However, with technology on the rise and constant drought issues, there are now a multitude of irrigation options and devices involved like drip irrigation, low volume, moisture sensors, pop-up spray heads, irrigation enclosures, backflow prevention devices...the list is endless. The population is also growing, causing the never-ending construction of residential, industrial and golf course projects. Vibrantly colored flowers and lush green grass beautify their facades, and more often than not, the notions and technicalities of the irrigation maintenance and installation within these areas remains not in the mind of the average client -- but the Landscape Contractor.

A recent survey conducted by Landscape Contractor Magazine indicated that the majority of landscape contracting companies perform in-house irrigation or subcontract the work out to irrigation consultants. In one case, Irrigation Specialist Michael J. Schmitt of Environmental Care, Inc. in Calabasas, CA--explains that a large percentage of his company's projects include irrigation installation and maintenance. He adds as a general rule, "we don't subcontract. We have the people and the resources to do all our own work in-house." The California-based landscape contracting firms of Golden State Landscaping, Inc. and Stader Landscape Construction reveal that 20% of their projects include in-house irrigation services.

The irrigation costs of a golf course and a residential or commercial landscape project vary greatly. President Lee Niles of Southern Irrigation Consultants, Inc. in San Antonio, TX explains that for a golf course it can cost up to "$800,000 to 1.5 million dollars for a new landscape system."

As for landscape systems, it depends on the water intensity--prices can run around "25 cents per square foot." Associate and Irrigation Engineer Eric Montelongo of EDAW, Inc. in Irvine, CA, believes "golf courses are driven by cost and performance" and that the irrigation for the average urban irrigation project would be "75 cents to $1 a square foot."

When Landscape Contractors and Irrigation Consultants were asked to list the top leaders in irrigation manufacturing, nearly all named industry giants Toro, Rain Bird, and Hunter Industries. President Barbara Alvarez of the landscape contracting firm Golden State Landscaping, Inc. explains that she chooses those products because they are "at my fingertips and I am aware of them all the time." Schmitt adds that, "They seem to be the ones that are most specified and they are some of the most reliable companies." Many respondents also indicate they enjoy working with irrigation distributors and smaller companies, because of personal attention, service and local availability.

Today, water conservation issues among irrigation maintenance and installation--especially in the western states of the nation--go hand-in-hand. President David Dubois of Costa Mesa, CA-based Mission Landscape believes that contractors can easily utilize irrigation systems to conserve more water by making improvements on some poor designs. "We have converted some projects from a spray system to drip irrigation." He emphasizes, "The primary most important thing in conserving water is having the correct pressure throughout the system."

In addition, Montelongo, who works on primarily commercial projects, explains that there must be an awareness of the plants. It is not uncommon to see twice as much water used on residences than needed; the owners should be more conscious." He continues, "There must be an understanding of the goal of irrigation--and that is to take care of the plant material."

When choosing an irrigation system, there are several methods available to Landscape Contractors, including sprinkler (line voltage) irrigation, bubbler irrigation, and drip irrigation. For sprinkler irrigation, the sprinklers are patterned to fit the irregular shapes of the landscape, and spaced to complement one another. This method is suitable for plants and turf areas on moderately angled slopes. Precipitation rates range from medium to high.

Bubbler irrigation, on the other hand, involves positioning the spray heads in planting wells or gridded in shrub beds to irrigate level basins. This irrigation type may be appropriately used on shrub bed applications, but is not always suitable for slopes or turf applications due to the low operating pressure.

Drip irrigation systems seem to receive mixed reviews among Landscape Contractors and Irrigation Designers. Alvarez uses drip irrigation only for pots and very tiny areas. She explains, "I am not a big fan of drip irrigation because it gets plugged up, and if the homeowner gets involved, it also becomes a problem." However, according to Montelongo, the use of drip irrigation results in much "healthier plant material." He emphasizes, "Drip irrigation involves applying water directly to the soil into the plant and the result of that is you get a greater efficiency of water use." When plant materials are watered above ground, for example, through the use of sprays or sprinklers, the irrigation efficiency rate when the water is thrown in the air is approximately 60%; the remaining 40% usually ends up on the pavement as runoff. Drip, on the other hand, is 90% efficient.

Another method of irrigation is landscape irrigation using potable water. According to Stephen W. Smith, author of "Landscape Irrigation Design and Management," most landscape irrigation systems in the United States use potable, municipal water supplies because it is readily available to most projects through the water utilities infrastructure, which is financed, constructed and maintained by others.

The water user is then generally required to install, maintain and periodically test a backflow prevention device, in order to prevent any contaminated, and therefore non-potable, water from flowing backward into the potable water. This device is vital because if any contaminated water does enter the potable system, the problem can actually endanger human life because the irrigation water can be mixed or injected with chemicals, such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or fungicides.

President Jeff Keim of Backflow Prevention Device InnClosures advises Landscape Contractors to make sure that when they determine the size of a backflow prevention device to "Size backflow assemblies at meters to match the meter size-- away from the meter's match line size. Always double check local codes-- there are some restrictions that may nullify the normal rules."

Landscape Contractor Magazine also questioned various irrigation manufacturers across the nation on what advice they would give to a Landscape Contractor who is installing an irrigation control system, pumps and aerators. In regards to irrigation control systems, Irrigation Marketing Manager Dirk Lenie of The Toro Company states, "Make sure that you work with a manufacturer that stands behind its products." He continues, "Read all manufacturers' technical materials relating to the products prior to installation. Ensure that proper lightening protection devices and electrical connectors are used. Involve a manufacturer's technical support person early in the project, especially on larger and more complicated systems. Accurately follow specifier specs and requirements."

George Cook, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for HIT Products Corporation, adds, "Landscape Contractors should choose two-wire irrigation controllers. Two wire is the future! It will save you installation time and costs because you only run two wires throughout the system-- and the controller is self diagnostic for trouble shooting."

As for pumps and aerators, Fred March, President of Oase Pumps, Inc., comments, "Use a dual system--one for aesthetics and one for water quality. This becomes critical in any remotely natural application (i.e. lake and ponds)." Heather Schwabe, Marketing Assistant of Otterbine-Barebo, Inc., adds, "Many try to adapt a nozzle assembly to an existing pump system which may not be sufficient. Size and specify an aeration system specifically designed for the precise volume and depth of the pond that will be used as an irrigation reservoir."

Current irrigation installation trends are becoming more technologically advanced and water efficient. Water conservation goals and city ordinance mandates; efficient, radio-communications controllers; and water efficient sprinklers are becoming more common factors in landscape irrigation projects. Niles believes that, "In the next few years, the biggest change in irrigation designing will involve effluent or reused water." Alvarez maintains, "Clients are asking for more readable irrigation timers--most people freak out when they see computerized timers."

According to Montelongo, the most challenging aspect for Landscape Contractors in installing an irrigation system is "setting the irrigation controller to meet the specific water needs of each and every plant. The focus is ensuring that the irrigation system be installed in conjunction to the layout of the plant materials." He humorously gives a little advice to Landscape Contractors who are installing irrigation systems, "Read the specs and call me if you have any questions." lcm