IRRIGATION
“I think it starts with educating consumers to the fact that you can have beautiful yards and landscaping using leS water. Sometimes change is scary but sometimes that is where
our best ideas come from.” – Jeff Brown, Tree Top Nursery
Introducing new technology
Navigating the drought translates to bridging the gap be- tween the lack of rainfall and maintaining a green yard. Luckily, irrigation technology is consistently improving. Retrofitting existing irrigation systems with modern tech- nology and installing new, smarter and more technologi- cally advanced systems are key ways of filling that gap. “As an irrigation contractor there is an opportunity to fine tune or revise existing irrigation systems using new- er technology,” says Jeff Brown, vice president of Tree Top Nursery and Landscaping in Wichita. “We have new sen- sors available to us that measure soil moisture and shut sprinkler systems off based on the level the homeowner or contractor has preset to shut off. Many homeowners water more than what is necessary, or they run their systems too long where you have water waste from runoff. Tis helps consumers know better when this level has been met.” Crone says that his team doesn’t just turn irrigation sys-
tems on. Tey also invest a considerable amount of time into educating customers on the basics of smart watering, while also introducing them to the newer smart technology that could enhance their systems, allowing them to save water and money.
irrigationandlighting.org
“Some people have basic on/off timers, and we try to talk to them about a smart controller that calculates the weather and zone information such as soil, the type of grass, how much sun, how much shade and then comes up with the right amount of water. Tat’s versus people dumping a lot of water on hard clay, where the water runs off and the soil isn’t absorbing,” Crone says. “We really push smart watering and water efficiency to all our clients.” Brown says he finds that his clients need a reminder of how to water wisely. “We try to tell our customers to run their sprin-
klers early in the morning as that has the best chance to prevent evaporation and get a good soaking,” he says. “Many people think that watering more is better but that doesn’t establish a deep root system for the heat of the summer, and they wonder why their grass looks so bad.” While some clients choose to stop watering during dry
periods, Baker says his team is working to educate cus- tomers about maintaining a healthy lawn and landscape through a drought with the right combination of smart watering, fertilizers or nutrition and proper mowing.
June 2023 Irrigation & Lighting 17
Dry conditions like those seen here at Wichita State University can be devastating for customers, but it creates an opportunity for irrigation professionals to provide options by upgrading or revising systems with new technology.
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