When you say the term ‘smart irrigation, it’s exactly what it sounds like, taking advantage of planning and technology to conserve this valuable natural resource. Don’t make the mistake of accepting a hundred percent irrigation coverage because it’s easy to accomplish at the expense of efficiency. A well-planned irrigation design will use a combination of large and small irrigation heads to cover the desired turf and ornamental plants without unnecessarily watering adjacent hardscape areas. There are other ways to conserve water and save money, in the long run – like having a rain sensor installed that will shut off the system during and shortly after natural rain.
Watershed management should be an extremely important part of landscape design. A watershed is an area of land that contains a common set of streams and rivers that all drain into a single larger body of water. Watershed districts are government entities that monitor and regulate the use of water in watersheds surrounding various lakes and rivers in your area. If your property happens to fall within one of these areas, it may be necessary to mitigate the water from your property that enters the natural waterways. If you choose not to manage this correctly, the penalties for failing to comply with these regulations can be significant.
You put a lot of hard work into perfect your outdoor space, make sure that everyone can see what you’ve done with proper lighting. A common landscape lighting mistake is installing lights that flood the home and its property, much like a home builder would do for a model home.
A balanced lighting plan will use accent lights for highlighting focal points such as specimen trees, water features and stone accents. The use of softer path lights can highlight seasonal colours and illuminate walkways and pathways for safety and nighttime viewing.