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Irrigation: A Necessity for Hot, Dry Summers in Florida

by Emily Durgan | Fri, Jul 05, 2013

florida irrigation design and installationFlorida's summer heat and lack of rain can put a strain on any residential or commercial landscape. And though it can't replace rain, irrigation plays a key role in your turf and plant life surviving the summer months. Irrigation is meant to supplement between rains to help maintain a healthy, lush landscape.

This past week we have a had a lot of rain but don’t get fooled, the summer months in Florida can turn to a drought at any moment.  A properly functioning irrigation system can help your landscape survive during this time.

However, many irrigation systems are installed incorrectly, causing hot spots in the grass, inefficient water use and more. If you’ve already installed a system, a professional irrigation company can perform an audit to assess the effectiveness of your system.

Assessing your own irrigation system

Your system should have separate irrigation zones. Rotor heads should never be mixed with anything else other than rotors, this goes for spray heads and drip irrigation as well. Each type of head puts out a different rate of water that can decrease efficiency if mixed on the same zone.

Turf zones should be separated from landscape bed zones to ensure proper coverage and run times. As plants mature, they will not require as much water as turf grass. Having the zones separated will use less water and save you money.

Installing a new irrigation system

There are a four questions to consider when hiring a professional to install your irrigation system.

Does the contractor have experience and credible references?

GreenEarth has been in business for 8 years installing irrigation and doing landscaping, there is a long list of commercial and/or residential references that we can provide upon request.

Is the contractor licensed and insured?

GreenEarth has all necessary licenses and insurances to provide irrigation installations and landscape needs.

What type of products will the contractor be installing?

GreenEarth primarily uses Rainbird products, they are cost effective and reliable.

What does the irrigation layout and design look like?

GreenEarth can design an irrigation layout that is specific to the needs of each customer’s budget and landscape.

Nothing is better for your landscape than a good, hard rain, but a properly functioning irrigation system can help during dry spells. Your target should be to water for a long period of time and keep the frequency less often. For example, in the summer months you might want to run your rotor zone that is full sun for 50 minutes every other day and spray zone in full sun for 30 minutes every other day.

GreenEarth can assist you installing a new system or auditing and repairing your current system. Call our Panama City Beach office at (850) 236-1959 or our Santa Rosa Beach office at (850) 267-0010. Or fill out our web form to have a GreenEarth landscape professional call you.

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