Weather-based irrigation controllers are gaining in popularity to help prevent overwatering. As an example, Lambert Landscape Company www.lamberts.net is using the SmartLine web-based irrigation control system, whose SmartLink technology allows the contractor to monitor and make changes to the watering schedule via Wi-Fi.

With the water restrictions that have been mandated throughout the Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area, many landscape contractors and clients are looking for ways to keep softscapes healthy while complying with the restrictions.

According to one source, outdoor watering in the summer accounts for over 50 percent of the total water used in homes, and properties that use standard scheduling-based irrigation systems typically overwater by 20 to 60 percent.

Weather-based irrigation controllers, such as the Weathermatic, are designed to save water by setting irrigation routines based on plant need rather than a time schedule. The system relies on soil soak cycles, that is, irrigating a zone long enough to allow the soil to absorb the moisture and then automatically move to another zone.

According to the manufacturer, Weathermatic SmartLine, their installed systems produce an average savings of 38 percent in water use and can provide a return on investment within twelve months. Consumers Digest has rated the system a Best Buy.

The system takes into account the weather through an on-site weather station along with plant, sprinkler, and soil type by zone to optimize watering efficiency. It also has a web-based control system known as SmartLink that allows for remote monitoring and control, water use reporting, and email alerts for any issues.