your yard
    • Keep soil healthy – Aerating your lawn and around trees at least once a year helps improve water penetration. When planting, turn and cultivate the soil and add compost or fertilizer to improve moisture retention and grow healthier plants that need less water to stay strong
    • Mulch well around plants, bushes and trees – Using 2 to 4 inches of mulch reduces evaporation, moderates spikes and lows in soil temperatures, improves water penetration and helps control weeds that compete for water
    • “Hydro-zone” your yard- Grouping plants with similar moisture needs in the same area makes it easier to make sure they get the water they need without overwatering. Separate plants from grassy areas, which have different water requirements
    • Save grass for functional areas – Plant grass in play zones and other areas where it will be used and enjoyed. Instead of planting turf on sleep slopes or other hard-to-water spaces, consider ground cover, perimeter plants or mulch
    • Plant shade trees – The shade they cast creates natural “air-conditioning,” lowering air and soil temperatures, and reducing soil moisture loss
    • Maintain your yard regularly – A well-maintained yard requires less water, so weed, prune and mow as needed

    Water Wisely

    • Get in the zone – Schedule each individual zone in your irrigation system to account for type of sprinkler, sun or shade exposure, and soil in that section. Different zones will almost always need different watering schedules
    • Consider soil type – Type of soil determines how quickly water can be absorbed without runoff. Watering more than soil can absorb causes runoff and waste
    • Don’t send water down the drain – Set sprinklers to water plants, not your driveway, sidewalk, patio or buildings
    • Water at the best time. Watering during the heat of the day may cause losses of up to 30 percent due to evaporation. Prevent water loss by watering when the sun is low or down, winds are calm and temperatures are cool — typically between the evening and early morning
    • Water more often for shorter periods – For example, setting your system to run for three, 5-minute intervals lets soil absorb more water than watering for 15 minutes at one time, reducing runoff
    • Adapt watering to the season – Familiarize yourself with the settings on your irrigation controller and adjust the watering schedule regularly based on seasonal weather conditions. Or invest in a smart controller so your system can make these changes automatically

    Invest in an Irrigation System

    • Use components that provide flexibility – Different plants have different watering needs, and these needs may change over time. Your system should allow you to apply the right amount of water for each type of plant by the most effective method
    • Install excess capacity – Irrigation zones are areas that are watered by the same irrigation valve and plumbing. Installing extra connections now makes it easier and less expensive to expand your irrigation system later
    • Think smart –  Include “smart” controls that automatically adjust watering based on rain, soil moisture, evaporation and plant water use
    • Check water pressure – Low or high pressure can seriously affect sprinkler performance; choose sprinklers based on the water pressure on your site.
    • Buy the best – Use the best components you can afford to minimize future maintenance and total lifetime cost of your system
    • Dig deep – Install lines deep enough to protect them from damage from aeration and other lawn maintenance
    • Look for savings – Many water utilities offer rebates for certain water-efficient products. Before finalizing your new system, consult with your local water provider
    • Hire carefully – Even the best irrigation system won’t perform well if installed incorrectly. When looking to hire a designer or contractor, always get multiple bids, check references and confirm all vendors are insured

    Maintain & Upgrade Your System

    • Inspect your system monthly –  Check for leaks, broken or clogged sprinkler heads, and other problems. Clean clogged screens and micro-irrigation filters as needed
    • Adjust sprinkler heads – Remove or correct obstructions that prevent sprinklers from distributing water evenly. Adjust sprinkler head positions and spray patterns to avoid watering sidewalks or structures and to provide necessary clearance over growing plants
    • Check the pressure –  Pressure can change over time and negatively affect system efficiency
    • Inspect the system for leaks – Leaks are a huge water waster. A good contractor can perform regular maintenance checks for leaks, broken or clogged spray heads, and other problems. Ask them to show you common problems to watch for between visits
    • Install a rain shutoff switch –  These inexpensive sensors can be retrofitted to almost any system and help compensate for natural rainfall by turning off your system in rainy weather
    • Consider “smart” technology – Climate or soil moisture sensor-based controllers evaluate weather or soil moisture conditions and then automatically adjust the irrigation schedule to meet the specific needs of your landscape
    • Consider low volume, micro-irrigation for gardens, trees and shrubs – Drip (or trickle) irrigation, micro spray jets, micro-sprinklers and bubbler irrigation all apply a very small amount of water, slowly and precisely, minimizing evaporation, runoff and overspray
    • Have your system audited – Hire a professional to conduct an irrigation audit and uniformity test to verify areas are being watered evenly and appropriately, and make necessary adjustments
    • Look for savings –  Many water utilities offer rebates for certain water-efficient products. Before upgrading your new system, consult with your local water provider
    • Winterize in colder climates – An irrigation contractor with specialized equipment will flush out water that could freeze and crack pipes, valves and sprinklers

    Work With an Irrigation Professional

    • Hire certified – Hire an irrigation professional that has specialized understanding of irrigation principles, technology and techniques
    • Hire local – Work with an irrigation professional that understands local environmental conditions and can help you choose low water plants and grass that will flourish in your climate and lot
    • Hire smart – Irrigation professionals help ensure that the work complies with local building codes for licensing, backflow prevention, installation and more

    Thanks to the Irrigation Association for this  awesome list of tips and tricks. Whether your property  is large or small it’s easy to be smart!  I am sure I didn’t list all the ways to make smart irrigation month work for you.  If you have a few I missed please feel free to share them in the comments section.

    Learn More About Richard Restuccia. If you like this post please consider subscribing to the blog or follow me on twitter at @H2oTrends.

     

  • An Awesome Water Management Checklist…Even If You Hate Irrigation

    Let’s start with the assumption you are an awesome water manager or at least have responsibility for water management on a property.  Why would you need a checklist for water management? Creating checklists for routine and complex procedures helps you manage a specific set of parameters on a regular basis.  As more tools become available to measure water use, consistency in management is a critical success factor. So, if you can consistently review these four basic items on your landscape you will find yourself saving water, saving money and having a more beautiful, vibrant landscape.  

    Turf Conversions for Better Water Management

    I love turf especially in areas where turf is essential.  A few examples of essential areas include sports fields, common areas of homeowners associations where neighbors enjoy outdoor spaces for getting together and in resort properties where guests want to enjoy the outdoors for weddings and other outdoor events.  We also see turf in non-essential areas.  In the side picture we see a parking lot island with turf.  Typically in this situation the turf grows above the curb which helps water run off on to the parking lot.  This contributes to having to reseal more often than normal. The parking lot strips with turf are also expensive to maintain.  They waste water and waste labor and that’s why I call them stupid strips.  We all know of similar areas in some properties where turf doesn’t work.

    Another area to check is turf areas touching hardscapes like sidewalks.  I often see turf planted in yards as squares surrounded by concrete sidewalks or buildings.  We can add a rounded boarder (see second side picture) to these areas replacing turf with some drought tolerant plants use less water and eliminate runoff.  This improves water management and can improve aesthetics too.

    Today many people are suggesting we remove our lawns completely.  I don’t think we need to take such extreme action and many water agencies implementing water budgets are still allowing for turf.  The EPAs water budget tool allows for turf too.  I worry the ever more popular call to remove all turf is such an extreme view many people are going to be turned off to the water conservation movement.  Below are the additional items I would be checking regularly concerning turf on my property:

    • Do I have non-functional turf areas I can remove
    • Is subsurface irrigation possible
    • Do I have steep slopes of turf with runoff that can me eliminated or better managed with a smart controller or multiple start times

     

    Shrub and Annual Beds

    During the construction boom of the late 80s and 90s there were millions of spray heads installed in shrub and annual beds.  We have since learned spray heads are not an efficient way to water our landscapes.  I recommend you check for the following items in your shrub and annual beds:

    • Are there spray heads I can convert to drip irrigation
    • Have any shrubs grown so large they are blocking spay heads and making it tough to water efficiently.
    • Can I replace any high water use plants with more drought tolerant plants

     

    Efficient and Uniform Distribution

    Irrigation systems should be designed to be efficient and distribute water uniformly across the landscape.  Installation should be completed per the design and then maintained properly so the integrity of the system remains strong.  Design, installation and maintenance contribute to maintaining a healthy landscape while maximizing water savings.  Regular checks of the following will be a factor for a more efficient and uniform system:

    • Do I need to replace any nozzles
    • Can any spray heads be changed to high efficiency nozzles
    • Are there any sprays and rotors on the same zone
    • Is there too much pressure causing misting and wasting water
    • Are there any heads sitting too low or tilted

     

    Controllers and Programming

    Installing smart controllers or accurately programming traditional controllers is often the easiest and most cost effective way to maximize water savings.  Even traditional controllers have a wide variety of features and watering options for saving water and need to be programmed so the water saving features are utilized and water savings is maximized.  Below is a basic checklist for controllers:

    • Do I have rain sensors attached to all controllers to automatically turn the irrigation off when it rains
    • Am I making regular adjustments to a traditional controller based on ET
    • Would programming multiple start times reduce runoff
    • Can I convert the traditional controller to a smart controller

    Remember this checklist is just a start.  But if you are not implementing some type of checklist today using this one may significantly reduce your water use.  As water becomes more scarce and more expensive, tools like this checklist can help us better manage this precious resource.

    Learn More About Richard Restuccia. If you like this post please consider subscribing to the blog or follow me on twitter at @H2oTrends.

  • My Favorite Drought-Tolerant Plants for Southwest Landscapes

    Contrary to what many people might think, the deserts of the American Southwest offer a kaleidoscope of colorful and interesting drought-tolerant plants with which to create a xeriscape. What is xeriscaping you ask? It’s a way of landscaping that focuses on water conservation through the use of native, drought-tolerant plants. The term comes from the Greek word “xeros,” which means dry, and the xeriscape philosophy is a perfect approach to water-efficient desert gardening.

    With that in mind, I’ve listed some of my favorite native, drought-tolerant plants for xeriscaping in the Southwest region. The plants hail from either the Sonora, Chihuahua, or Mojave deserts and all are readily available from local nurseries. I’ve tried to provide a variety of low-maintenance species, many with colorful flowers that will help your landscape stand out and provide you with years of enjoyment.

    Please note: Choose appropriate-sized plants for your landscape and allow room for them to grow. That will help you avoid a cluttered look and eliminate the need for extra pruning.

    Top Native, Drought-Tolerant Plants

    Trees and Large Cacti

    Consider trees and large cacti the backbone of your landscape. Not only do their stature and sculptural shape remain beautiful focal points year-round, trees and cacti also help draw attention upward and away from ground level.

    Trees

    1. White Thorn Acacia (Acacia contricta) – Yellow puffball flowers. Attracts Birds.
    2. Palo Blanco (Acacia willardiana) – Striking white bark. Nice accent tree.
    3. Anancho Orchid (Bauhinia lunarioides) – White flowers. Nice patio tree.
    4. Foothills Paloverde (Cercidium microphyllum) – Beautiful yellow flowers. Good for   native landscapes.
    5. Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) – Beautiful pink flowers. Attracts hummingbirds.

    Large Cacti

    1. Saguaro (Carnegia gigantean) – Large white flowers. Fruit enjoyed by many animals.
    2. Senita (Lophocereus schotti) – Pink flowers. Blooms at night.
    3. Engelmann’s Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmanni) – Yellow flowers. Fruit attracts birds.
    4. Organ Pipe (Stenocereus thurberi) – Pink flower. Striking landscape focal point.
    5. Buckhorn Cholla (Opuntia acanthocarpa) – Red or yellow flowers. Effective security screen.

    Shrubs

    Shrubs can be used to break up large spaces as well as to anchor buildings, whether homes or businesses, to a site.  Many species can be trained to grow as a screen to hide less-than-beautiful backdrops, such as blank walls.

    1. Wooly Butterfly Bush (Buddleia marrubifolia) – Orange flowers. Attracts butterflies.
    2. Pink Fairy Duster (Calliandra eriophylla) – Pink flowers. Attracts hummingbirds.
    3. Little-leaf Cordia (Cordia parvifolia) – White flowers. Effective screen or informal hedge.
    4. Brittlebush (Encelia farinose) – Yellow flowers. Silver-grey leaves offer beautiful contrast.
    5. Flat-top Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) – White flowers. Suitable for small spaces; reaches a mere 1 ½’ high and spreads to 2′ wide.
    6. Violet Silverleaf (Leucophyllum candidum) – Deep violet flowers. Silvery leaves contrast well with green-foliaged plants.
    7. Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) – White, pink, purple flowers. Good informal hedge.
    8. Baja Ruellia (Ruellia peninsularis) – Purple flowers. Attracts hummingbirds.
    9. Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) – Small non-show flowers. Effective screen or informal hedge.
    10. Golden Eye (Viguiera deltoidea) – Yellow flowers. Good for naturalistic landscapes.

    Ground Cover, Succulents, and Vines

    These plants come in a variety of sizes and shapes, not to mention colors and textures, and offer a great way to provide continuity and flow between major landscape components. Below are my favorites for low-water landscapes.

    Ground Cover

    1. Damianta (Chrysactinia mexicana) – Golden yellow flowers. Fragrant foliage attracts butterflies.
    2. Trailing Dalea (Dalea greggii) – Lavender flowers. Also known as “Trailing Indigo Bush,” very tolerant of tough conditions.
    3. Tufted Evening Primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) – White flowers. Very fragrant, flowers open in the evening, close at mid-day.
    4. Saltillo Primrose (Oenothera stubbei) – Yellow flowers. Showy sweet-scented blooms open from dusk to early morning.
    5. Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involuerata) – Red flowers. Very tough plant with attractive foliage.

    Succulents

    1. Parry’s Agave (Agave parryi) – Bright yellow flowers. Very decorative. Grey green with spine-tipped “leaves.”
    2. Desert Milkweed (Asclepias subulata) – White cluster flowers. Slender grey-green stems. Attracts butterflies.
    3. Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) – Red-orange flowers. Cane-like spiny stems. Attracts hummingbirds.
    4. Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) – Rose-coral spike flowers. Attracts hummingbirds.
    5. Slipper Flower (Pedilanthus macrocarpus) – Red slipper-like flowers. Attracts hummingbirds.

    Vines

    1. Grape Ivy (Cissus trifoliate) – No flower. Does best when allowed to climb.
    2. Yellow Orchid Vine (Mascagnia macroptera) – Yellow cluster flowers. Flowers followed by paper-like pods.
    3. Yuca Vine (Merremia aurea) – Large yellow flowers. Provides good summer color.
    4. Baja Passion Vine (Passiflora foetida) – White and purple flowers. Attracts butterflies.

     

    Perennial and Annual Wildflowers

    Wildflowers planted in different ways achieve various results, from informal to more traditional.  For example, mixes of wildflowers planted in a drifting pattern give your landscape a more casual effect while wildflowers planted in strictly designed borders create a more traditional landscape.

    Perennial Wildflowers

    1. Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) – Yellow flowers. Long blooming period.
    2. Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucantham) – White daisy-like flowers. Bright colorful display.
    3. Canyon Penstemon (Penstemon pseudospectabilis) – Rose-purple flowers. Attracts hummingbirds.
    4. Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) – Orange, white, pink flowers. Purchase this plant in bloom to ensure correct flower color.
    5. Autumn Sage (Salvia greggi) – Red or Pink flowers. Attracts hummingbirds.

    Annual Wildflowers

    1. Desert Bluebells (Phacelia campanularia) – Brilliant blue flowers. Note: Leaves can irritate skin.
    2. Mexican Hat (Ratibia columnaris) – Yellow sombrero-shaped flowers. Blooms deep in fall.
    3. Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentus) – Blue spike flowers. Improves soil by fixating nitrogen.
    4. Chia (Salvia columbariae) – Blue puffball flowers. Seed can be eaten and was an important food for Native Americans.
    5. Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella) – Red and yellow flowers. Easily germinated well into fall.

    More Resources for Drought-Tolerant Landscaping in the Southwest

    The lists above are by no means the definitive options for xeriscaping in the Southwest. It’s just a start. For more information, take a look at this post on drought tolerant plant resources on the ValleyCrest blog or check out these resources:

    Arizona Municipal Water Users Association

    Arizona Department of Water Resources

    New Mexico State University, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

  • 3 Reasons To Use Drought Tolerant or Native Plants

    A native plant is one occurring naturally, in a given geography, without human involvement.  These are the plants growing on the landscape without the aid of humans.  This means they were not brought there intentionally or sometimes unintentionally.  Unfortunately we know sometimes people bring them by mistake and don’t think about the unintended consequences.  A drought tolerant plant does not have to been a native plant.  Drought tolerant plants are plants having adapted to tolerate drought better than most.  A drought tolerant plant will survive in your landscape with less than normal amounts of rainfall.  Not all drought tolerant plants are native and not all native plants are drought tolerant.

    Drought Tolerant Means Less Water

    Because drought tolerant plants by definition have adapted to dryer climates and have lower water requirements they naturally use less water.  A native plant may be drought tolerant but just because it is a native plant does not mean it is drought tolerant.  Most native plants, once established, need minimal supplemental irrigation.  However, I do recommend researching the water requirement to ensure you have the right native for your geography.

    Lower Maintenance With Drought Tolerant and Native Plants

    You can look forward to using less water with most native plants and because these plants have adapted to the local environment you will spend less time fertilizing, pruning and caring for them in general.  Most likely you will be able to spend a little time with them once every few months and still have a vibrant beautiful garden.  Drought tolerant plants tend to be more disease and pest resistant while needing little to no fertilizer.  This should free up time to do more creative activities in your gardens.

    Beauty

    Drought tolerant native landscapes do not have to mean rocks and cacti or succulents.  Well designed drought tolerant native landscapes can look attractive all twelve months of the year.  There are so many varieties of plants to choose from you can be assured to have color in your garden no matter the season.  You can check out over 5000 drought tolerant garden designs on Houzz.  The Denver Botanical Garden has some great examples as well.
     

    Still Need To Consider Right Plant Right Place

    Choosing the “right plant for the right place” is one of the most important considerations for all types of landscaping.  Just planting native and drought tolerant plants will not solve all your landscape issues.  Ignoring the right plant right place guideline may lead to increased maintenance, unhealthy looking plants and costly failure of expensive landscapes even using drought tolerant native plants.  Careful planning and completing a thorough evaluation of your landscape are the first steps in applying this concept.  With some extra effort in the planning stages you can ensure a beautiful, healthy, low water use, easy to maintain landscape.  That really does sound like paradise.

    Learn More About Richard Restuccia If you like this post please consider subscribing to the blog or follow me on twitter at @H2oTrends.

  • Resources for the California Drought

    The ridiculously resistant high

    Many scientists believe the California drought is being caused by a huge high pressure zone off the coast of California.  The zone of high pressure is 4 miles high and 2000 miles long.  The jet stream that would normally drop down into California this time of year has bumped off this high pressure ridge and been diverted to Alaska, British Columbia and the East Coast.  This high pressure ridge has been around for over a year.  These types of ridges pop up from time to time, but this high just won’t go away.  Learn more about the ridge here.

    Drought monitor

    Another resource I frequently use is the U. S. Drought Monitor.   This page is a weekly map of drought conditions that is produced jointly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.  It provides a visual of drought conditions across the United States.   If you want more specific data it allows you to click on regions and states to get more detail.  So clicking on California shows you the specifics of the California drought. It also shows the history or trends for the last week, last three months and last year.  This helps identify trends.  You are either going into a drought or coming out of a drought.

    Surface water and ground water

    To fully understand the drought in California you need to first understand the difference between surface water and ground water and how the two are interconnected and at times jointly managed.  This report from U.C. Davis’ Center for Watershed Sciences clearly explains the two and their interconnection.

    My five favorite tips to manage outside water during the California drought

    1. Complete spring start up inspections early to identify sources of water waste
    2. Implement irrigation system and component upgrades that increase water savings
    3. Aerate turf and add mulch around trees, shrubs and planting beds
    4. Prioritize areas that require maximum aesthetic value so water can be applied prudently
    5. Plan for the short-term, three year vision and long-term (10 year) needs of your property

    For extra credit – Weekly Colorado River water report

    For those of you who really want to follow closely what is happening with water in the West you can view the weekly Colorado River report from the U.S Bureau of Reclamation.  This report provides details on the conditions of water in the lower Colorado River which supplies water to California.  The Colorado River is the principle resource for water in California and six other states. California receives an allocation of about 27% form the Colorado River, which is the largest allocation of water for any state.

    I hope these resources help you to manage the California drought.  I’m sure you have some favorite resources of your own and hope you will share them in the comments section.  Please remember a 20% reduction is not difficult to reach.  It requires several small changes which helps prevent having to make big changes in the future.

    Learn More About Richard Restuccia

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  • The Power of Smart Controllers

    The power of smart controllers comes from using the “smart” features as a tool to manage water. I remember the first time I looked at an Excel spreadsheet I asked a colleague what is all the fuss about? It just looks like a sheet of graph paper to me.  I couldn’t believe there wasn’t some type of template already embedded so I could easily manipulate data.  As I learned more about Excel I started to better comprehend the power.   Understanding the value of “what if” opened a whole new world to me.  I now understood the value of Excel was not as a product, but as a tool to use to analyze data.  Today many users of smart controllers are having this same experience.

    Thankfully Smart Controllers Are Not Set It and Forget It

    In my opinion for a controller to be truly smart it has to be able to perform five basic functions.

    1. Ability to adjust watering run times based on weather data or soil moisture data.
    2. Ability to view and make changes to my controller from my computer, tablet or smart phone.
    3.  It has to have the ability to sense flow.  This allows me to see real time how much water is being used. It also provides the ability to measure the flow of water for better water management and access to make changes easily.
    4. It has to be able to sense high flow and shut a system down when high flow is detected and send an alert, either email or text message to a technician to let them know there is a problem.
    5. It has to have the ability to generate reports so I can start analyzing data to make better decisions about water management.

    These five features provide data to make me a better water manager and a reason not to forget about your smart controller.

    The ability to adjust the amount of water applied on a daily basis should result in water savings but it also means I am going to have to make some adjustments to the programming because my irrigation system is not 100% uniform.  For a few weeks after installation wet checks of the system as well as the use of a soil probe for moisture tests should be performed to fine tune the system.  I consider this maintenance of the controller.  The controller offers much more for water managers who will take time to learn how to use them properly.

    The Real Power of a Smart Controller Comes from Reports

    You can’t manage what you can’t measure is true especially in water management.  Installing a flow meter allows a water manager to see how much water is being used in real time.  Some smart controllers now provide a graphical view of the consumption or fiscal dollars compared with user defined budgets. When integrated with a flow enabled central controllers, these reports provide daily measured and estimated usage consumption information to easily see the site’s budget status.  These also provide the ability to align measured and estimated usage consumption information with either the calendar month or the associated water bill service period. This allows users to clearly compare water bill information with measured and estimated usage for tracking and auditing purposes.

    Another option that helps take water management to a more sophisticated level is a monitoring report.  Users can check the status of a monthly or annual budget at a glance. This interactive interface allows a user to review information by account, budget type, actual consumption, unit, month and year. Water managers can see measured and estimate consumption usage aligned with either the calendar month or associated water bill service period.

    Having the ability to create reports with the water use graph and the budget monitoring helps water managers keep consistent track of water use.  In addition, the ease of exporting the date to a pdf makes it easy to share the information with other water managers and customers.  Providing the data to others is what helps promote meaningful conversations about water.

    There are lots of discussions concerning the value of smart controllers and other water saving technology available to the landscape industry today.   Smart controllers and other water saving technologies are like the Excel spread sheet.  They are not very valuable by themselves but when combined with a person who knows how to use the technology they are extremely valuable.   A combination of good technology and a good water manager who understands how to use the tools will result in maximum water savings.