Landscape Irrigation
From irrigation design to irrigation repairs, Down To Earth Landscape & Irrigation offers a full suite of irrigation system management solutions and landscape services. After careful inspection of the land, our professionals install a customized irrigation system to meet the specific needs of each landscape. After installation, we perform regular checks, audits, and maintenance to ensure that the system is functioning efficiently both with regards to energy and water usage. We also offer well/pump installations, which utilize natural ground water instead of city sources.
The Need For Landscape Irrigation
As beautifully warm and welcoming Florida’s weather is, it is essential to have a well-managed irrigation system for landscapes to thrive. An irrigation system could be the difference between plants surviving a dry season or dying. It is important to remember that not all plants have the same water needs. When planning a landscape, plants with similar needs should generally be grouped together so that they don’t get overwatered or under-watered. Over-watering plants can be just as bad as under-watering them because water stress can kill them just as easily as receiving no water at all. Aerating a lawn for better water penetration is also recommended to improve irrigation efficiency.
Benefits Of An Irrigation System
The upfront cost of installing an irrigation system makes many people choose other ways to water their plants, like doing so manually. However, installing an irrigation system has a lot of benefits, especially because it becomes an investment that starts exemplifying the return soon after installation. Irrigation systems save time by automatically watering plants and other parts of the landscape at the appointment time. Irrigation systems are also water-efficient as they only water according to how they are calibrated and consume a lot less water than manual irrigation allowing for savings on water bills. With semi-regular maintenance, an irrigation system can last you a long time. The maintenance tasks include checking the sprinkler heads to see if they are clogged and replacing them if they are.
Types Of Irrigation Systems
There are various kinds of irrigation systems such as drip irrigation, sprinklers, bubblers, localized irrigation, etc. Each of these has its own functions, advantages, and disadvantages. We also have technology-integrated smart irrigation systems that have climate-based controllers with soil moisture and rain sensors. The smart irrigation systems operate according to the moisture requirements of the plants instead of the automatic timetable of the traditional sprinklers.
With Down To Earth Landscape & Irrigation, we provide the full spectrum of service from planning to installing to maintaining a customized system set to each landscape’s needs by using technology-integrated systems for better efficiency. With your plants' watering needs in the well-trained and highly experienced hands of our professionals, you can leave the work to us, and know your plants are getting the exact amount of watering they need every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Early mornings are known to be the best times to water plants, grass, or any other kind of foliage. The time from 5AM to 9AM is the time when the plants retain water the best because the evaporation rate is lower prior to the sun’s full exposure for the day. Early mornings also give the foliage enough time to dry throughout the day and therefore prevent chances of fungal infection. If the plants are watered during midday, most of the water is lost to evaporation and if the plants are watered too late in the evening, the moisture will remain in the foliage and put the plants at risk for infections.
The main problem faced while manually irrigating a landscape is inadequate water distribution which can lead to brown grass and wilting plants. With a professionally designed irrigation system, it helps ensure each plant is getting the amount of water it needs. It is also possible to prevent over-watering with an irrigation system as plants with similar water requirements are generally grouped together when installing an irrigation system. A customized irrigation system saves time and energy since there is no need to water the entire landscape every day.
Smart irrigation technology uses smart controllers that monitor weather conditions, soil moisture, evaporation rate and plant moisture to automatically adjust the irrigation time and amount. Unlike traditional irrigation systems that work on a predetermined schedule, regardless of external conditions, smart irrigation systems save money on water utility bills. The weather-based controllers in smart irrigation systems are called evapotranspiration controllers (ET) and they use factors such as wind, solar radiation, temperature, and humidity to accurately determine the landscape’s irrigation needs.
