Sprinklers
Great sprinkler tips
For water wise home gardens
Rain Bird has an excellent resource available, offering lots of pertinent and practical information on saving water: 25 ways to save water.
The group says while conservation of water is now everyone’ s responsibility; Rain Bird has in fact been committed to the Intelligent Use of Water™ for more than 80 years.
Says Rain Bird:“ Whether you’ re working to meet a mandate such as California’ s 25 % reduction, or want to simply lower your monthly bill, we offer the education and water-efficient products you need to make better use of our most precious resource.”
California as is well known has been experiencing a serious drought, with 98 % of the state experience some level of drought
Rain Bird makes the observation that The Association of California Water Agencies( ACWA) says more than 50 percent of all residential water use in the state of California takes place outdoors. Furthermore, the ACWA estimates that California residents tend to over-water outdoor plants and lawns by as much as 60 percent! These statistics, say Rain Bird, indicate a tremendous opportunity to use this valuable resource more efficiently throughout California and the rest of the world.
In a statement on California’ s drought conditions, the president of Rain Bird Corporation Anthony LaFetra comments that with efficient products and practises, it is absolutely possible for the average resident to“ reduce water consumption by 25 % or more without having to give up the plants, trees and gardens that add so much to our lives.”
Herewith, from the water conservation tips resources offered by Rain Bird on the web to the public, are a few great suggestions to keep those residential sprinkler systems in tip-top shape.
“ After mowing, use the“ manual” setting on your sprinkler timer to turn on each sprinkler station for a couple minutes at a time. Then walk around and visually check for these potential problems: 1. Misaligned heads: Adjust any sprinkler heads that may have shifted and are watering the street, patio, sidewalk or driveway.
2. Obstructed heads: Taller grass around sprinkler heads may block your intended spray pattern and prevent water from reaching your lawn or other plants. Make sure you have at least 3 or 4 inch pop-up sprinklers to fully clear taller grass. You may also need to trim back overgrown plant material that may be blocking the spray.
3. Broken parts: Look for parts that may have been broken by lawnmowers or foot traffic. Replace any broken parts, being sure to match the spray pattern and distance for peak performance.
4. Clogged nozzles: Dirt, small rocks or other debris can occasionally clog sprinkler heads. If you notice any heads that appear clogged, simply turn off the zone, unscrew the nozzle, then rinse the nozzle and filter screen in some clean water. Once cleared, replace the nozzle and filter screen, checking to make sure the spray is aligned properly.
5. Head-to-head coverage: For even, efficient watering, each sprinkler’ s spray should just reach the next sprinkler head. Under-spray may result in dry spots that can eventually turn brown, while over-spray wastes water.
Periodically checking your sprinklers to make sure everything is working properly, this will help keep your landscape looking great all summer long.”
Courtesy: http:// 25ways. rainbird. com /
NEW SABI COURSE
SABI held its first landscape installation course in Stellenbosch recently. For more information on SABI training courses, turn to page 51 or visit www. sabi. co. za to peruse the full 2016 SABI Training programme.
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SABI | JUNE / JULY 2016