It’s a frequently asked question that I receive this time of year. Although it’s safe to water now that the temperatures are above freezing; however, the question should be do I need to water now?
Traditionally April and May on Long Island have above average rainfall and provide plenty of moisture to allow plants to grow and wake up from a long winter dormancy. Also, the temperatures are cool and the soil is sufficiently moist even if we have a few days of warm sunny weather.
Many landscapers and lawn care providers will tell you to water after they provide their fertilizers and if you do I feel you will be over watering. Over watering displaces oxygen in the soil and creates anaerobic activity that actually damages the plants. Over watering also washes away and leeches out vital nutrients from the plants root system. Last year we had 20+ inches of rainfall above the average and especially the last 5 months of the year. You did not need to irrigate the last of half of 2018. I visited many properties that were a soggy mess and found many clients had their sprinkler system operating automatically regardless of whether or not they needed to.
Many of the controllers I viewed were watering as if the weather was hot and dry and not to the conditions that actually existed. Irrigation programs require that they be adjusted frequently and managed carefully. It’s really not that complicated, when it is hot you increase the watering and when it is cool and wet you decrease the run times and the days. It’s really important that you have a rain sensor and this is a requirement on every system in Nassau County. Rain Sensors should be checked for proper operation and replaced every 5 -10 years. If your rain sensor is more than 10 years please consider replacing it. A rain sensor pays for itself in water savings in just a few years.
Managing your controller and having a working rain sensor will save you money in water costs, prevent leaching of valuable nutrients, and provide a healthy landscape. If you are interested in taking the next step in water management then consider upgrading to a smart controller. Smart Controllers will automatically increase or decrease your watering based upon the weather and allow you to easily manage your watering from your phone, tablet, or desktop. Please click here to learn more.
This time of year we are actively turning systems on, making repairs and improvements. I highly recommend that you schedule your sprinkler system turn on now. This way you will have repairs, improvements, upgrades, etc. completed and not wait for warm weather. I recommend leaving the controller “off” until Memorial Day or whenever the weather turns hot and dry. When you feel you need to water then you only have to turn the controller to “run”.
We strive to have your sprinkler system working properly and efficiently so you can water when you need to! I appreciate comments and feedback.
If you would like to learn more about Rain Rich and irrigation systems please click on our website at www.rainrich.com. To inquire about having your sprinkler system turned on and evaluated please click here or call 631-423-2211.
Rain Rich Sprinklers has been serving Long Island for over 37 years. Rain Rich prides itself on providing outstanding service and the best value.
Enjoy the spring!
