Water Management

Water is a finite resource, so we need to conserve and protect our ground and surface waters. The National Association of Landscape Professionals outlines the following guidance for landscape contractors to help conserve and responsibly manage water use in the landscape. 
 

Irrigation

Irrigation systems should be installed and managed correctly to conserve and reduce water use. Utilize proper smart irrigation technology to save water and money.

Design

  • Review and design to local municipal irrigation rules and requirements
  • Apply water as effectively as possible. Work on uniformity to meet the need of the property.
  • Design the irrigation system per the manufacturer recommendation for proper pressure and use pressure regulation when necessary.
  • Make sure that not more than 50% of the irrigation system (by area) is high-volume.
  • Be sure the design is right for smart controllers
  • Choose plants that are well suited to the climate zone and utilize hydrozoning strategies
  • To minimize runoff, make sure the irrigation application rate doesn't exceed the infiltration rate of the soil.
  • Install and maintain low-flow irrigation in plant beds.
  • Install a flow sensor and master valve to best manage the irrigation system.

Install

  • Utilize pulling pipe where possible to avoid soil disturbance
  • Ensure that there is proper soil protection
  • Install irrigation system as per the design plans.
  • Use an EPA WaterSense labeled smart controller (evapotranspiration, soil moisture sensor, or similar)
  • Verify static pressure and flow and adjust as needed
  • Verify plant design has not changed and if it has reconcile the system to accommodate the changes
  • Check with your local water provider for possible irrigation equipment rebates

Management

  • Ensure proper management and maintenance schedules are in place.
  • Monitor data from smart irrigation systems to adjust run times per zone.
  • Practice slow water/deep root watering
  • Conduct a system review of irrigation system in 3-5 year intervals to evaluate for upgrades.
  • Update or upgrade to meet the current standards for the region you are in
  • Calibrate your irrigation system to apply 1/2” to 3/4” of water per application.
  • Maintain your irrigation system seasonally to adjust spray patterns and repair clogs and leaks.

When to Water

  • Water in the natural wet period of the region you are in.
  • Water in the early morning to prevent water from sitting on the foliage overnight.
  • Follow all local watering regulations as to when and how long you can water.
  • Water only when the soil is depleted of sufficient moisture for optimal plant health.

Benefits

  • Irrigation water will be applied correctly and will be more accessible to the plants
  • Efficient irrigation reduces water bills, pest problems and maintenance needs
  • The environment will benefit from reduced water use, runoff and nutrient leaching

Rainwater Harvesting

Stormwater runoff may be the most critical aspect of managing water. It is recommended to keep water that falls on a property on that same property.  

Design

  • Avoid having bare soil
  • Reduce slopes as much as possible
  • Aerate to reduce runoff
  • Use permeable surfaces
  • Advocate for vegetative roofs
  • Use rain gardens, swales, and berms to catch and filter stormwater
  • Direct downspouts and gutters into landscaped areas or pervious surfaces where practical.
  • Plant groundcovers or turf in erosion prone areas.
  • Obtain appropriate certification(s) for your locality or localities
  • Plant the right plant in the right place to help retain rainwater

Install

  • Good soil preparation includes avoiding compaction of soil and where possible avoid unnecessary soil disturbance
  • Maximize vegetative cover
  • Need complex plant structure
  • Understand soil structure

Management

  • Use proper mulching techniques to promote infiltration to minimize erosion
  • Aerate the soil
  • Have a maintenance and management plan based on the specific site conditions and use
  • Address maintenance of riparian zones

Benefits

  • Most of the stormwater will remain onsite and be filtered through plants and soil reducing pollution coming from the landscape
  • Captured water can be used to irrigate landscape plants
  • The landscape will be protected from erosion
  • Clients will know they are helping to protect water quality in their watershed

Waterfront Or Riparian Zone Guidance

If a landscape is adjacent to a body of water, maintain a minimum of a 10-foot-wide low-maintenance zone to protect the water body from runoff. Be sure to remove any invasive exotic plants.

Design

  • Provide a low-maintenance zone of at least 10 ft. around the water body. No grass clippings, pesticides, fertilizer, or irrigation water should be applied in this zone.
  • Locate plant material to provide at least a 10 ft. low-maintenance zone adjacent to the water. It will filter stormwater and prevent erosion.

Install

  • Keep the shoreline (riparian zone and littoral zones) free of invasive exotic plant material but check regulations before removal.
  • Control erosion with plantings, seawalls, rip rap, or gabions where appropriate.

Maintenance

  • Protect and plant shoreline plants.

Benefits

  • The quality of the water should improve over time
  • Flood-tolerant plants along the water’s edge are known to help reduce contaminants in water
  • Healthy waterfronts riparian zones improve water quality by reducing erosion, filtering stormwater, and require less maintenance.
  • The low-maintenance zone means less mowing
  • Healthy waterfronts and riparian zones provide necessary wildlife habitat