When it comes to having the best lawn on the block, irrigation is critical here in North Texas. However, as imperative as irrigation is to the success of lawns here in our region, we still find that homeowners don’t always have much knowledge of their irrigation system.
In fact, there are plenty of irrigation myths out there that can really muddy the waters. In general, we find that people often have a lot of confusion around watering. It sounds like a basic task but there can be more to it than people realize.
That’s exactly what prompted us to write this article and help you to ditch some of the myths about irrigation systems that you may have heard. A big part of success with lawn care as a whole boils down to a good understanding of your lawn’s needs (including watering).
This is a myth that we hear often. People assume that it doesn’t matter what time they’re watering their lawn, as long as they’re watering it.
In reality, it does matter when you water. In fact, not only is there an optimal time to water (when your lawn will benefit the most), but watering at the “wrong time” can potentially do some harm.
Oftentimes, homeowners don’t realize how important timing is to their lawn’s health, and this includes your watering schedule.
Ideally, the lawn should be watered just before sunrise. This will give it time to soak in before the sun begins to cause evaporation. When you water during the heat of the day, a large quantity of that water is going to be lost to evaporation.
On the flip side, watering in the evening can actually leave your grass prone to fungal growth.
As far as the duration, how long watering is performed is also important.
Turf areas require a minimum of one to two inches of water per week during the growing season. Achieving that amount will differ from property to property. In other words, exactly how long your system needs to run will depend upon what irrigation system you have.
We understand one of the main reasons why people love irrigation systems is a “set it and forget it” mentality. Installing an irrigation system takes away all of the guesswork surrounding watering and means you never have to drag a hose and a sprinkler out there again.
While this is definitely true, it doesn’t mean that your irrigation system still shouldn’t receive periodic check-ups.
But a lot of times, homeowners assume they don’t need to have their irrigation system checked regularly, especially if it seems to be functioning properly. If there doesn’t seem to be an irrigation problem, then everything must be working?
However, given the fact that some of the signs of an irrigation repair can be subtle, it’s worth regular check-ups to ensure that your system is functioning at its best. These irrigation checks also help to spot problems early and fix them before they become costly.
Sometimes even small tweaks can save you money and help your lawn and landscape to perform better. While you certainly don’t want an irrigation problem at any time of the year, you definitely don’t want an irrigation problem during its peak usage period (typically the hot summer). It is during this time that an irrigation leak or another issue could become incredibly costly.
At Grassperson, we recommend at least bi-annual checks in the spring and in the fall to ensure everything is in top working order.
Along with all that, regular checks also help to ensure that the irrigation system is evolving with your maturing lawn and landscape (and that changes are made if your plant material isn’t getting what it needs).
People tend to forget that lawns and landscapes are living (and changing) things. The irrigation setup that you had when your landscape was young might have worked fine. But as your trees and shrubs grow, their watering needs can change. Similarly, the evolution of the landscape can also impact shade and how much water your lawn needs.
It’s important that your irrigation system is keeping up with your ever-changing and improving property.
As far as myths about irrigation systems go, another one that homeowners sometimes believe is that as long as they have a professional irrigation system, they’re in good shape. People sometimes assume that all irrigation systems are essentially the same.
But this isn’t the case at all.
In fact, irrigation systems have recently come incredibly far in terms of new technology and features. If you’re operating an older system, you might be shocked by how much more a smart irrigation system could do for you these days.
If you’re not familiar with the term, smart irrigation systems are those that tailor their watering schedules and run times to the actual conditions, not just blindly following a preset schedule. A smart irrigation controller that makes these types of adjustments will significantly improve water efficiency.
We’ve seen tremendous advances in smart irrigation in the last 5 years. The capabilities have come so far. With technology such as rain and freeze sensors, as well as soil moisture sensors, the system can make real-time changes. Many systems also utilize data coming from the local weather station in terms of previous and upcoming conditions.
We know that there are a lot of irrigation companies out there. Because of that, you might assume that all irrigation companies are relatively similar. But irrigation companies in Northern Texas can actually be quite different.
We wrote an entire article about what to look for when hiring an irrigation company if you want to read about it more in-depth.
But to sum it up, you should definitely look for an irrigation company that is licensed (with up-to-date licensing). We have found that there are folks out there who are operating without a license (or one that has expired), even though this is a requirement of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
You should also be wary of irrigation companies that are constantly making a hard sell. One way to spot this is the irrigation company that offers a “free” check-up. They might only be offering this free check-up because they’re trying to find things to repair and upsell you on.
Finally, in the article above, we also advise looking at online reviews. This is a great way to gain more insight into the company that you’re considering.
At Grassperson, we never like to see homeowners get bad advice or fall into a trap of accepting myths about their irrigation system. That’s why we have always prided ourselves on being a helpful resource. We want to help bust myths about irrigation systems that simply aren’t true so that you’re making wise choices for your Northern Texas property.
At the end of the day, all of this boils down to peace of mind. You want to know that your lawn and landscape are getting everything that they need to continue to perform their best.
This means choosing an irrigation company that you can trust.
We understand that you don’t have the time to be worrying about the nuances related to irrigation systems and how to get yours to perform its best. You just want to be able to choose a company that knows their stuff and can get you the best possible results for your investment. By choosing this package, you can let go of the worries associated with your landscape, including its watering needs, and get back to just enjoying your property to the fullest.
Stop worrying about your irrigation needs and leave it up to a pro who knows exactly what your Northern Texas property needs. Get a Free Quote, then you can enjoy the best lawn on the block!
