Irrigation Systems
Of all of the things we do to ensure our gardens are successful—for instance, choosing the most robust and healthy plants at the nursery or carefully transporting them and planting them by experienced landscapers—watering is the most important task that must be done properly. Plants can live without many things, but water is not one of them.
Irrigation of your garden is essential. Predictable water patterns are a thing of the past; that’s why at Jean Brooks Landscapes, we rarely install our gardens without an irrigation system.
Water Conservation
Water is a precious resource and we, in the green industry, must do our absolute best to conserve it. The days of seeing irrigation systems watering a garden while it’s raining are gone. The technology of irrigation systems has expanded in the past several years, and we now have access to ‘Smart Systems’. These computer-based systems not only have rain sensors but also incorporate weather stations. Imagine a hot, humid day when it has not rained, but there is no evaporation; today’s systems are monitoring these conditions and adjusting your system accordingly. These systems also monitor water usage so that if a leak occurs, the system will shut itself off, and a notification is sent to your irrigation specialist. All of this results in an approach to conserve water, our most precious resource.
The Right Way to Water
Hand watering, even done by the most conscientious of gardeners, is fraught with problems. To establish newly installed plants, you must water deeply and less frequently. This will encourage your plants to root deeply into the ground, which will protect them in times of extreme heat and extreme cold. Even the best of us don’t have the time or patience to apply water in this way. Hand watering typically results in shallow root systems where the roots extend more horizontally than vertically, leaving them vulnerable.
Home gardeners usually have the best intentions when it comes to regular warm-weather watering, yet everyone knows that work, children’s activities, social engagements and vacations can interrupt even the best planned dates with a hose. That’s why a irrigation specialist at Jean Brooks looks to install a smart irrigation system with every garden project. These irrigation systems guarantee consistent watering that encourages downward root growth over the first few years of your garden, which ensures a beautiful green landscape in the present, and plants that can weather future tides of natural drought and winter freeze.
Containers
And your irrigation system can be adapted to watering of your pots and window boxes which tend to dry out faster than plants in the ground. The ease of mind when traveling on a hot summer weekend, knowing your containers are being watered, is liberating! No more rushing home on Sunday night to shriveled plants or asking a friend or neighbor to water for you.
Work With The Irrigation Specialist At Jean Brooks Landscapes
Recognizing that water is a precious resource, Jean Brooks Landscapes engages professionally licensed journeymen to install smart irrigation systems in the type of garden you want—yard, rooftop, pots, window boxes and more. In most Massachusetts cities and towns, installation can also include a second water meter so that sewage treatment costs remain separate from garden irrigation, keeping costs down substantially for the client and directing resources toward the plants. A smart system lowers overall costs of any garden, keeping water usage to precisely what is needed, and plants healthy (resulting in less upkeep and replacement needs). Furthermore, a smart system also includes alerts for the Jean Brooks Landscapes team about leaks and unusually high water usage, which the team can manage remotely. Smart irrigation systems ensure that you and your garden will only use the water that it needs to flourish.
Today’s smart irrigation systems—for their water conservation, encouragement of deep rooting plants, and the liberation it gives gardeners from watering worries—are the “smart” way to go.