PRESIDENT’S LETTER
USING WATER WISELY S
ummer is well upon us, and how we work in the field now is a testament to our ability
to adapt.
Jon Cundiff, Landscape
Industry Certified, NALP President
Gone are the days when a landscape pro- fessional could turn on an irrigation system and walk away. Measuring moisture in soil, conserving water, drought-resistant planting, and many other methods of sustainability have become mainstream. This is not only because of an increasing customer demand for envi- ronmentally conscious landscaping, but also because of actual environmental pressures. In some states, like California, it is absolutely vital to have a thorough drought-management plan. Again, we adapt. It’s the right thing to do, it makes economic sense and increasingly, it’s the law!
Elsewhere in this issue, we spoke with
Warren Gorawitz—a NALP-member landscape professional and Vice President of Sustainability at Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply in Phoenix, Arizona. He is very concerned about how our industry uses water and shares his thoughts about what we aren’t paying attention to and should be. There’s no denying that the industry has had to change over the years to address an increasingly unpredictable climate regardless of where you may be located. We are committed to learning new tech- niques to stay on the cutting edge of environ- mentally friendly landscaping, and we hope that you will join us in this endeavor. It’s not just good for the environment; going green with your landscape company is good for busi- ness. To make sure that your business is properly managing water use, ask yourself the following questions: • Is there a better, cost-effective alternative to what you are doing? If it isn’t cost-effective, would the environmental impact make the cost worthy of being absorbed?
• Will this planting need more watering than a species with a comparable appearance?
• Have you spoken to your client about water conservation? (Or have they spoken with you?)
• Will you need to use an irrigation or sprin- kler system, and if so, how long will it need to run? How many gallons of water will be spent?
• What are you doing to use our most precious resource in the best way possible?
With many places suffering from poor water quality or extreme water scarcity, it is import- ant that we minimize our impact on the water supply. Environmentally friendly landscaping is possible, and the first step toward that is proper water management. We’re here to help. Remember to check out the webinars in the “Members Only” area of our website for infor- mation on how best to manage landscaping in preparation for change. “Are You Planning for a ‘New Normal’ in Your Landscape Business?” is one webinar from 2015 that’s worth another look. In times of extreme water rationing, espe- cially on the West Coast, taking these measures early on can ensure that your landscapes can withstand harsh weather conditions without needlessly wasting water.
Remember our position on water steward- ship: “The National Association of Landscape Professionals supports efforts to ensure an abundance of clean, unpolluted water to meet the needs of the world’s growing population, while also sustaining green, healthy landscapes with their many environmental, economic and quality-of-life benefits. We strive to promote effective and responsible landscape water use and to support the role of landscape profes- sionals as stewards of water and the natural environment.”
What are you doing to use our most precious resource in the best way possible? 7
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THE LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL > JULY/AUGUST 2017
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