The HOA Board Quarterly Summer 2014 Issue #10 | Página 8

Water Conservation - San Diego Hybrid Palette
By Steve Economou

After redevelopment using The San Diego Hybrid Palette

Before

In these photos we see a typical redevelopment area using The San Diego Hybrid Palette

S

ummer is here and it has been glorious in
San Diego. Your communities are beehives
of activities - pool time, vacations, picnics and
barbecue grilling on the patio. Meanwhile, the
heat of summer tends to make our plantings relax
a little and settle down before the autumn rush.
We are also now in the throes of the biggest water
usage of the year. Summer irrigation budgets may
be fifty to one hundred percent higher than they
were in the winter and spring. Of course, if you’ve
planted with San Diego Hybrid species, your
water budget probably hasn’t changed that much.
Remember, the San Diego Hybrid Palette saves 85%
of the water needed by conventional plantings.
You’ll be watering perhaps once per month in
summer and not at all in winter – and no sparse
desert looking dry plantings either. You are now
seeing lush green plantings entering a beautiful
period of blooming. Congratulation, you’re saving
water and managing your communities budget!
But big grassy areas require constant attention
and a graduated, evenly timed water program.

Most of these grass species come from parts of
Asia that have high summer rain totals. When we
import them to our more arid climate, they will
need additional water.
Your goal is to save water while intensifying the
natural beauty of your association common areas.
Did you develop a water budget earlier this year?
If so, start to know how much you have needed
to increase the budget for watering thirsty plants.
Make sure these areas are getting the appropriate
amount of water without wasting water.
And, be prepared to re-set water budgets again for
the coming fall. Our September weather can still
carry high heat, but the evenings cool off quickly
and October is right around the corner.
Reset your irrigation timings and test your system
for leaks, overspray and even-coverage. Your smart
controller will electronically reduce the watering
times as we enter our cooler fall temperatures. If
you don’t use a smart controller, consider it as a
high priority. It will reap benefits throughout the
year.

Contributed by Steve Economu,
Rainscape Environmental Management
619.229.0360
[e-mail] or
visit them at www.rainscape.com
8 | The HOA Board Quarterly | Issue #10 | Summer 2014