Hey, it’s me your sprinkler system. It’s been a while since we’ve talked so I thought I’d bring you up to date on how things are going. For several years now, I’ve spent the summer getting up in the middle of the night and keeping the yard nice and green. It’s a bit of a grind, but I do get to take the entire winter off. That’s what we need to talk about. I don’t know if you if realize it, but during that last blizzard, you jammed the snow blower into the head by the corner of the driveway. I really hate to complain, but that’s going to end up spraying down into the ground and probably causing a problem. Since I do most of the work at night, you’re not going to realize it until there’s a big hole that needs to be filled in.

Oh yeah, one more thing, the battery in the rain sensor is dead. I know, that means getting the ladder out and climbing up there to replace it. Not to drag up bad memories, but we all remember the Christmas light incident of ’08. I don’t want to overstep any boundaries, but maybe you should give Green Oasis a call and have them perform a start-up. They did a great job of shutting me down last year and getting me ready for my long winter’s nap. Leave it to the Professionals

It would be nice if our homes could talk to us and let us know what needs to be done. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and most of the time a DIY project ends in frustration and more trips to our local home improvement center than we care to mention. The sprinkler system is a component that doesn’t get the attention that it really needs, especially in the spring.

Over 130 Years of Combined Irrigation Experience

With over 130 years of combined irrigation experience, Green Oasis utilizes a specific procedure to make sure irrigation components don’t get damaged during a start-up. They also make sure that everything is properly adjusted and the system is set to run at the best time to make the most efficient use of water. It is important to remember that the sprinkler system is designed to conserve water. This becomes crucial as the cost of water increases on an annual basis in most municipalities. Having the controller set up properly is the first step in making sure things are running correctly. Green Oasis technicians will go through your system zone by zone and ensure each and every sprinkler head is spraying correctly and in the right direction.

Here Are Few Things To Be Wary Of With The Start-up Process

Turning on the main water source – this is usually a valve located in the basement close to where the water meter is for homes with municipal water.

• This valve must be opened slowly. Opening the valve to quickly can create a surge of water that can potentially damage the master valve of the system.

Controller Programming – this is to make sure the system runs at the most optimal time and that each zone runs for the proper amount of time.

• Early morning hours are best. Avoid evening or mid-day watering. Mid-day watering loses most of the water to evaporation, evening watering can lead to turf disease.
• Deep, infrequent watering is essential to developing a healthy root zone. Three times a week is often enough to allow for this.
• Most controllers have backup batteries to allow programming to be saved in the event of a power outage. Wireless rain sensors also have a battery. Check these at the time of start-up and replace if needed.

Head adjustment – Sprinkler heads should be adjusted, so they aren’t spraying into roads or up against buildings. Each manufacturer relies on a slightly different system for adjustment and usually has online resources for this.

Don’t be afraid to take some time to familiarize yourself with all aspects of the start-up process. If you hire a professional, have them walk you through your system. If you do it yourself, the staff at Green Oasis is always standing by to assist you.

Rob D. | Irrigation Specialist | Green Oasis