4. Sprinkler pipe is chocked off due to root growth.

Here are the top 10 problems I find :

1. Not watering enough. The average evapotranspiration rate of a plant on a sunny hot day could be 0.25"/day or greater. Equal amounts of water need to be replaced with an irrigation cycle. Check the coverage of the sprinkler heads and make sure that they are covering from one sprinkler head to the next sprinkler head and overlap each other.

2. The water pressure may be to low to allow sprinklers to operate properly   due to high demand by all consumers during specific times of the day. 

3. Watering during the day when sun is the strong and evaporates most of the water before it penetrates into the soil.

4. Lawns are cut too short. Grass should be cut 3" and higher each time it is mowed in the summer. Cutting it shorter that 3" allows sunlight to bake the soil and roots.

Information on Wetting Agents and Drought/Heat Stress on Turf

written by NaEx Corp.

Sprinkler system usage accounts for an estimated 70% of all water used. It is the goal of Rain Rich Sprinklers and the National Irrigation Association to conserve water at all times. Clean fresh water is a precious commodity and should not to be wasted, especially with a growing population and an increase demand for agriculture and landscape use.

Rain Rich has been leading the way for more than 28 years to use water conserving designs and efficient sprinkler equipment to help save water, reduce cost, and provide a healthy landscape.

1. Increase the run time on your rotary sprinkler zones to 60 minutes per day.

2. Increase your SPRAY sprinkler zones to water for 20 minutes every day. 

3. Increase your DRIP IRRIGATION zones to water for 60 minutes every day.

4. Increase the water budget key on your sprinklers to 120% or more.

5. Water as early in the morning as possible. Start at 1 am if possible. This will give your system the greatest pressure and volume and operate at the highest efficiency. It will also finish the cycle before you are up and using water in the home.

6. Try not to use water in the house at the same time you are using your sprinkler system. There is not enough water to handle the demand.

Generally speaking, for the north shore of Long Island, the program that works the best is watering every other day and/or watering on odd or even days of the month. The soils on the north shore are typically heavy clay or a heavy clay loam and are compacted. They do not accept water very well and have poor drainage. The positive characteristic of this is that clay soils hold water better and longer making it available to many types of trees and plants. The sprinkler system can operate less frequently and for shorter periods of time in these conditions.

Every so often a zone will stay on long past its time to have shut down. Many times this is due to the solenoid valve or zone valve being stuck in the "open" position. You try to stop the zone from being "on" by turning the controller to "off" and the zone stays "on". Next, you remove the plug from the controller thinking that it can't get any power and yet the zone stays "on". The problem is hydraulic not electrical. Typically it is because there is dirt and debris in the zone valve preventing it from closing even though the controller has ceased sending a signal for the valve to be "open" or "on" the valve can't physically close. The only way to close down the zone is to shut off the sprinkler main valve.

If you have been dreaming of enhancing your property with automatic lawn sprinklers, lighting or any of Rain Rich services, flexible financing is now available.

Rain Rich has teamed up with John Deere Credit to offer our customers affordable financing. John Deere offers two different financing options and we are sure either one will work for you.

This weekend marks a very special holiday, Mother's Day.

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln

In celebration of this holiday most will buy flowers, plants or cards but we thought why not buy her something different, something she would love and last for a long time.

Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson on April 22, 1970. In the early 60's he began to worry that the world was dirty and many of our plants and animals were dying. He wondered why people weren't trying to solve these problems so he began to write letters and travel around the country to express his concerns. Then he came up with the idea to dedicate one special day, environmental teach-in day, to educate everyone about the things that needed changing in our environment.

When I meet with the property owner, many are obtaining several estimates and comparing companies. They all have one general basis for getting quotes and this would be "price". It is difficult to compare products and design although that is the "key" to making a wise purchase.

This past week we enjoyed great weather for this time of year and on St. Patrick's Day we even set some warm weather records and green everything up in a hurry. We might experience some cold days here and there and maybe even an occasional snow but I feel we turned a corner and spring is here to stay. I can almost see the lawn turning greener each day and the hydrangeas leaf out. The forsysthia are beginning to show their beautiful yellow flowers and this is the sign that it is now time to activate your sprinkler system.

Even though the past several days have been great and it feels like spring weather, we still have about 10 days till the official start. Here are some ideas to help you focus your efforts in both your home and around your yard to help you enjoy the season:

1. Lawn sprinkler system turn on! Call and arrange now with Joanne and Sue. Don't wait! With all the work you will be doing and all the contractors you will be working with it is best to get this valuable service completed early in the spring. Spring turn on officially start on Monday March 15th, 2010.