Another summer is entering the rear view mirror and it’s a perfect time to take stock of how your drip irrigation system performed throughout our thirstiest season, not to mention the upgrades you can make to set your yard up for success by the next growing season.
Begin with the basics
You can start out by assessing which trees and plants thrived in Greater Prescott’s unpredictable weather conditions and which ones faltered. Before pulling dead or ailing ones out, inspect the surrounding sprinkler heads, irrigation emitters, valves and tubing for clogs, leaks or any other damage that might explain their struggle to survive.
That doesn’t mean you should ignore the high performers. Make certain your equipment is functioning as well as it did over the course of the season and take any notes that might help you rejuvenate the troubled spots.
Timely updates
The end of summer/beginning of autumn also is ideal for making the big changes you might have been contemplating all season or a few seasons now.
If you are still depending on traditional sprinklers to water your yard and gardens it’s time to reconsider. Drip irrigation uses a type of emitter called a dripper to deliver small amounts of water exactly where it needs to go at the root of your trees, plants and shrubs, avoiding the drift and uneven watering of sprinklers. Lawn areas, if you have them, are the only parts of your yard that need overhead sprinklers.
Smart irrigation controllers are becoming the standard by which homeowners manage their drip or sprinkler systems. They react to evolving weather conditions much faster than you can reprogram a conventional one, saving valuable time and moisture for when they are necessary. Stable internet and power coverage are needed for them to be most effective.
Redrawing the map
You can conserve water without trying to customize every emitter to the species it’s serving by grouping plants with similar watering requirements together to simplify the task. This can also put into perspective how thirsty some of your landscaping actually is, adding to your motivation to exchange some of that vegetation for native and/or drought tolerant plants.
While you’re at it, you should take a look at the soil conditions underlying your gardening footprint. Add compost or fertilizer to infuse fresh nutrients for the winter and more mulch if you need to reduce evaporation, erosion and weed growth.
Seasonal maintenance
Even if there aren’t any features in your irrigation system you need to upgrade, do take the time to take care of the routine upkeep that makes any of them operate more efficiently. Hopefully you’ve flushed your drip irrigation lines at least once or twice during the season to remove debris; do it now if not.
Clear out the filters, check all your components for wear, and check the pressure regulators for leaks and other signs of uneven distribution.
