When should I turn my sprinklers on? That’s a question many irrigation system owners wonder this time of year. I don’t need to tell you that we’ve had an unusually cool and damp spring. The majority of landscapes haven’t required any supplemental watering at all so far this year. The exceptions may include beds located under forest canopies, where soil can dry out rapidly early in the season, both due to the overhead coverage of the forest and the amount of soil moisture extracted by the large trees; and new plantings (including vegetable seedlings), where it never hurts to ensure root systems stay well-watered while they’re working to get established. But most mature plantings and turf areas are getting all the water they need (and then some) from Mother Nature right now. So while I do expect systems will need to be turned on in the first week or two of June, as I write this on May 29, most sprinkler systems can stay turned off for the time being.
If you have any questions about your system, or irrigation systems in general, please feel free to contact me any time.
Best regards,
Mike Isacson, CIC, CID, CIT, CLIA, CIS, CCCT (what do these letters mean? Click here to find out!)
Owner, Island Waterwise Irrigation Inc.
Upcoming Events:
CRD Irrigation Workshops: Click here to see a full list of CRD irrigation workshops for the spring and summer. These courses are free, and are targeted at homeowners, with local irrigation professionals providing a wealth of information.