One of the things that attracts people to a condo or HOA are the beautiful  grounds and lush landscaping that surrounds the property. Because of the  topography of New England, it’s almost always necessary for properties to use irrigation technology to keep  their lawns, trees and shrubs healthy and green.  

 “Whether you are dealing with flowers, trees or shrubs, they all have different  watering requirements, which are influenced by a building’s location, soil type and site topography,” says Rick Landgraber, president of Elite Landscaping Inc., which is located in  South Plainfield, New Jersey but also does work in Connecticut as well. “Therefore, knowing how, when and where to water and what kind of irrigation  equipment supports the microclimates found throughout condominium properties is  vital.”  

 Anyone who has ever lived in a condo has probably seen the sprinklers go on and  off, and while you may not think it’s that big of a deal, using the proper system and controlling water levels for  all areas of the property can be a challenge. In the past, associations may  have relied strictly on sprinkler systems or gardeners who would water the  property with hoses, but irrigation systems have come a long way and today’s watering technology is cheaper, greener and much more sophisticated. Long gone  are the days when installers would drop pipe haphazardly into the ground  figuring that spraying around large volumes of water would make up for a  hit-or-miss installation.  

 New and Improved

 Irrigation controllers have become extremely sophisticated, going as far as  adding computer technology to improve its timing and diagnostics. Unfortunately  for landscapers, this doesn’t end the need to connect the controller to every valve with a bundle of  dedicated buried wire.  

 The programmable valve is another innovation that uses no electricity and is  being sampled by some area landscapers. The valve can be programmed to open and  close in any combination of settings based on a cycle of every seven times the  water is turned on. It is small enough to be installed under a sprinkler head,  or in another version, can be used in a water line. This innovation means that  each sprinkler head can be programmed to open at different times than the  others in the same zone.  

 Materials have also changed a lot in recent years, with newer type heads  designed to last longer. Spray head sprinklers are designed for more durability  and uniform watering and are ideal for lawns, flowerbeds, and shrubs.  Meanwhile, new plastic valves are constructed for reliability and are easy to  install for a multi-valve system.  

 Spray head sprinklers are designed for more durability and uniform watering and  are ideal for lawns, flowerbeds, and shrubs. Meanwhile, new plastic valves are  constructed for reliability and are easy to install for a multi-valve system.  

 “There are two areas to look at when looking at technical advances in irrigation:  The application side—what’s actually applying the water—and there’s the other side, what’s controlling the irrigation schedule,” Jim McGovern, the president of the Irrigation Association of New England (IANE)  and the New England sales manager of Hunter Industries, says. “There’s a big push in the industry towards lower precipitation type products—products that water at a slower rate. The reason that has become popular is  because it reduces run-off. It’s the difference between flooding the place and actually irrigating the place.  There’s also a big push in the industry towards multi-stream, multi-trajectory rotors.”  

 “On the control side,” McGovern continues, “there’s been a big movement towards what we call smart technology for irrigation  controllers. The direction the industry is going is evapotranspiration-based  (ET) sensors. These are sensors that use atmospheric conditions to make a  measurement of how much moisture is leaving the plant life in soil through  evaporation and transpiration. They’re trying to nail down the exact calculation because in the irrigation world all  we really want to do is just replace [the water] that is exactly needed for the  plant,” he says.  

 Advice from the Experts

 For an HOA or condo considering changing out its landscaping and irrigation  methods, it’s important to keep a few factors in mind such as topography, the slope of the  land and soil characteristics, when selecting a system to ensure maximum  efficiency. But above all, available water sources are the most important  consideration to make, McGovern says.  

 “The first thing you have to do is look at water source and whether the clients  have a municipal water feed or a well system or are pulling out of a retaining  pond,” McGovern says. “You can’t really design a system without knowing where your capacities are, and the  capacity comes from the source. Contractors also look at things like water  window. If it’s an HOA and there are people around, when do they want to water? Do they want  to avoid watering when people are out and about in their yards or walking up  the sidewalks in case there is any overspray?”  

 The science of watering a property has gotten really strong, but there are  mistakes that can be made due to draining, different zones and watering too  much. A lot of HOAs will have areas in between the buildings where swales build  up and it’s important to install heads in the areas between the houses to help this.  Sometimes, trees may have been added or removed from a property and the turf  needs to be reevaluated for irrigation needs in these cases, or problems can  arise.  

 Irrigation By Seasons

 An irrigation contractor will do more than just put in sprinkler heads and  clocks; they will work with you throughout the year to ensure that the  landscaping is looking its best at all times.  

 In the spring, all drain valves and plugs are closed to look for any leaks in  the system. Each individual zone is checked and all heads are cleaned and  adjusted to maximize proper efficiency. Once everything is done, the system is  reset for proper zone coverage and the control time is reset for optimal spring  watering needs.  

 When the cold weather comes around, valves and drains are shut off and  compressed air is pumped into the main lines, valves and heads to ensure the  system is completely water free.  

 Water Conservation

 Eric Zima, president of North East Irrigation in Milford, Massachusetts, says  that you need to deal with environmentalists and even government legislation  when dealing with water issues.  

 “Water is becoming an ever-more precious resource,” he says. “Everywhere we look, we’re starting to see restrictions being put in place. So while on one hand we want  to promote conservation of precious water resources, on the other it becomes  ever more of a challenge to keep the grass green.”  

 According to McGovern, interest in water conservation served as the major  inspiration for new smart water technology in the irrigation industry. “Certainly in New England we have less of an issue with lack of precipitation  than in other parts of the country, but if you go to the Southwest and the West  Coast where they get minimal precipitation, water conservation is a big issue,” McGovern says. “Even here in New England, we get a fair amount of precipitation but water  conservation is still an issue because of growing populations. We’re a very densely-populated area up here in New England, and there is a lot of  demand on water systems because of that dense population.”  

 Licensed and Insured

 Before hiring someone to fill your irrigation needs, a condo or HOA should make  sure that the company is licensed and insured and has met the irrigation  guidelines of the state that they are in. “My advice would be to ask the contractor if they hold certifications—not that it has to be the end-all-be-all, but it is proof that they are further  educating themselves on the best practices,” McGovern says. “There are states where licensing is an issue,” he continues. “If you look at the state of Connecticut, you have to be a licensed irrigation  contractor. Massachusetts doesn’t have a licensing program or requirement. Rhode Island has a licensing program,  New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont do not. Connecticut and Rhode Island are the  only states in New England that require contractors be licensed.”  

 In an effort to make it easier for Massachusetts residents to find quality  irrigation services, IANE has filed a bill with the state of Massachusetts  called the “Registration of Irrigation Contractors,” which will create a registration program of contractors if passed. “Having a registration program certainly helps the association and its members  from the standpoint of being recognized by the state,” McGovern says.  

 To find a qualified New England irrigation contractor, visit www.irrigation assocationne.org.

 Final Thoughts

 “Adding a new irrigation system is one of the best investments that an  association can make,” Landgraber says. “Using features such as ET controllers, drip irrigation, and precision nozzles,  we are able to install your irrigation system to save you money on your water  bill and our systems lead to healthier turf, healthier plants, and greater curb  appeal.”  

 No one should take their landscaping for granted and for a condo or HOA who  wants to attract more people, they should really look into upgrading their  irrigation system. That way your grass is sure to be greener on your side of  the fence.  

 Keith Loria is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to New England  Condominium. Editorial Assistant Enjolie Esteve contributed to this article.