Anyone (especially meteorologists) will tell you - Florida has always been known as one of the USA's wettest places! Recently however, you may have noticed that things are changing.
Here in South Florida, historical climate records show the weather can quickly change from deluge to drought and back again. That’s why conserving water year-round is at the center of many water-saving strategies to ensure South Florida’s water supplies will provide for the needs of today's residents - not least Florida's unique and beautiful wildlife - as well as the needs of future generations.
2020 - A Very Dry March
We last commented on Florida's climate and what it meant in terms of water conservation and the need for sensible irrigation practices in April 2019. The overwhelming desire for not only a lush, green landscape but a healthy one is why we irrigate in the first place - but it can come at a cost if we're neither aware of, nor implementing, best practice. Let's get up to date with the situation now, in Spring 2020.
The Palm Beach Post reported at the end of March 2020 that Palm Beach County recorded that month as the fourth driest on record with Palm Beach International Airport reporting only 0.17 inches of rainfall (read the story here ].
To put this in context, according to the same report, West Palm Beach can normally expect around 4.95 inches of rain to fall in March. Jan-Mar precipitation according to South Florida Water District was 3.46 inches - only 52% of the average precipitation for those three months.
This unprecedented dry spell is the situation statewide; with other areas also experiencing their driest March since records began.
Current reports of sinking water levels - both in lakes and neighborhood canals - are the obvious signs of a lack of rainfall. According to the same story in the Palm Beach Post, Lake Okeechobee near Port Mayaca dropped to 11.91 feet above sea level on 30th March.
It doesn't make any sense to wait until it’s too late before putting better irrigation strategies in place.
Landscapes, Water Conservation and Irrigation
Professionals and their services are engaged by a large percentage of Florida's residents and businesses to look after their landscapes. They carry out work such as lawn maintenance, irrigation, fertilizing, tree pruning and so on. While many of Florida's native ecosystems have evolved and flourished in this climate, it's the use of irrigation systems that lies at the heart of the many distinctly man-made landscapes we've come to associate with South Florida.
Water conservation practices carried out by homeowners and professionals alike include drip irrigation, rain barrels and smart irrigation. However, according to this paper using information from a statewide survey carried out less than a couple of years ago these were (perhaps surprisingly) the least commonly used. More typical approaches to conserving water were still practices such as seasonal adjustments to irrigation times and the use of drought-tolerant plants in the landscape. Water conservation methods in the way irrigation systems are used and set up seem (according to the authors) to have a lower level of adoption than say, drought-tolerant planting.
In terms of irrigation, educating ourselves on water conservation practices and how we can mitigate over-use and waste while still managing and maintaining a green, healthy landscape is more important than ever. It really pays to know your stuff here!
How Much Water Does Healthy Turf Need?
Healthy turf needs anything from 1 to 2 inches of water a week in peak growing season. Do you use a rain gauge? It's such a useful piece of rainfall monitoring equipment - and so inexpensive! There's no reason at all you shouldn't have one of these in your landscape management toolbox. Measure the rainfall, make up the difference with your irrigation (taking such things as your soil and grass type as well as evapotranspiration into account).
How Do You Know When to Water?
Watering infrequently - but deep - once or twice a week is more effective than little and often (unless you're getting turf established in which case, more frequent watering is required). Don't water when it's so hot the water just evaporates; the best time is before 10am when it's cooler and the winds are, on the whole, calmer. Water can soak right down into the soil and be absorbed by the grass roots before evaporating. Here are some more of our tips for achieving a healthy turf.
The Hydro-Illogical Cycle
Without access to data 24/7 it's unrealistic to expect an irrigation provider to manage watering requirements and deliver a green, healthy turf and landscape day after day, week after week. The only way this can work is if your irrigation system is capable of delivering the information that confirms how the system is performing.
Are wet-checks every 30 days enough to locate and then fix field problems? When turf isn't getting the water it needs to develop a healthy root system, not only does the grass wither and die, but weeds and pests will launch a takeover causing yet more issues that will need addressing. Of course areas under stress will be apparent - but treating the symptoms and not the causes (usually too much or too little water) will just exacerbate and prolong the problem.
There are several factors at play - rainfall, turf and soil, shade, wind, water quality for example - and others that all have an impact on your irrigation needs. But it's how irrigation is managed, where arguably, the potential for most control lies.
It Is Possible To Irrigate Intelligently Even In A Drought
There's a consensus of opinion that water levels are continuing to decline, and much-needed rain in the amounts needed is not coming any time soon. We can't push home the point enough that smart irrigation can play a decisive part in preventing water wastage, saving time, money and resources - and maintaining a healthy landscape.
Smart Irrigation Helps You See When Your Irrigation Experiences Issues
We can demonstrate how smart irrigation tools like Flowguard® allow communities and service providers to monitor and review how their irrigation is working at any time of the day or night, every day of the year. For example, you can check every zone to make sure at the required flow/pressure needed for proper coverage, watering duration and the amount of water used. It's also possible to incorporate up to date meteorological information into the schedule so each location gets what it needs when it needs it.
Tools like Flowguard® allow you to constantly monitor what the entire irrigation system is asking for and validating what it is receiving; instead of making guesses. In the sample image below, the pump is starting and stopping rapidly ("cycling"). This might indicate a leak in the field - and the need to set-up water windows to prevent the cycling:
In the following sample image, there's evidence of a constant 9 gallons per minute flow. This highlights a possible stuck valve:
Both these situations can both result in increased costs if neglected. Smart irrigation tools help you identify and focus on inconsistencies in the irrigation system, so problems are dealt with promptly, saving you time and money on things like sod replacement and repairs.
If you want to know how smart irrigation tools can help you save money and water while irrigating your landscape more efficiently, download the guide below to Saving Water While Maintaining a Healthy Landscape. If you would like to speak to one of our experts, call us on 800.548.1548 or email us for This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!
How did you survive without it for so long?
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