Drip it Right: Drip Irrigation and Hydrozoning in Commercial Landscapes.

From lush flower beds to towering trees, every plant contributes to the beauty and character of a commercial landscape. Yet, maintaining this vibrant landscape while conserving water presents challenges, especially if you’re stuck with traditional sprinkler systems.

The good news is there’s a smarter, more sustainable choice for a greener future—drip irrigation paired with hydrozoning. This dynamic duo can transform your landscape by directly delivering water to plant roots while considering their water requirements, saving money, and promoting healthier plant growth.

Drip Irrigation: Delivering Water Where It Counts

Traditional sprinkler systems often paint landscapes with a wasteful spray. Water evaporates, runs off, or reaches unwanted areas. Drip irrigation, on the other hand, is a targeted approach. It delivers water slowly and directly to the root zone of plants through a network of emitters, valves, and tubing.

Here’s why you should consider drip irrigation for your commercial property:

Water Efficiency: Drip irrigation offers a 90% efficiency rate and guarantees minimal water runoff by delivering water directly to the plant’s root zone. In contrast, traditional systems lose a substantial amount to evaporation and wind drift, resulting in inflated water bills and increased environmental strain. 

Healthier Plants: Drip irrigation promotes deeper root growth by delivering water directly to the roots, leading to stronger, more resilient plants that can better withstand drought. Additionally, since drip irrigation doesn’t spray water onto the leaves, pesky fungi infections and diseases are less likely to creep in. 

Less Maintenance: Unlike traditional systems that require constant adjustment as plants grow, drip irrigation systems are relatively low maintenance. The emitters are placed strategically and require minimal adjustments over time.

Maximizing Drip Irrigation’s Full Potential with Hydrozoning

While drip irrigation takes water efficiency to the next level, hydrozoning comes in handy if you have a diverse landscape with plants that have varying water requirements. It involves dividing your landscape into zones based on plant types and their specific water needs. 

Each zone has its own drip irrigation system,  pressure regulator, and timer. This allows you to customize watering schedules, durations, and water amounts for different areas, ensuring each plant receives the optimal amount of water.

Unfortunately, many irrigation setups are programmed to water all plants in the landscape simultaneously and at the same rate. It’s like giving your thirsty lawn the same amount of water as your drought-resistant shrubs—pretty wasteful and potentially harmful to your plants.

By grouping plants with similar needs, hydrozoning eliminates the risk of overwatering drought-tolerant plants and underwatering thirsty ones, which translates to significant water savings. 

Also, hydrozones can be further customized to allow for targeted fertilization. Delivering fertilizer directly to specific plant groups with irrigation water ensures efficient nutrient delivery while minimizing wastage.

Making the Switch to Drip Irrigation

Upgrading to a drip irrigation system with hydrozoning might seem daunting, but the long-term benefits outweigh the initial investment. Here’s the lowdown on how to kick-start the process:

Consult a professional irrigation specialist: It’s better to leave the drip irrigation installation to the professionals. The irrigation specialists at EarthWorks can assess your property, design a customized hydrozoning plan, and recommend the most suitable drip irrigation system for your needs.

Consider long-term savings: Sure, the upfront cost might raise an eyebrow or two, but it’s a small price to pay for the substantial water savings and reduced maintenance needs that will significantly lower your operating costs over time.

Factor in potential rebates: Many municipalities and water districts offer rebates to incentivize property owners to switch to water-efficient irrigation systems.

Invest in a Thriving Landscape

Given our area’s water restrictions, drip irrigation is advantageous because most districts permit drip watering any day, regardless of regular watering restrictions. You’ll benefit from reduced water bills, targeted and sufficient water delivery, and a vibrant property that enhances curb appeal and tenant satisfaction.

With a proven track record in the industry, EarthWorks delivers seamless installations, timely project completion, and competitive pricing for businesses seeking superior irrigation solutions. Contact us today to discuss how drip irrigation with hydrozoning can transform your commercial landscape. Remember, a thriving landscape starts with a smarter watering system.