The count down for opening day for baseball has passed and naturally my mind wanders back to the smell of fresh cut green grass which reminds me it is time to think about turning on my irrigation again. Over the winter cold weather can take a toll on your irrigation system. Below are a few super tips to make sure your irrigation system is giving you the best performance so you save water, save money and have the healthiest landscape possible:
1. Visually inspect all your irrigation components to insure they will operate correctly when the water is turned on. Pay particular attention to the backflow prevention device and have it tested if required.
2. Make sure all your valves are closed. If you drained your system before winter many of these valves will still be open. You can easily do this as you make your visual inspection.
3. Clean your filters. This is critical to the success of drip irrigation systems. You can clean your filters by removing them from the fitting and wiping off any sediment on them. You should also swish the filter in a small container of water to remove any debris that remains.
4. Turn the main water valve on slowly. Slow and easy is the key here because you don’t want to cause any damage due to the surge of water. Water is heavy and when it moves at a high rate of speed it can cause damage to your system. Listen for water to flow and then stop after a few seconds. Visually inspect your system again now and look for leaks.
5. This is a great time to reprogram your controller or replace your conventional controller with a smart controller. Be sure to check with your water agency to see if any water restrictions are in place and adjust your controller accordingly.
6. For your drip systems now is a great time to remove your end caps and flush the system. Once the end caps are removed run water through the system for two to three minutes to remove any debris that could clog your emission devices.
Start you season off right by performing these activities. These are not the only activities you will need to complete to ensure proper watering all through the season, but they are a good start. You can find many other helpful tips here. I am sure you have a few tips of your own and if you like please be sure to add them to the comments section of this article.
