Ft Collins Soil Amendment Final Report

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. It is best to irrigate less frequently and deeper. When done properly, this results in water savings, deeper root systems. and healthier plants. (An exception to this is for newly seeded lawns, where frequent, light irrigation is necessary for establishment.) . Deep watering near building foundations and footings must be done with great care. . Irrigation during the early morning is recommended. With the cooler temperatures, higher humidity, and less wind at this time of day, water savings can be achieved. . When decreasing watering practices, make changes gradually. . When patches of lawn look dry, don't water all the grass. Instead, hand water dry spots to delay general irrigation. MANUAL WATERING: . Use sprinklers that deliver large droplets of water kept low to the ground. Oscillating sprays and sprinklers that throw water high into the air mean poor distribution, a high percentage of waste and inefficient watering. . Match the sprinkler pattern to th" shape of the area. . Move your sprinkler around to achieve over-lapping, uniform coverage. . Use a kitchen timer as a reminder to turn sprinklers off, or purchase an automatic shutoff timer to mount to the hose bib. . Check for leaks at all hose connections and at the point of sprinkler attachment. Repair as necessary. .~ . When irrigating individual trees or shrubs, keep the water inside the drip line (the circle defined by the outermost branch tips). Less frequent, deep watering of established trees and large shrubs is recommended, such as with a root feeder. . Small tree and shrubs can be watered by.creating and filling a water basins around the plant. Newly planted trees and shrubs will require more frequent watering than more established trees and shrubs. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS: . Wasted water can be due to poor design, installation, maintenance, or ope~tion of the sprinkler system. It can also be caused by the fact that the system is outdated. . There is often more water wasted with an automatic sprinkler system than with manual irrigation, even though it has the potential to he much more efficient. The reason for this has to do with inadequate attention to scheduling (timing and duration of watering) and maintenance. . At the very least, adjust your irrigation schedule montWy. Better yet, adjust your irrigation schedule on a weekly basis. Set the schedule based upon the media-publicized lawn watering values and your landscape's moisture status, as described above. If you do not understand how to program your controller. get assistance from a knowledgeable source. . Use manual irrigation for hard to reach areas ofyoar lawn. Also, when patches of lawn look dry, don't water all the grass. Instead, hand water dry spots to delay general irrigation. . Use repeat cycles as necessary to not exceed soil intake rates.