What To Look For In An Eco-Friendly Landscape Irrigation System
Attractive landscaping can beautify any home or commercial space, but all that greenery can't survive on goodwill alone. Sprinklers and other irrigation systems are essential if you want your lawns, flower beds, and other landscaping to stay lush and vibrant year-round. Unfortunately, many irrigation systems use copious amounts of water and are environmentally unfriendly to say the least.
Fortunately, recent advances in irrigation technology have made it easier to design an eco-friendly irrigation system that can keep your landscaping in top condition without using too much water. If you want to install a new, eco-friendly irrigation system for your landscaping, hire a custom landscaping service to install an irrigation system with the following features:
Weather Sensor Technology
Many conventional sprinkler systems waste large amounts of water by irrigating landscaping on wet, rainy days. In some cases, these systems can do more harm than good, irrigating soil that has already been saturated with rainwater and causing the landscape to become waterlogged. Puddles and standing water can quickly kill plants and lawn grass.
The best way to avoid this is to install an irrigation system with a built-in weather sensor. During rainy days, these sensors will automatically cut off the system's water supply which can save hundreds of gallons of water a year. Weather sensors will also reduce water flow when temperatures are low, as less water will be lost to evaporation.
Soil Moisture Sensors
Most irrigation systems that are fitted with weather sensors also feature soil moisture sensors, which can detect water saturation in the surrounding soil and adjust the irrigation system's water flow as necessary. These sensors are particularly useful in low-lying and/or coastal areas with variable water tables and will prevent your irrigation system from using too much water when local groundwater levels are high.
High-Efficiency Sprinkler Heads
Conventional sprinkler heads spray water in narrow jets and are not particularly efficient when it comes to water consumption. High-efficiency sprinkler heads are a better option for eco-friendly landscaping. These specialized sprinkler heads create fine mists of water, which settle over a wider area. These sprinkler heads provide the same benefits for your plants and lawns but use significantly less water.
Rainwater Collection
Installing a landscape irrigation system with a built-in rainwater collection system can also make your landscape more eco-friendly. By redirecting water from French drains and gutters into a rainwater holding tank, you can provide your system with a large supply of water without relying on non-sustainable municipal sources. Your custom landscaping service can help you integrate these holding tanks seamlessly into the landscape, hidden behind shrubs or other obstructions to minimize their visual impact.
Contact a company that offers custom landscaping services to learn more.
