By Justin Bayer, Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management
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When to start up your irrigation system is often a point of contention between landscape contractors, community managers, and HOA boards. The temperamental weather in Colorado can make knowing when to fire up the system a bit confusing; March can be dry for weeks, leading residents to want to get the system up and watering, when out of nowhere a large storm can come through and freeze all of the lines, potentially causing damage to the system.
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In order to avoid wasting water and money, we suggest aiming to turn on your irrigation system between April 15th and May 1st. The weather has been colder and wetter this year, especially when compared to the last few years, and March and April have the tendency to be wetter months. This means you can save on your water bill by holding out for a bit longer before starting up your system.
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As you gear up your irrigation system and start to fine tune it for spring and summer, make sure to inspect your system thoroughly. You will want to make sure all of your pop-up spray heads and rotors are working optimally (covering the right area and not clogged) and that your drip emitters are working properly on your trees and shrubs. Emitters and spray heads have a tendency to get clogged up during the winter, and if left unresolved, can lead to major problems down the road. Along with doing a thorough check during the start-up process, your landscape contractor should be checking your irrigation system on a consistent basis during the course of the season to catch any potential problems early. The sooner you notice an irregularity, the quicker you can get it resolved through your landscape maintenance team.
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April is the perfect time to get your irrigation needs addressed, and backflows are the heart that drives the system and keeps it up and running. Unfortunately, backflows are a common target for thieves, and many communities find out when their contractors are ready to fire up the irrigation system that their backflow has gone missing. Placing your backflow on a concrete slab with a locked cage is the best way to deter thieves from stealing these integral pieces. If your backflows are currently not locked in a cage, consider getting a bid from your landscape contractor to address this. It’s a one-time charge that can help save you the money of replacing your backflows year after year.
Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management is a privately owned and operated company with locations in both Colorado and Arizona. Caretaker has been in business for over 30 years, and have built their reputation on customer service, exemplary communication, and through utilization of cutting-edge technology.
