Irrigation is the unsung hero of commercial landscaping—when everything’s running properly. But if you have a zone that's not working, your landscaping can deteriorate (and get expensive) quickly. Irrigating a commercial property efficiently isn’t just about keeping landscapes green. It’s about keeping costs in check, properly managing resources and ensuring long-term sustainability.
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Should you consider incorporating smart features or upgrading your irrigation system? Check out the key features and benefits of smart irrigation, including the requirements to maintain it and why commercial property owners should consider upgrading their landscaping technology.
Smart controllers and sensors
Smart irrigation systems use advanced sensors, weather data and automation to optimize water usage to reduce waste and prevent overwatering. Plus, advancements in Wi-Fi and AI have significantly improved the effectiveness of smart irrigation systems in recent years. For example, smart irrigation controllers and sensors help reduce water consumption by adjusting watering based on real-time weather and soil moisture data, rather than following a fixed schedule like traditional irrigation systems.
Climate-based controllers
Climate-based controllers use Wi-Fi to access local weather reports to help customize when and where to water. (Weathermatic is one example.) Wi-Fi allows you to turn the systems on and off remotely instead of driving to multiple properties to manually shut off controllers—and have proof they were turned off and that water wasn’t wasted. This can be particularly useful in the event of a line leak, where it can be shut off immediately via a phone or other internet connection, saving water, money and time. Upgrading to a smart controller can enhance reliability as well. If there’s a technology glitch where the controller stops, your commercial landscaping partner can quickly replace it.
Soil moisture sensor controllers
This type of controller uses an underground soil moisture sensor to determine moisture needs and can reduce water consumption without sacrificing landscaping quality.
Smart flow sensors
These sensors can be particularly useful in monitoring water usage in arid climates. They also enable you to keep a record of it, which can be helpful in legal challenges (if a municipality asserts that you’ve been irrigating excessively, for example).
MP nozzles
Switching out a regular irrigation system from spray nozzles to an MP (matched precipitation) rotator nozzle can help reduce water waste. These nozzles are designed so water is distributed more evenly across your landscape, more effectively directing it to the soil and reducing overspray.
Smart rotors
Smart rotors are a type of sprinkler head that can be programmed to create a customized spray arc to irrigate a specific area, hitting your turf without also watering your sidewalks, for example.
Ongoing inspections and maintenance
You can upgrade to the latest and greatest technology (or stick with what you’ve got), but if you're not maintaining and inspecting your systems regularly, problems can bubble up quickly.
For example, ignoring minor repairs to save on related costs can lead to bigger problems, like a mainline break—and thousands of dollars in repair costs plus the costs to replace the landscaping that was killed, not only plants but also turf, while the repairs weren’t made.
This is why it’s also important to have a trusted commercial landscaping partner with an in-depth understanding of irrigation. Not only can they conduct these inspections and help with maintenance and repairs, but they can also advise on smart upgrades that can save you money and reduce water consumption.
Trust Your Commercial Landscaping to Chain Store Maintenance
Looking for a commercial landscaping partner? Find out how Chain Store Maintenance – an MCS company, can meet your commercial landscaping needs this spring and year-round—whether you have a few properties in one market or hundreds of locations across the country in various climates. Request a landscaping quote today.
