There are a number of methods to make irrigation systems more efficient.
Photo: Phu “Son” Nguyen/Flickr

Water conservation has been at the forefront of both landscapers and homeowners’ minds for a while now and the recent droughts have only increased the focus on the topic.

Aside from the environmental concerns, water conservation also has an economic benefit of saving money for clients and boosting upgrade opportunities for landscapers.

In the past five to 10 years, the irrigation industry has seen tremendous improvements in efficiency, thanks to advancements in technology.

“Smart irrigation controllers are becoming the norm as the technology helps take the guesswork out of water management,” said Warren Gorowitz, Ewing’s vice president of sustainability. “In addition, technology such as wi-fi capability is becoming the norm and helps both landscape professionals and homeowners manage their irrigation.”

With these technological advances, there are multiple methods for conserving water that landscapers can tailor to their customers’ needs while still being affordable.

While drip irrigation is currently getting a lot of attention as a great water-saving system, ask any expert and they’ll tell you that no matter what type of irrigation system you use, it’ll only save water when it is managed properly.

“The biggest means of saving water is the management, how the system is being used,” said Greg Steele, a regional manager with Rain Bird. “The irrigations system is mainly the tool.”

It is also important to realize that since there are tools for every situation and there are also different irrigation systems that are suited for varying microclimates and landscape designs.

“I think that irrigation systems should be built to the needs of the landscape,” said Orion Goe, Toro’s marketing manager for residential and commercial irrigation. “I wouldn’t suggest that there’s a plug and play, one size fits all irrigation system for one area.”

Goe believes that the two crucial components to making irrigations systems efficient are using the correct combination of products and getting the schedules right.

One of the common misconceptions homeowners have is that they must rip out and replace their old irrigation systems, or that a smart controller will solve all their problems, but this is putting the cart before the horse.

“There are many facets to water conservation and you need to consider all of the components of your irrigation system when looking at making it more efficient,” Gorowitz said. “Many people start with replacing the irrigation controller which should be done after you’ve made sure the rest of the system is running as efficiently as possible. An irrigation audit is a great way to evaluate the performance of your irrigation system.”

High efficiency nozzles are one of the major advancements the industry has made and can reduce systems that were watering 1 ½-inches per hour to an inch per hour, saving 35 percent in water usage after a quick retrofit.

“A lot of systems throughout the country have not been looked at in a long time and a broken head can lose tens of thousands of gallons of water,” Goe said. “There are lots of things we can correct by taking the time and fixing what is broken. If the wheel is broken, it doesn’t matter how new the car is it’s still not going to go.”

One of the other most basic upgrades clients can add are sensors that can detect when it is raining so the timed systems don’t run in the rain.

“The best way to manage a system is with brains,” said Brad Wardle, director of B-Hyve and digital for Hydro-Rain. “Even if you put in high efficiency nozzles it doesn’t know what the weather is doing; it only knows what the clock tells it.”

These controllers can vary from the straightforward rain sensors to ET-based weather sensors that are checking the area’s historical averages and comparing it with real time weather data and running it through an algorithm to reschedule the system.

The availability of smart controllers is also helping change the behavior of clients by making them more aware of their water usage.

“Before, the only time homeowners thought about their irrigation systems was when they turned it on in the spring and turned it off before winter,” Wardle said. “Now they’re checking their systems on their phones multiple times a day and they can see ‘Oh, I watered this many gallons or for this many hours.’”

The remote access to controllers is also opening doors for landscape contractors to expand by allowing them to manage a larger range of clientele while saving on gas as well.

In some of the public’s panic to save water at all costs during the California drought, most let their lawns go brown or replaced them entirely, but if the irrigation systems are managed and maintained properly this sacrifice is not necessary.

“We want beautiful yards and that’s important and I don’t want to feel I have to let my grass die to save water and it’s not the truth,” Goe said. “We can save water and save our lawns.”

Even for those who have switched to xeriscaping, irrigation is just as, if not more, important to ensuring that drought-tolerant plants survive by not under or overwatering them.

“I kind of look at it as the foundation or the offensive line,” Steele said. “It’s the unsung hero because it’s underground but it’s going to determine whether your landscape lives or dies.”

Photo: Lovro Rumiha/Flickr

Rachio recently announced the findings of their “State of the Yard” study of American homeowners.

Highlighting conflicting attitudes regarding watering etiquette, lack of awareness that smart home benefits are expanding beyond home and garden and confusion about how much to water, the results found that homeowners have much to learn about smart home devices that can help in their yards.

The study revealed that 69 percent of respondents said they were confident that their lawns were being watered properly, but then another 81 percent admitted they would love to know if they were watering accurately, indicating some homeowners have a facade of false knowledge.

“Homeowners invest a significant amount of time and money in their landscaping, and smart watering is the easiest way to protect that investment and ensure a healthier, heartier yard,” said Franz Garsombke, CTO of Rachio. “There’s tremendous opportunity for homeowners to avoid wasting water in their yards, no matter how exceptional their gardening skills are.”

The American Society of Landscape Architects has estimated that homeowners will spend an average of 10 percent of their home’s value on landscaping, and studies show that 87 percent of people believe maintaining a beautiful yard is just as important as making their house look good. This is where you can step in and help your customers better understand ways they can improve their landscape by taking advantage of these smart home devices.

Rachio’s study shows that 50 percent of homeowners were unaware of the benefits of smart home devices could extend to their yard in ways such as saving money, time and resources. By recommending and having the capability to install smart sprinkler systems, you can help your customers save money as well as water.

Most homeowners aren’t aware of their irrigation system’s water usage and Rachio found only one out of ten people knew that running sprinklers for 20 minutes uses more water than taking a two-and-a-half-hour shower, a month’s worth of dishwasher runs and 85 toilet flushes. Educating customers of these statistics can help open their eyes, and show the value of smart sprinkler devices.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also promotes water conservation with its WaterSense program, where it labels products that are certified to use 20 percent less water. It also has EPA WaterSense rebates which are available nationwide.

Photo: Cappsure

There are many reasons why people start a business, but the end goal is to make money.

Yet when Mike Martinez, owner of Newtex Landscape and creator of the Cappsure app, started talking to others in the green industry, he found that one of the major missed opportunities is pricing.

“It’s the elephant in the room,” he said. “They don’t want to take a leadership position on pricing.”

While fly-by-night crews price low and make the experienced lawn care companies reluctant to raise their prices, there is also the issue of not charging for all the products used during a job, especially irrigation related ones.

Irrigation installs and repairs require a lot of small parts, and the method of having these parts on hand is a drawn-out process that can become expensive.

From ordering the parts, picking them up, distributing them to crews, accounting what parts were used and where, invoicing what parts were used and accounting for and re-ordering parts, it can seem tedious and almost impossible to accurately charge for all of these small parts.

Companies will often charge 30 cents for something that actually cost them a dollar and 25 cents to obtain, causing them to lose significant money in the long run.

“I tell landscaping companies this all the time,” Martinez said. “‘You deserve this. Don’t be afraid to charge for it.’”

While a part itself may not cost that much, just like how you charge for the labor not just the plant you are installing in a customer’s backyard, it took some serious logistics to get that piece to where it needed to go.

Martinez experienced this problem himself of trying to record what irrigation parts were used by which crews on what property. Previously each crew would have a large sheet listing all the small repair parts they carried from nozzles to emitters, and during the day they would mark what parts were used at the properties they serviced each day.

The crews would turn in the sheets at the end of the month, but Martinez soon realized his employees were only accurately accounting for 10 to 20 percent of the actual parts used. Not to mention, no one at the Las Vegas-based company had the time to count parts that were not used, lost or stolen.

Realizing just how ineffective this system was, Martinez happened to notice how his landscaping crew members were proficient at using smart phones and their apps. It dawned on him how technology could easily solve this problem.

The Cappsure app features an irrigation module that allows crew members to select a photo of the irrigation part they used, drop a GPS marker on the map of the property and the part is recorded on the back office system so it can create an automatic billing report for each client.

With this increased accuracy, Martinez knew he could make a profit from the parts used and increase his mark up for the small parts as well.

Another irrigation related feature that the Cappsure app has helped streamline is the memorializing of assets on properties so crew members know where the timers, backflow valves, gate value and other key structures are located.

“Majority of the properties, you’re not going to know where the shut off is at and you could have trouble finding it,” Martinez said. “With Cappsure, all you do is touch the app and it will pull up a map and a photo of it.”

Another one of the main features of Cappsure is how it allows employees out in the field to craft proposals for things they see while out on the job.

“Before our tree foreman would see a tree that’s split and needs to be removed and he would have to call the office and getting a proposal would take about a week,” Martinez said. “Now he uses the app to report it and make a proposal that will go right to the manager who can approve it. We save on mobilization and empower our guys out in the field.”

Martinez has seen a reluctance in companies to entrust their employees with this sort of capability as a majority of their employees are ESL (English as a second language), but he thinks the confidence level will change with education and that there isn’t a language barrier within the app.

“These guys are in the field every day and so much information is getting lost,” Martinez said. “Let’s face it, the account managers can’t be everywhere. Being able to supply the employees with apps is a big part of having the confidence that they’ll be able to use them.”

Also, commercial managers’ demands for professional reports will push companies into taking technology like the Cappsure app more seriously.

“Dealing with these management companies we can provide better reporting and accountability using the Cappsure app,” Martinez said.

The Cappsure app is still on a per property pricing module in order to allow the many levels of employees who are attached to one property to access the information.

Cappsure can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. For more information, go to their website here.

Photo: Lindsey Turner/Flickr

It’s no secret that the past few years of the California drought forced homeowners to take certain steps to ensure they were able to save water and money.

With the droughts declared over, the state’s homeowners associations (HOAs) are now telling residents that they have a limited amount of time to get their lawns back into pristine condition, or the repercussions may begin again.

During the state’s drought in 2014, a pair of bills was passed by Gov. Jerry Brown that would protect residents in HOAs across San Diego County and California who chose to replace their lawns with drought-tolerant plants or who just cut back on watering throughout the drought.

The bills prevented the HOAs from penalizing residents for taking these actions with their lawns. Around that same time, Brown also signed Senate Bill 992, which prevented HOAs from giving fines to residents who either reduced or stopped watering their landscape after California was declared to be in a state of drought-emergency.

“Brown is beautiful, and around the state HOAs are penalizing good-intentioned homeowners who replace their lush, water-intensive lawns with attractive, well-designed landscaping centered around drought-resistant plants,” Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, said in a statement to The San Diego Union-Tribune in 2014. “Allowing homeowners the freedom to use conservation-friendly landscaping is one important ingredient in reaching our goal of protecting our economy by saving water.”

On Friday, April 7, 2017, Brown declared that the California drought was over. With his declaration, Brown lifted his emergency order for the state, except for the counties Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Tuolumne due to their wells remaining drained.

The State Water Resources Control Board will continue to require water agencies to report on monthly water use and wasteful water practices, such as hosing down sidewalks, will remain prohibited.

“The drought emergency is over, but the next drought could be around the corner,” Brown said in a statement. “Conservation must remain a way of life.”

Now that the drought is over, homeowners who once were allowed to let watering their grass fall to the wayside may face penalties if they do not immediately begin working to bring back their lush, green yards. With Brown’s declaration came the lifting of the restrictions that once kept the HOAs from disciplining residents for not watering their grass.

This month, the 4S Ranch Board of Directors told its residents that they would no longer find dead grass acceptable. However, state law doesn’t allow HOAs to force their residents to remove landscapes installed during the drought that are water-saving.

HOAs typically give residents 30 days to make the changes even though that is not the state’s law.

Photo: Pixabay

With the first day of summer arriving today, let’s talk a little more about the impending heat.

As we mentioned in a previous article, June through August is the hottest time of the year. So now is the perfect time to begin or continue healthy practices that can keep your customer’s landscape safe from the intense heat.

One of the most important practices to keep in mind during this heat is to keep your customer’s landscape well hydrated. 

“The best way to battle a heat wave is to be smart about how and when you irrigate your plants, trees and lawns,” Matthew Dickens, Valencia Water Company’s resource conservation manager, told SCVnews.com. “It’s also important to know that if you have dry or brown spots in your landscapes – it likely is not just the result of excessive hot temperatures.”

Banking water

Experts say that banking water in the soil using a cycle-and-soak schedule (running the irrigation system for about five minutes, waiting an hour and then repeating) will help ensure that water reaches the proper depths of the landscape.

Properly saturated soil will give plants the water they need throughout the day without contributing to the irrigation runoff.

Sprinkler use, when to water

If you spot brown areas in your customer’s landscape, that usually means there is a lack of adequate irrigation coverage. To ensure all areas of the landscape are irrigated, adjust sprinkler positions or use a hose with a nozzle that shuts off to apply water directly to the brown areas.

To add more water to the landscape, adjust sprinkler times, but remember when the weather returns to normal temperatures to reduce the watering times. Watering before sunrise or after the sun has set can help you avoid unnecessary evaporation losses.

Adding more coverage  

Before adding any extra sprinklers, etc. to your customer’s landscape, inspect it as a whole to make sure everything is working correctly with the irrigation. If you find there are issues, consider adding drip feeders or spray heads to ensure full coverage.

To keep water from running onto sidewalks and driveways, avoid over-spraying the landscape. Don’t forget to tend to the isolated trees in the yard as well; they will also require a thorough soaking.

Don’t cut grass too short

When grass is allowed to grow just a little taller, the roots are able to grow longer as well. During the hot days of summer, that length will allow the roots to reach down into the soil for moisture.

Feed regularly  

Microbes in the soil have processed most of the nutrients for the lawn to absorb within six to eight weeks of feeding. So be sure to replenish these nutrients regularly. A well-fed lawn will come in thick and will cool the soil by crowding out weeds, which can help it beat the heat.

Photo: Mean Green Mower

The first American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) Green Zone park in the East has been established with the help of Mean Green’s zero-turn mower.

The town of Southampton, New York, has decided to transform the East Quogue Village Green into a certified AGZA Green Zone by using electric-powered equipment.

An AGZA Green Zone is a defined area of land such as a park or school campus where maintenance is conducted with zero emission, low noise equipment, and manual tools.

It is the first Green Zone to be instituted in the Eastern United States. AGZA is an organization that provides certification and accreditation in zero-emission landscape strategies. Dan Mabe, AGZA’s president, has helped create more than 25 certified Green Zones in the West.

Now, in partnership with the non-profit Quiet Communities, AGZA is working to bring its program to the Eastern U.S. and educate individuals on the risks of the use of fossil fuels and the cleaner, quieter and more sustainable solutions.

“On the West Coast, we have proven that commercial sized properties can be maintained without gas-powered equipment at the same level of quality and at lower cost,” Mabe said. “We look forward to bringing these benefits to the East and other parts of the country.”

After meeting with AGZA and Quiet Communities last year, Southampton’s Parks and Recreation Department demoed Mean Green Mower’s products, including its electric mower.

“It’s amazing how such a large mower can be so quiet,” said Jon Erwin, Southampton’s parks maintenance supervisor.

According to Mean Green, its 60-inch deck ZTR is about 15 to 20 decibels quieter than a comparable gas engine product.

“Parks maintenance staff members use power equipment on a daily basis and after testing the electric products, and getting a better sense of how they function and perform, they’re very enthusiastic about their implementation,” said Kristen Doulos, the town’s parks director.

Already other towns on Long Island are following Southampton’s lead with the Town of Huntington voting to create their own AGZA Green Zone.

Toro named official turf equipment partner for Minnesota United

As Major League Soccer has arrived in Minnesota, the football club Minnesota United has chosen Toro as its official partner of turf equipment and irrigation to help it maintain a world-class pitch and surrounding green space.

Photo: Toro

“As we began to consider plans for the care and maintenance of both the grass on the pitch and the green space at our new stadium, it just made sense to partner with Toro,” said Nick Rogers, MNUFC president. “As a Minnesota-based company, and a worldwide leader in caring for sports fields, Toro will understand the unique demands our climate places on our future pitch and will help to make sure it is a world-class surface.”

Toro will work with Minnesota United to select the proper mowing and turf equipment for the unique challenges of maintaining a stadium pitch. The stadium’s irrigation system will use the T7 Series rotors and be managed by Toro’s Sentinel central control system.

“With the excitement of Major League Soccer debuting in Minnesota, we are proud to help support Minnesota United FC in their effort to create a best-in-class experience for fans and players alike,” said Rick Olson, president and CEO of the Toro Company. “With strong roots here in Minnesota, we are honored to further our relationship with Minnesota United and to provide the innovative product solutions and support needed to maintain this world-class sporting venue.”

California Pools & Landscape recognized for customer service

California Pools & Landscape was recently ranked No. 1 in customer service in the state of Arizona by Pool & Spa News and Aquatics International.

The company’s high residential revenue, employee tenure, training regimens and user-friendly design of its website all helped lead to it being recognized at the No. 1 in customer service. California Pools & Landscape celebrated with a one day sales event in Chandler and Scottsdale.

“We’re just so honored by this industry acknowledgement of our entire company’s commitment to service that we wanted to celebrate and pass our gratitude on to our great customers,” said Jeremey Smith, CEO and president.

The company also recently celebrated 30 years in business with zero registrar of contractors complains. The business started out small with one location but now has expanded to multiple places in the valley.

Photo: Hydro Pet

Ed Vaccaro has recently released his invention The Hydro Pet. This device is an outdoor water bowl for any pets and animals that spend most of their time during the day outside.

The idea for this product came to Vaccaro after hearing that his neighbor’s dog had died of dehydration while staying outside during the day.

The bowl can be set up in just a few steps, according to Vaccaro, and features a patented micro-jets and waterfall system. The bowl also refreshes and cleans itself at whatever length and interval pet owners choose. There are three ways to install it, and installation typically takes a few minutes.

The bowl hooks up to the homeowner’s existing sprinkler head, outside water spigot with a timer or drip line hose.

The bowl also has the following features:

• Non-electric making it safe for people and pets
• Automatically cleans and refreshes, which prevents the buildup of harmful algae, pollution, insect larvae and biofilm
• The bowl also waters nearby plants, trees and shrubs after each refill
• Perfect for pets of all kinds, including dogs, cats, chickens, pigs and more
• Sturdy and weather-resistant
• BPA-free and made in the United States

Natural water conservation agent said to improve health and look of turfgrasses

Photo: Brookwood Agra

With the recent droughts and extreme high temperatures, cool season turfgrasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and fine leaf fescue have turned brown and gone dormant.

Because of these climate conditions, O’Fallon, Illinois-based Brookside Agra developed a proprietary natural water conservation agent called H2OExcel. The company says this agent has been scientifically proven by a university research study to improve turfgrass appearance and health when drought conditions and heat are high, using 30-50 percent less water.

The company says H2OExcel has also proved to increase root mass, strengthen turf to defend against weeds, lower maintenance costs, reduce the use of fertilizers, discourage harmful microorganisms and defend against dehydration of the soil and plant.

“Water will always take the path of least resistance and simply run-off. This common occurrence leads to the over-watering and fertilization of plants, crops and yards because water cannot reach the root system,” said Tony Arro, Brookside Agra director of sales – specialty products. “The power of H2OExcel’s long-term use is that it creates a soil profile that allows oxygen and water to naturally penetrate the surface, thus allowing fertilizers and nutrients a more efficient path to the root zone.”

According to the company, H2OExcel is a 100 percent biodegradable, proprietary blend of desert plant extracts, humic acid-containing biologicals and other all-natural non-plant derived nutrient enhancers.

H2OExcel can change the polarity of water and soil to increase biological activity, defend against dehydration of both the soil and plants by keeping water available deeper within the soil profile and interact with soil capillarity pressure, the company says. H2OExcel can also help increase available nutrients and balance the amount of water within the root zone of growing plants by supercharging biological activity, according to Brookside Agra.

Brookside Agra also notes that researchers from Purdue University proved the effectiveness of H2OExcel in maintaining healthy turf through an independent research study. The study was conducted by Dr. Cale A. Bigelow, associate professor of agronomy-turfgrass science from late May 2013 to early August 2013.

Brookside Agra said the conclusion of the research was the turf treated with H2OExcel and the leading competitor’s product displayed significantly less wilt and healthier visual/turf quality compared to untreated control turf. The company adds that the H2OExcel results used 86 percent less product than the leading chemical-based competitor to achieve virtually the same outcome for these studies.

“I started using H2OExcel with the downturn in the economy and demands from golfers were high to continue to provide excellent golf course conditions,” said Mike Daugherty, former golf course superintendent at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville, Illinois. “So, we were looking for ways to save money anywhere possible. The product helped me in water usage, labor savings and getting more bang for our buck on our fertilizer applications.”

The company says that H2OExcel can be blended with pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides, is safe to use on tee boxes, golf course fairways, crops, greens, landscaping, lawns, vegetable gardens, trees and other vegetation.

Brookside Agra says that the ingredients in H2OExcel are on the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list, which is approved by both the FDA and AAFCO.

Underhill introduces next generation 2WIRE Decoder Module

Underhill International has recently introduced its 2WIRE Decoder Module. This module is fully compatible with Hunter Industries’ ICC2 commercial controller, which the company says expands its capabilities to two-wire operation.

Snapping directly into the controller module slot, the 2WIRE converts an ICC2 to two-wire operation for hybrid multi-wire/two-wire system expansion or new irrigation installations. The 2WIRE Decoders can convert the 32-station ICC2 to a 48-station two-wire system, and they work with all ICC2 models, including metal, pedestal and plastic cabinets.

The company says that, typically, the two-wire irrigation is more cost effective than the multi-wire systems. According to the company, this is because it requires only one pair of two wires from the controller to multiple valves/decoders in the field, which they say will save time, materials and labor.

Grounding is not required along the two-wire path with Underhill’s Decoder Modules, and standard irrigation wire can be used. Each valve/field decoder has a unique address that identifies it to the controller in the two-wire systems. Each valve is told when to open and close once the signal is addressed and 24 VAC powers is sent to the same pair of two wires.

Photo: Pixabay

We’ve talked before about climbing plants and the different types, but let’s look now at the topic of green walls, also known as vertical gardens, ecowalls or living walls.

According to the company Ambius, which specializes in green wall installation, green walls are panels of plants which are grown vertically using hydroponics. They can be grown on free-standing structures or can be attached to walls.

While the idea of a green wall may be attractive to customers at first, keep in mind that they do come with their own set of difficulties. Take a look at a few of the challenges associated with designing, maintaining and creating green walls.

Green wall benefits

Not only are green walls beautiful to look at, they are beneficial to the environment and to your customer’s personal health. Whether the walls are outdoors or indoors, clients can still benefit from all these walls offer.

According to Ambius, studies have shown that green walls can increase a commercial building’s property values by up to 20 percent, and they can help clean the air and absorb pollutants from the environment.

Plants naturally filter the air around us, therefore the air quality of your customer’s office or landscape is sure to increase. This is good news for customers interested in adding a green wall to the exterior of their building or home.

Not only will the added foliage bring a new look to the structure, it will also help protect the outside of the building. Plants can help protect the walls of a building from intense sunlight, heavy rains and acid rains, which over time can harm the structure of building materials.

According to Ambius, green walls can also help reduce energy costs when added onto a building, because they are able to regulate the internal temperature of the building while working from the exterior. If a green wall is installed indoors, it can also help regulate humidity levels.

Green walls can also help cut down on noise pollution. Leaves have a natural ability to absorb sounds, and this ability can help cut down on excess noises and sounds in the workplace or in crowded areas. This can help create a more relaxing environment in the office or home space, and it can help reduce noise for customers who live in crowded areas.

Good landscaping, as you well know, can also boost property values. This can be a big selling point to customers who own their own business or for those just looking to increase the value of their home.

Green wall design  

Green walls are very up and coming with customer popularity in the landscape design industry, and they are safe to install on almost any structure, outside or indoors. They are a good statement and focal piece in landscapes and they also help create a good, welcoming environment.

Each green wall will be different depending on your client, so be flexible and have a few design and plant type options up your sleeve when brainstorming. Be sure to remember that different designs and plants will be used in outdoor and indoor green walls also.

“Plants for the exterior are chosen based on climate zone as it’s important to use the correct plants in the correct zones,” Matt Hills, architect I with Ambius, said on the company’s website. “Plants are chosen that will survive in a zone higher than the location’s climate. For example, if you are in Boston we’d pick plants that could survive in a more northern climate. Therefore, the further south you go the more species of plants that will grow and so a wider choice of plants is available for use. The interior plants are completely different from those used in exterior walls. The interior plants are tropical plants from the southern hemisphere, or southern states like Florida.”

Overall, there are three types of green wall design options: panel system, tray system and freestanding walls.

Freestanding walls are more commonly used indoors and they can be easily changed, whether that’s by relocating the wall or by changing out the plants that are on it.

Tray systems are also popular indoors. With this type of green wall, plants are pre-grown and inserted into the wall. This can offer a good degree of versatility that will allow more of the surface to be covered, or it can be designed as living art.

Panel systems have the plants pre-grown into the panels. These can be used in either indoors or outdoors and typically do well in most climates.

When talking price, it’s hard to give a ballpark estimate because the price will depend on what type of plants your customer desires and what kind of green wall he/she wants.

Talk to you customer about their preferred timeline. If they are willing to save some money and wait for their plants to grow, they can opt for planting their future green wall plants on-site. This will give them the option of a cheaper method, and it will also let them have more time to decide on a final look.

For those who want to get started on this project quickly, pre-grown plants will be a requirement, which could in turn run up the price just a bit.

Green wall maintenance

Green walls may require a bit more care and attention than other landscape aspects, but that should not deter you from undertaking them as a project.

“To ensure success of the wall, green wall maintenance is critical,” Hills says online. “Most companies insist on a mandatory one year warranty with their green walls…We make sure the wall is installed correctly and then maintained properly for the first year…This is the most critical time for green walls, especially the first few months. It’s essential to get the irrigation and its timing right.”

Many green walls are designed with drip-irrigation systems. These can maximize the use of water and can also be set up using an automated system that manages the time the water runs, which ultimately helps your customers on their water bills.

The most efficient methods are recirculation systems because they reuse the water and pump the water from the bottom to the top until there is no water left. The tank is then refilled.

For those who don’t have the space option for tanks, direct irrigation is also a good choice.

A worker waters plant beds at the Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska.
Photo: Jill Odom

During the hot summer months, your clients can be fretting about keeping their landscape lush and green, but remind them that more isn’t always better when it comes to watering.

Last month we told you how to keep your customers’ lawns from baking in the heat, and now we’re going to look at the irrigation requirements that trees, shrubs and vegetable gardens need to make it through dry conditions during the summer.

During periods of consistent rainfall, most well-established trees and shrubs don’t require supplemental irrigation, but when drought conditions appear these plants can decline or die without watering. Signs of a trees and shrubs in need of water can be seen in temporary wilting.

One way to check if a client’s tree needs watering is to dig a small hole under the plant canopy and feel the soil. If it is cool and moist 6 to 9 inches beneath the soil there is no need to irrigate, but if it is dry, it is time to water.

Garden hoses, soaker hoses and root feeders are all good options for watering trees or shrub beds. While overhead sprinkler irrigation systems are a good fit for watering lawns, they are not the best choice for trees and shrubs.

“Frequent wetting of the leaves with overhead irrigation provides an ideal environment for the spread of scab, leaf spot diseases, mildew and other fungal and bacterial problems,” said Ross Penhallegon, horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service.”

As for how much you should water trees and ornamental shrubs, it can be tricky at times to make sure the plants are not either over-watered or under-watered.

“Over-watering literally drowns the root system of a plant,” Penhallegon said. “Under-watering dehydrates the root system and causes it to die of thirst. It’s easy to over-water plants grown in heavy clay soils and to under-water those grown on sandy, well-drained soils.”

If the top 6 to 9 inches of soil prove to be dry, apply a deep watering over the entire root zone area. Avoid light watering as this promotes shallow root growth that will make the plant more susceptible to drought stress.

During the summer season, established plants in soils like clay may require water once a week while sandy soils will need a soaking at least twice a week.

As for vegetable patches, it is important to keep the soil moist at all times to prevent blossom end rot or cracks in the fruit. The dry wet to dry again cycle will cause your client’s fruits and vegetables to spoil.

Edibles should be watered deeply two to three times a week during really hot weather and those grown in containers will need to be watered almost daily as they dry out faster.

Mulch in both vegetable gardens and around trees can help prevent water evaporation from the soil, while creating a buffer from extreme summer and winter temperatures.

The best time of the day to water is in the early morning before the temperatures start to rise and also winds are lower, reducing evaporation. The evening is another acceptable time to water plants, if you can’t in the morning, but make sure it is two to three hours before dusk.

If prolonged dry spells are common in your area, you might want to suggest some drought-tolerant species that are more accustomed to those conditions like thornless honeylocusts or white fir trees.

Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply and Rachio have expanded their irrigation controller recycling program from two states to nationwide.

The irrigation controller recycling pilot program lasted six months and only took place in Colorado and Texas, but the 10 participating Ewing locations were able to collect more than 400 pounds of controllers for recycling.

The two irrigation companies are working along with Blue Star Recyclers, based in Denver, Colorado, which recycles electronics and other materials while creating jobs for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or physical limitations.

“Sustainability efforts benefit us all, and this program in particular keeps outdated controllers out of our landfills, while also providing jobs for individuals with autism or other disabilities – two great outcomes that require very little effort!” said Brian Ewing, vice president of sales at Rachio. “Rachio loves the way communities have embraced controller recycling, and are excited to expand the reach of this impactful program nationwide.”

Usually when an old controller is replaced it is often disposed of in a landfill, but now those who are replacing or upgrading their irrigation controller can take the old one to any local Ewing store to have it recycled instead.

“With the success we had in the spring pilot program, we are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to all of our customers,” said Warren Gorowitz, Ewing’s vice president of sustainability. “This program is one way of working toward a more sustainable future.”

To locate an Ewing store near you, click here.

Farwest 2017 early-bird registration deadline draws near  

The Farwest Show, which is the largest green industry tradeshow in the West, is offering early-bird registration discount until July 31.

Pre-registrants will receive up to 50 percent in savings depending on what portions of the trade show they attend. The discount applies to all Farwest events, including the trade show, education seminars and nursery country tours.

The trade show will be held in Portland, Oregon, from Aug. 23-25. To register for the show, click here.

Students and teachers receive a special discount price of $49 for the all access pass that includes the trade show, seminars and pesticide classes. The show will also host its annual event, “Emergent: A Group of Growing Professionals,” on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sponsored by F&B Farms and Nursery, the event will provide young professionals with an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals in the green industry. Originally started six years ago as the Young Nursery Professionals Group, the organization has grown from a handful of individuals to over 3,000 horticulturists.

IrriGreen> adds Coast Pump Water Technologies to its distributor network

Coast Pump Water Technologies, based in Venice, Florida, has become the latest distributor of IrriGreen’s Genius Irrigation System.

Coast Pump has 20 locations throughout the state of Florida and has been a distributor of water system products, equipment and supplies for 41 years.

“Over the course of four decades, Coast Pump has become one of the largest and most respected family-owned distributors in the U.S.,” said Gary Klinefelter, founder and chief executive officer of IrriGreen. “As Coast Pump has grown and diversified, one thing has stayed the same: their commitment to providing superior products backed by their knowledge and experience.”

IrriGreen’s Genius Irrigation System is designed to reduce water usage by as much as 50 percent while requiring fewer sprinkler heads and less pipe than traditional systems. The Genius system can also be installed in half to one-third the time.

The smart sprinkler heads are controlled by IrriGreen’s patented software, which controls the spray position, direction, watering distance and rotational speed allowing it to “print” the water on a lawn.

“IrriGreen’s smart sprinklers install with just one computer-controlled head zone and no lateral lines,” said Matthew Phillips, president of Coast Pump Water Technologies. “That saves labor. The system waters to the exact shape of the lawn. That saves water. Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) tests show that IrriGreen can match the performance of mechanical sprinkler systems while using much less water.”

As a landscaper, you better than anyone know that creating a beautiful landscape is important, but more important than that is to find beautiful plants that can thrive in the environment in which they are planted.

This is even more true when dealing with trees planted near commercial buildings. While landscaping for homes comes with its own set of challenges, landscaping for businesses is no walk in the park.

Commercial businesses can be some of the greatest assets to the landscaping industry because they are interested in investing in attractive looks for their campuses. This gives you the ability to be creative in design and lets you encourage more green looks in the realm of big business.

With commercial landscapes, however, you have to think about exposures, the public’s use of the site and vehicular traffic. Maintaining trees for commercial landscapes can take a bit more planning as well because the trees must be irrigated, cared for and pruned often in places where there is high public traffic and in parking lots.

It doesn’t matter if you give your customer their dream look if within a few weeks the exotic trees they wanted have wilted or died. Finding plants that can handle the temperatures and locations of whatever area you service is the key to pleasing customers and giving them more bang for their buck.

We’ve listed a few suggestions of trees that do well in the commercial setting, so take a peek and see if these match up to what your customers are asking for.

Temperate regions

Shade trees are very popular in temperate parts of the country, and one of the most popular types is the pistache (Pistacia chinensis). These typically have slow to moderate growth and can reach anywhere from 30-60 feet tall with an almost equal spread. These add great colors to the landscape in the fall and boast bright orange and red leaves with an occasional appearance of yellow. It can tolerate a pretty wide range of conditions and, when it’s mature, is drought tolerant. It’s been recommended as a reliable tree for parking lots and street side plantings. They are recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 4-23.

Evergreen trees help give landscapes a nice presence of greenery long term, and one of the most popular is the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana). They have moderate to fast growth and can, in time, reach between 40 and 80 feet tall with a heavy limbed crown that can spread twice as wide.

They have a long life span and thrive best in rich, moist, deep soil. It’s also said to be the most attractive evergreen oak in hot interior climates. They are recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 4-24.

Southwest desert and arid regions

The palo verde tree (Parkinsonia aculeate) is a tough and presumably trouble free desert tree. They are valued for their shade, colorful bark and floral display. They are a good attractant for birds, and usually only need to be pruned to enhance their form. They provide lightly filtered shade and are recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 8-14 and 18-20.

The mesquite trees (Prosopis spp.) are among some of the most useful and resilient of the desert trees. Their roots can travel long distances in search of water, and they can also adapt to lawn water. They can grow up to 30 feet tall with adequate watering, and they boast a spreading canopy that can reach about 30 feet wide. A bit of pruning is needed for this type, but it should only be done to remove dead or broken limbs. They are recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 10-13 and 18-24.

Palm trees

For customers who want to add a bit of the tropics to their scene, these two popular palms can lend a hand.

Mexican fan palms (Washingtonia robusta) are best suited for larger properties, parkways and avenues, and they can grow close to 100 feet high and 10 feet wide. Their trunks are slightly curved and boast a bright green head of foliage. They are recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 8-24.

Date palms (Phoenix canariensis) have heavy, large trunks that can grow to almost 60 feet tall. Their arched fronds form a crown that stretches to 50 feet, and they require regular watering. They are best planted in large spaces, along wider streets and in parks. They are recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 8, 9 and 12-24. However in Texas and Florida, they are at risk of contracting Texas Phoenix palm decline.

For new construction, irrigation design plans must be submitted in Alachua County now.
Photo: Mike McCune/Flickr

A little more than year after the Alachua County Commission enacted its Landscape Irrigation Efficiency Design Code and nine million gallons of water have been saved since then.

Started in April 2016 to improve landscape irrigation efficiency and reduce unrestricted water use in new construction developments in unincorporated Alachua County, the code has done more than just improve water savings.

All irrigation professionals installing and maintaining irrigations systems are now required to register with the county Environmental Protection Department (EPD). So far 64 companies have registered and it has also help remove those not qualified to be doing irrigation work in the first place.

“Because of the new code, it has really separated the nonprofessionals from the professionals who really know what they are doing,” Mark Entrekin, a landscape architect who has been in the industry for 30 years and designer with Entropic Landscapes, told The Gainesville Sun.

The code is certainly no cakewalk either, as the irrigation designs have to be presented to the county for approval. According to Stacie Greco, the county’s water conservation coordinator, more than 200 projects have sought approval since the code was executed and 25 percent of the projects failed the initial review.

All irrigation systems being installed in new construction projects in unincorporated Alachua County must follow the process of submitting applications, sketches and paying a fee. The new code has raised the price of having an irrigation system installed.

“At a minimum, our costs have risen 30 to 35 percent since the code was enacted, which we have had to pass on to our customers,” Entrekin told The Gainesville Sun.

However, Greco says the increased cost of irrigation for a $250,000 home is less that .5 percent. The fees for residential projects include $50 for plan reviews, $85 for inspections and $50 for re-inspections, if necessary. Nonresidential projects cost $100 for plan reviews, $170 for inspections and $100 for re-inspections.

The inspections can be done by the county, irrigation companies or third parties and right now 22 irrigation companies are certified to conduct self-inspections.

Companies interested in doing self-inspections must complete the State Voluntary Irrigation License program or take a one-day course to become a Florida Water Star Accredited Professional administered by the county EPD in partnership with the St. Johns River Water Management District and Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

Approximately 80 percent of new construction in unincorporated Alachua County includes irrigation, according to Greco, and irrigation companies often share EPD brochures on proper irrigation practices.

“Water is not an endless resource,” Greco told The Gainesville Sun. “By following what the county has set up, more water can be saved if homeowners and irrigation professionals do what is recommended. The goal is to make property owners more aware of what we are trying to do. We want to help them save water.”

Photo: Karen Roe/Flickr

As drought becomes an ever more common phenomenon for landscapes, sometimes upgrading or repairing your client’s irrigation system isn’t the only method to consider when it comes to saving water.

While some homeowners may assume when a drought hits their entire yard is done for and they might as well start ripping out their grass and flower beds, you can assure them that not all is lost when it comes to these extremes.

If your customer is living in a drought prone area, or they’re just looking to cut back on thirsty plants, you can suggest these drought-tolerant perennials that they can count on returning year after year.

________________________________________________________

Photo: Monrovia

Crazy Blue Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Crazy Blue’ Plant Patent #25,639)

 A perennial that can be used as an accent, in borders or mass plantings, this plant is an eye-catcher with its bright violet-blue flowers that rise above gray-green foliage. They have an airy feel of ornamental grasses and can be used well in cottage or Mediterranean style landscapes. Once established it will only need occasional watering. Grows 16 to 18 inches tall and 14 to 16 inches wide.

• USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9
• Full sun

________________________________________________________

Photo: Monrovia

Coronado Red hyssop (Agastache aurantiaca ‘Pstessene’)

Another perennial that can add some height to the garden, this cultivar of hyssop produces rich red blooms from mid-summer to fall. These flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds and songbirds. It is suitable for cutting gardens or a rustic style landscape. Grows 15 to 18 inches tall and 12 to 15 inches wide.

• USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-10
• Full sun

________________________________________________________

Photo: Andrey Zharkikh/Flickr

Bishop’s hat (Epimedium x rubrum)

Also known as barrenwort, this plant has a dense, ground-hugging habit making it an ideal ground cover, and it works well for border edging with its attractive heart-shaped leaves with edges that turn red in the summer. In the fall, the leaves become completely burgundy. Delicate star shaped flowers appear from mid to late spring. Grows 6 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide.

• USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
• Part shade to full shade

________________________________________________________

Photo: Monrovia

Little Grapette dwarf daylily (Hemerocallis x ‘Little Grapette’)

Perfect for mass plantings, these gorgeous purple blooms can put on a show in the early summer. This quick-growing perennial can be used in borders, containers and firewise landscaping. Bred for pest-resistance and easy care, this dwarf variety can fit into the smallest of pocket gardens. Grows 12 to 16 inches tall.

• USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-11
• Full sun

________________________________________________________

Photo: Wikipdedia

Blue Glitter sea holly (Erynigum planum ‘Blue Glitter’)

This plant thrives in hot, dry situations and has tall, spiny blue flowers that are thistle-like in appearance. The Blue Glitter cultivar is known for its profuse summer blooms and the flower heads are another good option for cut flower gardens. It attracts both bees and butterflies and can endure less than ideal landscape conditions. Grows 24 to 36 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide.

• USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9
• Full sun

________________________________________________________

Photo: Monrovia

Shimmer evening primrose (Oenothera fremontii ‘Shimmer’ Plant Patent #19,663)

This plant blooms first in the spring and then again in the summer and fall, displaying its fragile butter yellow petals against silvery foliage. At night, it gives off a fragrant aroma. It thrives in sandy soils, or rocky landscapes like xeriscapes. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and has a moderate growth rate. Grows 6 to 10 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide.

• USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-7
• Full sun

Photo: Natural Communities Native Plants

When it comes to adding grass to your customer’s lawn, the options are almost limitless, but one type that’s become increasingly popular is fescue (Festuca), also known as “the go-to grass.”

Whether it’s used across the entirety of the lawn, in containers or lining a walkway, fescue has been called one of the most beautiful grasses. While this cold-season grass does come with its own set of demands, it is a favorite for many designers in Mediterranean climates because of its warm green coloring.

Types

Fescue grass comes in two types: ornamental and turf.

Turf versions of fescue tend to spread by creeping rhizomes, and ornamental fescues are typically clumping grasses, which helps keep many of them neat in the landscape.

Fescues are well known for their clump formations, because this means they won’t choke or push more delicate plants around them. Tall fescue (F. arundinacea) is good at fighting off soil erosion.

Tall fescue is often used in athletic fields and other commercial sites where heavy-foot traffic is common. It also tolerates shade better than most cool-season grasses. Creeping red fescue is another turf variety that is very shade tolerant and is low maintenance. Hard fescue is indeed one of the hardiest varieties of the grass, thriving in higher elevations.

When to plant

Fescue will germinate best when the soil temperatures are between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Soil temperatures usually reach this range when daytime temperatures are between 60 and 75 degrees. When planted properly, fescue will begin to germinate within 10 to 14 days.

It’s also possible to plant fescue in the spring and summer, but if planted in the summer, irrigation will be a key factor in its survival.

Keeping it alive

Because fescue is a cool-season grass, it will grow during cool weather and go dormant in the heat. If not watered properly, they will also go into their dormant phase. In cooler temperatures, they have better foliage quality, but don’t let that stop you from using it in a customer’s yard even if they are in a warmer climate.

During the warmer months, fescues will need their blades to insulate them, so shear the plants in the late winter. For customers who opt in for the no-mow type of fescues, plan on thatching it every 18 months to two years.

It can sometimes be hard to tell the hydration status of a tree in your customer’s yard. They can easily be under or overwatered, and most times the problem escalates until it’s too late to treat it.

One quick and easy way you or your customer can check the water status of a tree is to take a long screwdriver and stick it in the soil below the tree. If it’s difficult to do this, the tree definitely needs more water.

Photo: Pixabay

Another way to check is to dig 6-8 inches deep into the soil below the tree and get a handful of soil. The soil should be cool and moist. If it’s drenched, then the tree is being overwatered, and if the soil is sandy, roll it into a ball. If it then crumbles, your tree is in need more water.

Trees give off subtle clues that are easy to spot if you know what to look for. Take a look at the signs of over and underwatering to see if your customer’s trees are experiencing either condition.

Overwatering signs

If you see that the area around the bottom of the tree is always wet, overwatering may have occurred.

Take a look at new growth around the base of the tree as a good indicator of this as well. If new growth withers before it’s fully grown or becomes lightly yellow or green, there is too much water present.

Watch leaves carefully as well. They may look like they are green, vibrant and healthy, but if they break easily and are overall fragile, they can be suffering from too much water.

Underwatering signs

When you spot trees that have curled or wilted leaves that may be turning brown at the edges or tips, you might have some underwatered plants.

Sparse canopies that are off-color and have undersized leaves, yellowing leaves or scorched leaves are also major tell-tale signs of dehydrated trees.
Check the seasons as well. If you see trees prematurely dropping their leaves or turning their fall colors early, underwatering could be the culprit.

“Even if you run a sprinkler in your yard, your trees likely need additional water,” said Rick Castro of Davey Tree Expert Company’s Northwest Seattle office. “The grass quickly slurps up the sprinkler’s water, leaving your tree thirsty. Plus, trees prefer to be watered deeply.”

When making your rounds with customers, always take time to check in on all the foliage in the landscape. If you see trees are going unwatered for long periods of time, talk to your customers about creating a watering schedule. This is especially important for customers who live in more drought-prone areas or dryer climates.

How to fix, save overwatered trees

When trees are overwatered, they are struggling to breath because the excess water takes over air pockets that it previously had. This creates a problem because the tree’s roots are getting too much water and not enough oxygen, which can lead to root rot, long-term tree stress or fungi.

If you see that a tree is overwatered, just stop watering it temporarily. Give it about a week or so, depending on the severity of the accumulated water, and simply let it dry out. Before you water it again, do the screwdriver test, and only water the tree where it needs it.

If you find that the soil under your tree is mainly clay, try mixing in compost to help the soil drain better.

Be sure to inspect the trees after it rains to see if and where the water is pooling. Check to see if the water is running down a hill and pooling at the base of the tree or if a rain spout is emptying near the tree.

For more information on exact watering techniques for different sized trees, click here.

According to Aspen Daily News Online, owner of Roaring Fork Landscapes (RFL) Tom Friel says he is owed over $500,000 from a business partner for work done on Aspen Valley Ranch, an 800-acre compound.

Friel says he entered into a contract with Aspen Valley Landscaping (AVL), which lasted from March 2015 to August 2016. Aspen Valley Ranch hired AVL for irrigation and landscape construction, and the lawsuit says that AVL then hired RFL.

According to Aspen Daily News Online, AVL’s landscaping bid to the property owner included the proposal to, “…team up with Tom Friel with Roaring Fork Landscapes to help expedite the irrigation installation. Tom has extensive experience in large-scale ranch irrigation.”

Aspen Daily News also says that the bid says RFL and AVL, “…have successfully collaborated on projects for the past 10 years, and we also share the same nursery and storage yard in El Jebel. By combining crews, we can offer you a team that is able to accomplish all of the AVT items in house.”

The lawsuit was filed on July 3 in Pitkin County District Court on AVL’s behalf. The lawsuit suggested a contractual relationship in which all profits earned on this project would be split with RFL.

Despite the work involving irrigation installation and other work, the latter company claims that it has yet to be paid. According to the lawsuit, the work included crews of 10 working six days a week.

As of yet, there are no answers filed to the lawsuit.

Firefighters rescue tree trimmer stuck in palm tree

After becoming entangled in the thick fronds of a 40-foot palm tree in Rancho Bernardo, firefighters launched a rescue operation to help the tree trimmer.

According to NBC San Diego, crews from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) rushed to the neighborhood along the 17000 block of Bernardo Oaks Drive behind The Country Club of Rancho Bernardo golf course just before 9 a.m.

After improperly tying the ropes to the palm tree he was trimming, the trimmer became wedged in the tree’s fronds.

“Instead of throwing the top rope over the crown of the tree, [it] came up the bottom of the tree,” Glen Holder, SDFD battalion chief, told NBC Sand Diego.

Holder says that when this happens, the large skirt of a palm usually comes loose from the trunk because of damage from rain or rot.

“And it weighs several hundred pounds, and it’ll come down and it’ll topple the tree trimmer in half,” Holder told NBC San Diego. “It’s usually a fatal accident.”

Rescue specialists with the SDFD Lifeguards division led the efforts; the rescue took about an hour.

As pieces of the tree came off, the dust and debris could have posed a threat to the crew and victim’s breathing.

By 10 a.m., the victim was safely removed from the tree.

“It’s not always a pretty outcome,” Holder told NBC San Diego. “But we’ve effectively saved this man’s life today. It’s a day to be very proud to be a firefighter. It’s an extreme honor to serve our citizens.”

The victim is expected to recover, and  no one else was hurt during the incident.

Items stolen from landscapers to purchase heroin

According to The Berkshire Eagle, five men recently stole chainsaws and a leaf blower from a local landscaper’s truck; the theft occurred to feed the heroin addiction of the men.

The men were arrested last week, and one was arraigned in Southern Berkshire District Court on Monday. Later in the week, the other four will be arraigned.

The Berkshire Eagle reports that Jeremy Babcock was charged with possession of a class A substance; Daryl VanDeusen, Shawn Keefner and Michael Thorpe were charged with breaking and entering a motor vehicle and larceny over $250; and Jeremy McDermott was charged with receiving stolen property, which police later found in his vehicle.

During the course of their investigation, police say they found Babcock and another one of the suspects using heroine. Police determined that the suspects had participated in the theft.

The Berkshire Eagle says that Thorpe, who was in Southern Berkshire District Court on Monday, pleaded guilty to larceny in a separate case from a person over 65 and possession of a class B substance. He also pleaded guilty to the charges he faced in this case and was sentenced to 120 days in the Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction.

Pending the arraignment, the other men were held on bail.

The landscaper called the police on July 20 to report the missing items, and after the investigation five chainsaws and the leaf blower were recovered.

“These were significant arrests involving individuals who are known to police and who are active in drugs and are willing to steal from hard-working victims to finance their habits,” William Walsh, town police chief, said in a prepared statement. “We are working closely with the District Attorney’s Office on the prosecution of these cases, and our officers did a great job bringing these cases forward.”

Photo: steve p2008/Flickr

In a recent study done by Colorado State University, researchers looked at the three percent of total Colorado water used for landscapes and found a significant return on investments from that water.

The Hidden Values of Landscapes: Implications for Drought Planning study is the first one of its kind in Colorado that quantifies how much water landscapes used and their social, economic and environmental benefits.

“The use of three percent of Colorado’s available water to maintain green landscapes is a legitimate allocation of water resources,” said Tony Koski, professor and Extension Turf Specialist in CSU’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.

Along with Koski, the study was also lead by horticultural agent with CSU Extension in Larimer County Alison O’Connor and associate professor in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Zach Johnson.

“We were aware of a lot of anecdotal information about the benefits of landscapes, but this is the first time the information has been synthesized and analyzed,” said Johnson.

According to the study, the following are just a few of the social, economic and environmental benefits found during research:

• Forty-eight pounds of carbon dioxide are absorbed by one tree each year.
• Trees provide air quality benefits for Colorado cities valued in the high six figures.
• Twenty-five percent fewer crimes occur in public housing with landscapes.
• Every $1 invested in a home landscape yields a 135 percent return on the home value.
• Seven percent higher rents are paid on commercial properties with attractive landscapes.
• Forty-five percent cooler temps occur when cars are shaded by trees.
• Outdoor urban spaces increase mental and physical health and children who spend time outdoors are better learners.

Since the completion of the Colorado Water Plan, the study says that water awareness is at an all-time high in the state. CSU says that this study can serve as a tool for water policy makers who are tasked with ensuring there is enough water to get the state through future droughts and the projected population growth.

“When water supplies diminish, it is easy to argue that irrigating landscapes is not the best use of water but there are serious consequences when urban landscapes and parks are targeted,” said Koski. “The unintended consequences from the ‘cash for grass’ buyouts in Nevada and California resulted in trees and other plants dying and succumbing to disease when deprived of regular irrigation. It’s impossible to instantly replace a 30-year-old shade tree; the cooling benefits it provides are lost forever as is the character and functionality of parks and neighborhoods.”

Over the past decade, Colorado’s water users have reduced per capita water consumption by just under 20 percent by using better management practices on landscapes, tiered rate structures, improved irrigation technologies and increased general awareness among users that they should be conserving.

“In Colorado, drought is not a matter of ‘if’ but of ‘when,’” added Johnson. “Increased conservation is necessary for drought planning and this study provides water planners information to adopt a holistic approach by factoring in the value of landscapes when formulating water policy.”

The study also discusses cooling effects, storm water management, wildlife habitats, air quality, real estate values, community and health benefits and more.

Click here to see the study in its entirety.

Photo: Colorado State University

Photo: Conserva Irrigation

Conserva Irrigation, an irrigation system company committed to the principles of water conservation, is now seeking franchise candidates to expand its national footprint.

The company was founded in 2010 by Russ Jundt after he became troubled by the quantity of water wasted by a typical irrigation system. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that runoff and irrigation system waste may be as high as 1.5 billion gallons per day.

With more than 10 years of irrigation experience, Jundt founded Conserva Irrigation with help from Outdoor Living Brands.

Conserva Irrigation created the System Efficiency Score (SES), a proprietary process to audit irrigation systems that rated water efficiency based on a numerical scaled. The SES rating system is based on studies from the Irrigation Association and EPA. This system was designed to help homeowners understand how much water is being wasted as well as methods to reduce their water usage.

“Having witnessed the unbelievable amount of water that is wasted annually by inefficient sprinkler systems, Conserva Irrigation was created to help customers conserve water while also keeping their lawns and landscape material both healthy and green,” said Jundt. “We are excited to offer qualified entrepreneurs nationwide an opportunity to join the Conserva family and capitalize on the growing demand for water efficient irrigation systems in order to help preserve a limited national resource.”

Franchisees would work with Toro’s retrofit products including the Evolution controller, Precision Series spray nozzles and the T5 RapidSet rotors, which all are designed to reduce water consumption by 40 to 60 percent.

Conserva Irrigation also works with brand partners like SiteOne Landscape Supply and HindSite Software, providing franchisees with training, support and competitive savings on equipment and services. The company’s business model focuses on maintenance and service to produce strong gross profit and recurring revenue.

“Conserva Irrigation offers potential franchisees the unique opportunity to establish relationships with top brand names in the industry such as Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply and HindSite Software,” said Jundt. “Our differentiated business model of professionalizing the irrigation industry through a nationally branded company coupled with our focus on service plans as a consistent revenue stream is a proven method to success.”

The irrigation company currently has 32 territories across the U.S. and has recently signed agreements for location in Houston, Texas, Scottsdale, Arizona, Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, and Richmond, Virginia.

Conserva has a business model that is replicable and repeatable thanks to Outdoor Living Brand partnering with the company in 2012. Outdoor Living Brand offers franchise opportunities in several other outdoor living niches including Mosquito Squad and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives.

To continue its growth, Conserva is now seeking single- and multi-unit operators with varying experience levels, along with company seeking add-on business opportunities.

Those interested in the franchise should be willing to invest between $43,550 and $80,250. Conserva Irrigation is also offering incentives for veterans, multi-territory agreements or are an employee of an existing franchise.

For more information about this franchising opportunity, click here.

Photo: Jill Odom

Topiaries may not be the most commonplace items in a landscape, but when they are present, they can be quite a sight.

Topiaries can come in a multitude of shapes and sizes, and they are found all across the nation. Whether or not you’ve had a customer so far to ask for one of these attractions in their yard, it’s always a good idea to know how to style these jolly green giants just in case.

Not only does knowing this technique make you more marketable as a whole, it also gives you and your company a unique set of skills that can set you apart from the competition.

Learning how to create and maintain topiaries can help you know exactly what you’re getting into before talking with an interested client.

Choose what will make the shape

The starting point of a topiary can either be formed by using one plant or a compilation of many smaller plants, and there are two types of topiaries: new and old world.

Photo: Jill Odom

First, begin the process by determining the makeup of the topiary to find out its needs and how best to take care of it.

Old world topiaries, which are shrubs planted in the ground, do well along with plants that thrive on regular shearing. A few examples of old world topiary plants are Eugenia, podocarpus, yew and boxwood.

New world topiaries are defined by plugs that are planted into sphagnum moss. They are adaptable plants that thrive in shade and sun, and they can adapt well to frequent grooming. They also have a dense and compact growth habit. A few examples of new world topiary plants are ajuga, bronco sedge, creeping fig, alternanthera and stonecrop.

Using water and supplements  

Regular watering, whether dealing with a large or small topiary, is a must. Just like other plants in the landscape, topiaries require just as much care and attention.

Some topiaries can have internal irrigation systems installed like drip, but they can’t always be counted on to meet the individual needs of the plants. Some additional steps may be required depending on the type of topiary your customer would like.

These systems can be supplemented by traditional hand watering. Put the water where it’s needed, and check smaller, more narrow places that may dry out quicker. Avoid watering the larger areas and the under belly, as they tend to hold water longer and stay moist.

Be sure to soak the plant well before applying fertilizer to avoid burning the foliage. Adding in bionutritional products can also help give plants an organic and nutritional boost.

Keep the shape defined

Obviously, the main appeal of a topiary is its shape. Since the plants don’t come in these shapes naturally, it’s up to you to help it maintain its crisp, fresh and gorgeous look.

To maintain the shape, you can use scissors, extended shears, hedge clippers, electric hand shears or Japanese topiary pruning shears. Always make sure tools are clean and sharp, as this will help ensure you get a clean cut.

Live inspiration

Along with being a unique skillset in the design department, topiaries also offer a unique item for sightseeing.

Those who love plants and gardens will naturally be drawn to topiaries, but even those uninterested in the green industry will stop, take notice of and potentially find more interest in plants shaped like other objects or animals. Topiaries can be used in residential or commercial properties, so don’t feel limited when assessing a customer’s landscape potential.

Photo: Jill Odom

Photo: David Rowan/Flickr

Earlier this year Gov. Jerry Brown declared that the years-long California drought was official over, but he said that “conservation must remain a way of life.”

Many cities and counties are taking that advice to heart. In Sacramento, the city council has voted to continue drought-time restrictions, including limiting sprinkler watering to two days a week and increasing fines for second violations to $50.

“We want to develop a culture of long-term efficient water use in the city of Sacramento,” Bill Busath, Sacramento Department of Utilities Director, told CBS Sacramento.

There were several exemptions to the new ordinance including hand watering, smart controllers and drip irrigation systems, which all allow homeowners to water more often.

Meanwhile in other places in the state, agencies like Orange County Coastkeeper, the Chino Basin Water Conservation District in San Bernardino County and the Metropolitan Water District in Los Angeles County are all offering workshops and classes for homeowners on how to remove lawns despite there no longer being any rebates.

“We need to take responsibility for our water use,” Ray Hiemstra, associate director of programs for Orange County Coastkeeper, told the Los Angeles Daily News. “Like any other resource, we should be using it preciously. What we need to do is get into that new balance of dealing with the situation, and our easiest way to do that is through landscape.”

Orange County Coastkeeper offers a manual on how to create one of its SmartScapes, which is designed to conserve water, prevent runoff and create a habitat for urban wildlife.

The ironic thing is that the California drought may be the best thing that has happened to landscapes, which were previously over-watered.

A study conducted by the University of Utah researchers before the drought found that in Los Angeles the city uses 100 billion gallons of water in a year, and about 70 percent of that is dedicated to lawns.

“We very rarely found trees or lawns that were water-stressed,” Diane Pataki, coauthor of the study and professor of biology and urban planning at the University of Utah, told News Deeply. “Most landscapes in L.A. are over-watered. Plants were transpiring kind of the maximum amount that they physically could.”

The scientists conducted their research by spending years measuring the transpiration of trees and evapotranspiration of lawns in L.A.

Once they analyzed the data, they found that wealthier districts had twice the evapotranspiration of the poorer neighborhoods. This is due to a variety of factors, including larger sized lawns and more tree coverage.

One thing that the researchers did not expect to discover was the trees’ ability to use much less water than grass thanks to their lower leaf surface area.

“I have been surprised that we can maintain the tree canopy of L.A. with relatively little water,” Pataki told the University of Utah. “There’s this assumption that we need abundant irrigation to support trees. We can drastically reduce water use and still maintain the tree canopy.”

While Pataki sees many opportunities for water conservation, she warns that people shouldn’t be so careless when removing lawns or shutting off their irrigation that they kill off the trees as well.

“The other thing our study showed is that if you add trees to lawns you actually save water,” she told News Deeply. “Which is a little counterintuitive. But because trees reduce solar radiation to lawns so much, the lawn can receive 50 percent less water.”

Pataki and her colleagues are currently studying what changes have occurred as a result of the turfgrass removal programs. They are in the early stages of determining what people have replaced their lawns with, before they can calculate any actual water savings.

She is uncertain if people will revert back to their over-watering ways and is curious if the drought has changed their sense of aesthetics.

“L.A. was not a gravelscape city, unlike some other Southwest cities like Phoenix,” Pataki told News Deeply. “And now that these other types of landscapes are more common, is that changing people’s visual preferences? I think that’s going to be a big question going forward. And it turns out that doesn’t cool things down very much. It really is shading that cools things down.”